Summary: The General Services Administration (GSA) is struggling financially to provide courtrooms and related space for the growing number of new judges. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts has requested that the Courts be given independent authority to acquire its own space and facilities. Under a suggested user fee concept, the Courts would collect a fee from all litigants to offset costs of capital projects, such as the construction of new courthouses, or alterations of other government-owned buildings housing the Courts. Concerns have been raised that user fees would increase the cost of filing a case--potentially preventing those who believe that they have legitimate complaints from using the judicial system. Using three estimates of capital costs and the three levels of federal court cases filed, GAO estimates that user fees would range from $79 to $536 per case. This report also provides information on the amount of GSA space, revenues, and costs that are attributable to the Courts and information on the Courts' obligations, numbers of judgeships, revenues, and case filings.
