FEDERAL JUDICIAL CENTER

Salaries and Expenses

SUMMARY STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT REQUIREMENTS

Fiscal Year 2020 Enacted Appropriation 

Fiscal Year 2021 Requested Appropriation

Requested Increase from Fiscal Year 2020 Enacted Appropriation

APPROPRIATION LANGUAGE

FEDERAL JUDICIAL CENTER

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

 For necessary expenses of the Federal Judicial Center, as authorized 

by Public Law 90-219, [$30,436,000]$31,344,000; of which 

$1,800,000 shall remain available until September 30, [2021]2022 , to 

provide education and training to Federal court personnel; and of which 

not to exceed $1,500 is authorized for official reception and 

representation expenses.

$30,436,000

$31,344,000

$908,000

(P.L. 116-93 - Financial Services and General Government 

Appropriaions Act, 2020)

 9.1
Fiscal Year 2021 Resource Requirements:

FTEs Amount

Fiscal Year 2020 Assumed Obligations................................................................................................ 128 31,262

 Reimbursements from Federal Accounts and FJC Foundation.................................................................. - (415)

 Utilization of Judiciary Information Technology Fund........................................................................... - (411)

Fiscal Year 2020 Enacted Appropriation........................................................................................... 128 30,436

Page Adjustments to Base to Maintain Current Services:

No.

A. PERSONNEL

Pay and Benefit Adjustments

9.10 1. Proposed 2021 pay adjustment (1.0% for nine months) - 164

9.10 2. Annualization of 2020 pay adjustment (3.1% for three months)............................................................. - 163

9.10 3. Promotions and within-grade increases......................................................................................... - 165

9.10 4. Benefits increases

a. Health benefits........................................................................................................... - 34

b. FICA adjustment............................................................................................................ - 28

c. FERS adjustment............................................................................................................ - 255

9.11 5. One less compensable day......................................................................................................... - (84)

FEDERAL JUDICIAL CENTER

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

SUMMARY OF REQUEST

FISCAL YEAR 2021

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

 9.2
B. OTHER ADJUSTMENTS FTEs Amount

General Inflationary Adjustments

9.11 - 183

Subtotal, Adjustments to Base to Maintain Current Services.................................................................. - 908

Total Current Services Appropriation Required ................................................................................. 128 31,344

Total Fiscal Year 2021 Appropriation Required.................................................................................... 128 31,344

 Total Appropriation Increase...................................................................................................... - 908

Financing the Fiscal Year 2021 Request:

Total Appropriation Required, Fiscal Year 2021................................................................................... 128 31,344

9.11 - 350

Total Estimated Obligations, Fiscal Year 2021.................................................................................... 128 31,694

 7. Estimated reimbursements from federal accounts and the FJC Foundation..................................................

FEDERAL JUDICIAL CENTER

 6. Inflationary increases in charges for contracts, services, supplies, and equipment.....................................

FISCAL YEAR 2021

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

SUMMARY OF REQUEST

 9.3
Fiscal Year 2019 Fiscal Year 2020 Fiscal Year 2021

Offsetting Offsetting Offsetting

Activity Direct Collections Total Direct Collections Total Direct Collections Total

Education & Training 20,254 417 20,671 21,193 415 21,608 21,825 350 22,175

Research 4,928 - 4,928 5,571 - 5,571 5,737 - 5,737

Program Support 4,872 - 4,872 4,083 - 4,083 3,782 - 3,782

Total Obligations 30,054 417 30,471 30,847 415 31,262 31,344 350 31,694

 

Unobligated Balance, Start of Year:

 Judiciary Information Technology Fund (431) - (431) (411) - (411) - - -

Deposits and Other Adjustments:

 Judiciary Information Technology Fund (215) - (215) - - - - - -

Unobligated Balance, End of Year:

 Judiciary Information Technology Fund 411 - 411 - - - - - -

Subtotal, Other Obligations (235) - (235) (411) - (411) - - -

Direct Obligations 29,819 417 30,236 30,436 415 30,851 31,344 350 31,694

Offsetting Collections

 Reimbursable programs - (417) (417) - (415) (415) - (350) (350)

Available Appropriation 29,819 - 29,819 30,436 - 30,436 31,344 - 31,344

Actuals Assumed Obligations Request

FEDERAL JUDICIAL CENTER

Salaries and Expenses

Obligations by Activity ($000)

 9.4
FEDERAL JUDICIAL CENTER

Salaries & Expenses

Obligations by Object Class ($000)

Fiscal Year 2019 Fiscal Year 2020 Fiscal Year 2021

Offsetting Total Offsetting Total Offsetting Total

Direct Collections Oblig. Direct Collections Oblig. Direct Collections Oblig.

