UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FEDERAL CIRCUIT

Salaries and Expenses

SUMMARY STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT REQUIREMENTS

Mandatory Discretionary Total

Total Fiscal Year 2023 Enacted Appropriation $3,356,000 $36,735,000 $40,091,000

Total Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriation Request $3,532,000 $39,682,000 $43,214,000

Total Requested Increase from Fiscal Year 2023 Assumed Appropriation $176,000 $2,947,000 $3,123,000

APPROPRIATION LANGUAGE

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FEDERAL CIRCUIT

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

 For salaries of officers and employees, and for necessary expenses of

the court, as authorized by law, [$36,735,000]$39,682,000

 In addition, there are appropriated such sums as may be necessary under

current law for the salaries of the chief judge and judges of the court.

(P.L. 117-328 - Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2023) 

2.1
Fiscal Year 2024 Resource Requirements:

FTE Amount FTE Amount FTE Amount

Fiscal Year 2023 Assumed Obligations.................................................................. 12 3,356 140 37,788 152 41,144 

- (1,053) (1,053)

Fiscal Year 2023 Assumed Appropriation............................................................... 12 3,356 140 36,735 152 40,091 

Adjustments to Base to Maintain Current Services:

A. Judges

Pay and benefits adjustments

2.14 1. Proposed 2024 pay adjustment (4.7% for nine months)............................................ - 103 - - - 103

2.14 2. Annualization of 2023 pay adjustment (4.1% for three months)................................ - 31 - - - 31

2.14 3. Benefits increases

a. Health benefits.................................................................................... - 27 - - - 27

b. FICA adjustment................................................................................. - 15 15

B. Court Support Personnel

Pay and benefits adjustments

2.15 4. Proposed 2024 pay adjustment (5.2% for nine months)............................................ - - - 593 - 593

2.15 5. Annualization of 2023 pay adjustment (4.6% for three months)................................ - - - 175 - 175

2.15 - - - 114 - 114

2.15 7. Benefits increases

a. Health benefits.................................................................................... - - - 257 - 257

b. FICA adjustment................................................................................. - - 22 22

2.16 8. One more compensable day........................................................................... - - - 77 - 77

C. Other Adjustments

General Inflationary Adjustments

2.16 - - - 141 - 141

2.16 - - - 203 - 203

2.16 - - - 22 - 22

2.16 - - - 1,245 - 1,245

Subtotal, Adjustments to Base to Maintain Current Services....................................... - 176 - 2,849 - 3,025 

Total Current Services Appropriation Required...................................................... 12 3,532 140 39,584 152 43,116 

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

10. Inflationary increases in GSA space rental cots .....................................................

11. Law books and computer-assisted legal research (CALR).......................................

 Utilization of Judiciary Information Technology Fund (including EPA) Balances...............

6. Promotions and within-grade increases..............................................................

12. Rent increase at 1401 H Street...................................................................

Mandatory Discretionary Total

SUMMARY OF REQUEST

COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FEDERAL CIRCUIT

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

FISCAL YEAR 2024

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

2.2
D. Program Increases

2.17 - - 1 98 1 98

Total Program Additions Required........................................................................ - - 1 98 1 98

Total Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriation Required...................................................... 12 3,532 141 39,682 153 43,214

- 176 - 2,947 - 3,123 

Financing the Fiscal Year 2024 Request:

2.17 14. Utilization of Electronic Public Access Receipts and Judiciary Information 

 Technology Fund....................................................................................... - - - 1,467 - 1,467 

12 3,532 141 41,149 153 44,681 

 Total Appropriation Increase, Fiscal Year 2023 to Fiscal Year 2024.....................

Total Estimated Obligations, Fiscal Year 2024.........................................................

