Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts: History, Operations, and Current Issues (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
May 24, 2004 |
| Report Number |
RS21847 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Mitchel A. Sollenberger, Government and Finance Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
The Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO) is the principal administrative
agency
of the judicial branch. Originally created by Congress to improve the supervision of the federal
courts and to give the federal judicial branch greater managerial independence from the executive
branch, the AO is charged with a number of important tasks. Since the September 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks, a principal area of concern for the AO has been courthouse security and emergency
preparedness. In addition, the AO is currently decentralizing its budget process and improving the
judicial branch's technology capabilities.
This report examines the organization and duties of the AO. It also looks at the agency's
origins and three current significant issues concerning the agency. This report will be updated as
developments warrant.