1100 Personnel compensation 15,240 112 15,352 16,136 112 16,248 16,430 112 16,542

1200 Personnel benefits 4,787 28 4,815 5,165 28 5,193 5,597 28 5,625

2100 Travel 5,951 277 6,228 6,279 275 6,554 6,406 210 6,616

2200 Transportation of things 65 - 65 61 - 61 62 - 62

2300 Communications, utilities & misc 497 - 497 532 - 532 542 - 542

2400 Printing and reproduction 28 - 28 56 - 56 57 - 57

2500 Other services 1,329 - 1,329 949 - 949 967 - 967

2600 Supplies and materials 687 - 687 735 - 735 749 - 749

3100 Equipment 1,235 - 1,235 523 - 523 533 - 533

Direct Obligations 29,819 417 30,236 30,436 415 30,851 31,344 350 31,694

 Other Obligations (JITF Obligations) 235 - 235 411 - 411 - - -

Total Obligations 30,054 417 30,471 30,847 415 31,262 31,344 350 31,694

Description

Actuals Assumed Obligations Request

 9.5
FEDERAL JUDICIAL CENTER

Salaries & Expenses

Relation of Direct Obligations to Outlays ($000)

FY 2020

FY 2019 Assumed FY 2021

Actual Obligations Request

Obligations incurred 30,236 30,851 31,694

Obligated balance, start of year 3,224 3,609 2,456

Adjustment of prior year activity 33 34 35

Obligated balance, end of year (3,609) (2,456) (1,336)

Total Outlays 29,884 32,038 32,849

Less Offsets (417) (415) (350)

Net Outlays 29,467 31,623 32,499

 9.6
FEDERAL JUDICIAL CENTER

Salaries and Expenses

 Full Time Equivalents by Activity

Activity Direct

Offsetting 

Collecs. Total Direct

Offsetting 

Collecs. Total Direct

Offsetting 

Collecs. Total

Education & Training 88 0 88 90 0 90 90 0 90

Research 26 0 26 27 0 27 27 0 27

Program Support 11 0 11 11 0 11 11 0 11

Total, Full Time Equivalents 124 0 124 128 0 128 128 0 128

Fiscal Year 2019 Fiscal Year 2020 Fiscal Year 2021

 9.7
9.8

GENERAL STATEMENT AND INFORMATION

This appropriation request is for the salaries and operating expenses of the Federal Judicial Center (the Center), which was established 

by P.L. 90-219 (81 Stat. 664) on December 20, 1967. This statute directs the Center “to further the development and adoption of 

improved judicial administration” in the federal courts.

The fiscal year (FY) 2021 request for the Federal Judicial Center totals $31,344,000 to support the operations of the Center at a current 

services level.

Functional Responsibilities of the Center

The Center’s functions are outlined in statute, especially 28 U.S.C. §§ 620(b) and 623(a). Pursuant to those mandates, it teaches 

judges and other Judicial Branch personnel about legal developments and efficient litigation management and court administration. 

Examples include various educational programs that teach judges and court legal staff about new laws and emerging issues; programs 

that help judges and court executives promote efficiency in the just resolution of cases and in court administration; and programs that 

educate court staff on effective court operations. Over 80 percent of Center training participants attend the training in their home 

cities through in-court seminars, Center video programs, manuals, web-based conferences, and interactive computer programs.

The Center also conducts empirical research into court operations and activities. Most Center research is performed at the request of 

the Judicial Conference of the United States in order to inform policy decisions of the Conference. Center research also contributes to 

improved judicial administration by assessing the efficacy of case and court management procedures. For example, it continues to 

assess case management tools for complex litigation. (The Center’s statute also assigns it other duties regarding state-federal judicial 

relations, assistance to foreign judiciaries, and federal judicial history, which it also performs.) Program planning is coordinated 

among the Center, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO), and the U.S. Sentencing Commission to maximize efficiency in 

meeting their distinct responsibilities. 
9.9

Duties of the Board

A Board of nine supervises the Center. The Chief Justice of the United States is the Board Chairman. The Board includes two judges 

of the U.S. Courts of Appeals, three judges of the U.S. District Courts, one bankruptcy judge, and one magistrate judge; each elected 

by the Judicial Conference of the United States for a four-year term. The Director of the AO is an ex-officio Board member. By 

statute, the Board is responsible for developing overall policy to guide the Center’s operations and approving the Center’s 

appropriations requests. The Board appoints a Director and a Deputy Director, who are responsible for supervising the Center’s staff 

and carrying out the Center's programs. The Center coordinates as necessary with the Judicial Conference’s Budget Committee and 

the AO in developing the Center’s appropriation requests.