13. New Position Director of Civic Engagement................................................................

2.3
FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024

Actual Assumed Request

Total Obligations 39,081 41,144 44,681

Unobligated Balance, Start of Year:

Judiciary Information Technology Fund (4,342) (2,444) (1,467)

Deposits and Other Adjustments:

Prior Year Recoveries Judiciary Information Technology Fund (92) (23)

PACER Receipts (53) (53) (53)

Deposit to Judiciary Information Technology Fund (633)

Unobligated Balance, End of Year:

Judiciary Information Technology Fund 2,444 1,467 53

Subtotal, Other Obligations (2,676) (1,053) (1,467)

Direct Obligations 36,405 40,091 43,214

Deposit to Judiciary Information Technology Fund 633

Unobligated Balance, End of Year 454

Appropriation Total 37,521 40,091 43,214

Appropriation - Mandatory 3,241 3,356 3,532

Appropriation - Discretionary 34,280 36,735 39,682

FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024

Actual Assumed Request

11 Personnel compensation 17,832 18,919 20,116

12 Personnel benefits 4,613 5,030 5,337

13 Benefits for former personnel 116 212 225

21 Travel 29 158 162

22 Transportation of things 37 44 45

23 Rent, communications and utilities

Rental payments to GSA 6,519 6,765 8,213

Communications utilities & misc. charges 136 339 347

24 Printing and reproduction 10 5 5

25 Other services 6,232 7,694 7,879

26 Supplies and materials 117 181 123

31 Equipment 793 744 762

Direct Obligations 36,434 40,091 43,214

Other Obligations (JITF and PACER Obligations) 2,647 1,053 1,467

Total Obligations 39,081 41,144 44,681

Description

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FEDERAL CIRCUIT

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Obligations by Activity ($000)

Activity

Obligations by Budget Object Class ($000)

2.4
FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024 Difference

Actual Assumed Request (+) or (-)

Direct obligations incurred 36,405 40,091 43,214 3,123

Obligated balance, start of year 3,928 4,073 4,610 537

Adjustments of prior year activity 328 0 0 0

Obligated balance, end of year (4,073) (4,610) (4,969) (359)

Total Outlays 36,588 39,554 42,855 3,301

Less Offsets (53) (53) (53) 0

Net Outlays 36,535 39,501 42,802 3,301

FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024 Difference

Actual Assumed Request (+) or (-)

Total compensable workyears:

 Full-time equivalent employment 144 152 153 1

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FEDERAL CIRCUIT

Salaries & Expenses

Relation of Direct Obligations to Outlays ($000)

Personnel Summary

2.5

2.7

GENERAL STATEMENT AND INFORMATION

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (Federal Circuit), located in Washington, DC, has nationwide jurisdiction 

over a diverse range of subject areas, including appeals in all patent cases, all government contract cases, all international trade cases, 

government personnel cases, cases involving monetary claims against the United States under the Tucker Acts, veterans’ benefits 

cases, vaccine act claims, and many others. 

Appeals to the court come from all 94 federal district courts, the United States Court of Federal Claims, the United States Court of 

International Trade, and the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. The court also considers appeals of certain 

administrative agencies’ decisions, including the United States Merit Systems Protection Board, the Boards of Contract Appeals, the 

United States Patent Trial and Appeal Board, and the United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Decisions of the United 

States International Trade Commission; the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights, an independent agency in the Legislative 

Branch; and the Government Accountability Office Personnel Appeals Board also are reviewed by the court. For additional 

information on the court’s jurisdiction, see the Appendix beginning on page 2.18. 

As below outlined, the Federal Circuit continues its cost containment efforts while taking necessary steps to enhance and sustain the 

quality of its operations. To that end, the Federal Circuit is seeking increases only for anticipated inflationary cost increases and 

resumed rent expenses for its commercial space. 

Planning for Facility Needs

The Federal Circuit is at a space capacity within the National Courts Building for housing its current active and senior judges. In 

anticipation of this need years ago, the Federal Circuit obtained nearby commercially leased office space, which it has maintained for 

several years. This leased space is configured to accommodate five chambers. Presently, four of the court’s senior judges and their 

staffs use this space for their chambers, leaving only one vacant chambers remaining for any new senior judge. Of the court's twelve 

active judges, five are currently eligible for senior status election at any time. If any one of these judges takes senior status that leased 

space would be completely full. In the meantime, while one chambers remains vacant, the court recently entered into an agreement 

with the Fourth Circuit to temporarily house one of its judges and his staff in the available space for several months, pending that 

court’s obtaining of permanent chambers. 
2.8

The court’s commercial leased space also functions as swing space for chambers and court staff who must vacate the National Courts 

Building during necessary renovations (due to the lack of additional office space in the National Courts Building) and provides 

continuity of operations space that was of critical importance to maintaining operations during extended demonstrations and civil 

unrest in Lafayette Square in 2020 and 2021, which impacted on-site operations and security at the National Courts Building. 

Two years ago, the court negotiated with the General Services Administration (GSA) a new 17-year lease for the property. As a cost 

savings for the court, the new lease included two-years of free rent, which the court factored into its FY 2022 and FY 2023 budget 

requests by not requesting any line item for this rent cost for the last two years. The two-year period is ending and, in FY 2024, the 

court must pay the full annual rent cost of $1,245,228. This space is fully occupied and necessary to the operation of the court. 

At the same time, the Federal Circuit continues to practice good stewardship over the National Courts Building and the historic 

Cosmos Club, Dolley Madison House, and Benjamin Ogle Tayloe House, all of which are part of the National Courts Building 

complex. Taking advantage of the public closure during the pandemic, the court recently completed significant renovations and 

restorations of these historic properties, as well as multiple judges’ chambers, the court’s shared library with the Court of Federal 

Claims, and court office space. These needed improvements were done using the court’s existing appropriations and will ensure these 

spaces will continue to be preserved and useable in the years to come. 

As the court looks ahead to future fiscal years, one area of concern is the elevator in the library. The elevator is original to the 1960s 

construction of the building. The second floor is part of the publicly accessible research area of the library and is the only means by 

which the second floor of the library can be accessed by the public for someone with mobility issues. Within the past two years, this 

elevator has experienced multiple personnel entrapments and one sudden-drop incident. During one of these incidents, a staff member 

was injured and required medical treatment as a result. Because the elevator is the only accessible way judges, staff, and the public 

can access the second floor of the library, which stores an enormous amount of our library collection, the continued use of the elevator 

puts the safety of judges, staff, and the public at risk. Taking it out of service renders upper levels of the library totally inaccessible to 

individuals with mobility issues and impedes the ability to safely transfer materials between the two levels of the library. The court 

continues to negotiate with the GSA on the replacement of the aged elevator within the court’s library. Although not requested as part 

of this year’s appropriation, the court anticipates this expense may be necessary in the near future if an arrangement cannot be 

reached.
2.9

Promoting Security Cost Containment Efforts

As noted in the court’s FY 2023 request, the physical security posture of the National Courts Building remains acute given our 

location on Lafayette Square and proximity to the White House, which continues to be the location of public demonstrations, ongoing 

security threats, and high volumes of public tourism traffic. In collaboration with our partners in the United States Marshals Service 

(USMS), the court continues with its previously funded and necessary upgrades to its physical access control systems and perimeter 

security at the National Courts Building needed to safeguard the facility, judicial officers and court staff, and members of the public. 

The Federal Circuit depends on contracted guards to keep judicial officers, staff, and the public safe and secure. These contracted 

guards require consistent oversight by members of the USMS, the federal organization responsible for top level management of all 

such contracts. Rather than ask Congress to fund this increase in actual security costs, the Court, in partnership with the USMS, 

decided to restructure its facilities operations by reducing the normal occupancy hours and adjusting security shifts. Through these 

policy changes and work arounds, the Federal Circuit was able to avoid these additional costs. 

Ensuring IT Infrastructure and Security Upgrades

Based on lessons learned and needs identified during the pandemic, the court is embarking in 2024 on a significant upgrade to the 

aging, 20-year-old collection of components and technologies essential to the conduct of proceedings in its three courtrooms, which 

support sixty or more oral arguments per month. The courtroom technology upgrade project for all three of the Federal Circuit’s 

courtrooms will include updated lighting controls, new microphones and speakers, integrated digital control panels, upgraded digital 

audio and video capabilities, and updated back-end infrastructure. The court will also incorporate some of the technology 

implemented during the pandemic by integrating video and audio-conferencing capabilities directly into the courtroom equipment, 

which will facilitate the use of remote video and telephone arguments as needed going forward. Additionally, the court plans to 

integrate videoconference technology into the courtroom infrastructure for arguing counsel participating in remote arguments and an 

upgraded recording system will continue to allow the court to provide the public with both real-time and recorded audio of court 

proceedings. 