FISCAL YEAR 2020 APPROPRIATIONS

The judiciary built the FY 2021 budget request for the Federal Judicial Center on the FY 2020 enacted appropriation, which is 

$30,436,000. This amount maintains current services in FY 2020. For bill language, the judiciary used the language from P.L. 116-

93, Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2020. 
9.10

JUSTIFICATION OF CHANGES

The Federal Judicial Center’s FY 2021 appropriation request is 

$31,344,000 representing an overall increase of $908,000 (2.98

percent) over the enacted FY 2020 appropriation of 

$30,436,000. The total requested increase, $908,000, is for 

adjustments to base to maintain current services. These 

adjustments include pay and benefits cost increases for current 

staff. Also included are general inflationary increases for 

operating expenses such as travel, utilities, printing, contractual 

services, supplies and materials, furniture and equipment. The 

Center requests no program increases.

ADJUSTMENTS TO BASE TO MAINTAIN CURRENT 

SERVICES

A. PERSONNEL

Pay and Benefit Adjustments

1. Proposed 2021 pay adjustment

Requested Increase: $164,000

The judiciary is assuming federal pay rates will increase by 1.0 

percent in January 2021. The requested increase provides for 

the cost of nine months of the anticipated pay raise in FY 2021, 

from January 2021 to September 2021. (If the pay adjustment 

included in the President’s FY 2021 budget request is different 

than 1.0 percent, the judiciary will revise this line item in its 

FY 2021 budget re-estimate.)

2. Annualization of 2020 pay adjustment

Requested Increase: $163,000

The requested increase provides for the annualized costs of the 

2020 pay adjustment associated with the Employment Cost 

Index (ECI) and locality pay. Based on the FY 2020 enacted 

appropriations bill, federal pay rates increased by an average of 

3.1 percent, effective as of January 2020. The requested 

increase provides for the cost of three months (from October 

2020 to December 2020) of the enacted 2020 pay increase in 

FY 2021. 

3. Promotions and within-grade increases

Requested Increase: $165,000

The requested increase provides for promotions and withingrade increases for personnel. The salary plan for judicial 

support personnel provides for periodic within-grade increases 

for staff who receive at least a satisfactory performance rating.

4. Benefits increases

a. Health benefits 

Requested Increase: $34,000

Based on information from the Office of Personnel 

Management, agency health benefit premium contributions are 

projected to increase by an average of 3.2 percent both in 

January 2020 and January 2021. The requested increase 

annualizes the 2020 premium increase and includes a nine-
9.11

month provision for an estimated 3.2 percent increase 

anticipated for FY 2021.

b. FICA adjustment 

Requested Increase: $28,000

Based on information from the Social Security Administration, 

employer contributions to the Old Age, Survivor, and 

Disability Insurance (OASDI) portion of the FICA tax will 

increase in 2020. The salary cap for OASDI increased from 

$132,900 to $137,700 in January 2020. The requested amount 

is needed to pay the agency contribution in FY 2021. 

c. FERS adjustment

Requested Increase: $255,000

Consistent with guidance from the Office of Management and 

Budget, funds are requested for an increase in the agency 

contribution rate to Federal Employees Retirement System 

(FERS) plans for FY 2021. For most employees, the agency 

contribution rate will increase from 16.0 percent to 17.3

percent. Any FERS increase is in accordance with revised 

estimates of the cost of providing benefits by the Board of 

Actuaries of the Civil Service Retirement and Disability 

System. 

5. One less compensable day

Requested Decrease: ($84,000)

There is one less compensable day in FY 2021 than in

FY 2020. The requested amount decreases personnel 

compensation and benefits associated with one less

compensable day for biweekly paid employees.

C. OTHER ADJUSTMENTS

General Inflationary Adjustments

6. Inflationary increases in charges for contracts, services, 

supplies, and equipment

Requested Increase: $183,000

Consistent with guidance from the Office of Management and 

Budget, this requested increase is required to fund inflationary 

adjustments of 2.0 percent for operating expenses such as 

travel, communications, printing, contractual services, supplies 

and materials, and furniture and equipment.

FINANCING THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 REQUEST

OFFSETTING COLLECTIONS 

7. Estimated reimbursements from federal accounts and

the FJC Foundation 

Estimated Reimbursement: $350,000 FTE: 0 

The Center enters into reimbursable agreements to provide 

additional services to, or to allow economizing by, the 

Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO), the courts, and 

non-judicial federal entities. For example, on occasion, the AO 

will add on to scheduled Center programs additional training 
9.12

days for judges and thereby avoid incurring duplicative 

transportation costs for such efforts. In addition, pursuant to 

Title 28, Section 629, the Center receives support from 

occasional donations to the Federal Judicial Center Foundation,

which the Center uses to conduct additional educational 

programs for judges. The Center estimates that $350,000 will 

be reimbursed to it in FY 2021.