Amid ongoing threats to judiciary security infrastructure, the court is focusing much of its Judiciary Information Technology Fund 

(JITF) deposits on both maintaining current technology needs, as well as implementing necessary enhancements. Our court will 

continue to use JITF for the annual renewal of software licenses and the maintenance support for products such as Office 365, 
2.10

Microsoft Dynamics, Microsoft Power Apps, and Microsoft Azure, which continue the court’s multi-year effort to move to more 

secure, cloud-based hosting services integral to court operations. JITF will also be used as supplemental funding as needed for the 

courtroom technology project due to projected equipment price increases and on-going supply chain issues with technology 

equipment. 

A significant portion of JITF will also be used to enhance the court’s IT security posture with the implementation of desktop multifactor authentication, end-point protection and response software, password management software, security awareness training for all 

court staff, migration to Microsoft Azure for domain administration, increased IT security training for IT staff, and upgrading of 

critical IT hardware. Finally, ongoing IT equipment maintenance expenses, wireless devices, and IT-related training and travel will be 

paid using funds from the JITF. 

Expanding Public Engagement 

After more than two years of being closed to the public, except for counsel appearing at arguments, the Federal Circuit fully reopened 

to the public and resumed its normal operations on September 12, 2022. The court continues, with minimal effort and negligible 

costs, to provide free online audio streaming of its public court hearings—a service it began in 2020 during the initial phase of the 

pandemic.

In September 2022, the Federal Circuit held its biennial Judicial Conference, which had been put on hold due to the pandemic. By 

statute, the Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit may hold a conference “for the purpose of considering the business of the courts and 

advising means of improving the administration of justice within the circuit.” 28 U.S.C. § 333. The conference provided the 500 

attendees with speakers and moderated panels addressing practicing before the court, legal developments within all areas of the court’s 

jurisdiction, and focused sessions for jurists from the court’s originating tribunals. 

As part of its nationwide jurisdiction and statutory requirement to provide “reasonable opportunities to citizens to appear before the 

court,” the Federal Circuit regularly hears arguments outside of Washington, DC. This practice was put on hold for more than two 

years due to the pandemic, but in November 2022, the Federal Circuit resumed this practice and heard arguments in Philadelphia, PA, 

including at four law schools and the federal courthouse. This out-of-town sitting provided an opportunity for the court and counsel to 

interact with both local practitioners and law students and the court looks forward to continuing this important practice. 
2.11

Finally, through the court’s renovation of its historic space, the court has initiated a multi-year program to create exhibits highlighting 

the rich history within and on the site of the National Courts Building. From the headquarters of the National Women’s Party’s effort 

to obtain universal suffrage to the early headquarters of NASA and the United States’ exploration of space, the National Courts 

Building site has been home to several significant historical events. Earlier this year, the court released its first exhibit highlighting 

this history with plans to expand this important civic engagement effort throughout the public areas of the court. 

Sustaining Quality Court Operations

As a public agency, the Clerk’s Office has statutory and regulatory requirements to provide operational and administrative support to 

the judicial officers of the court including the custodian of court records, management of the court’s cases and calendar, courtroom 

support, administration of oaths, collection of fees, and issuance of orders and notices. Because the role of the Clerk’s Office is 

integral to promoting due process, procedural fairness, and the appropriate resolution of cases before the court, it is paramount that all 

services delivered by the Clerk’s Office both meet the requirements and expectations of the court’s judicial officers but also promote 

consistency and uniformity in serving the litigants and public.

In March 2022, the Federal Circuit Clerk’s Office was awarded for its innovative process efficiencies and quality improvements by the 

Government Division of the American Society for Quality (ASQ), an organization that objectively evaluates the quality of government 

operations. The silver-level award validated the quality of Clerk’s Office operations under the ASQ/ANSI G1:2021 Guidelines for 

Evaluating the Quality of Government Operations and Services, reflecting the office’s systematic use of the standard’s system and 

process maturity models to improve services over a two-year period. As part of these enhancements, the Clerk’s Office greatly 

reduced internal processing times for cases without sacrificing the quality of its services and supported the faster resolution of cases 

within the court. 

With this recognition, the Federal Circuit Clerk’s Office became the first government organization anywhere to obtain award-level 

validation for the maturity of its key operational processes and systems under these new ASQ/ANSI quality guidelines. This 

recognition has increased awareness both in the court community and the government quality community of the operations of the 

Clerk’s Office and has led to an increase in requests from other courts to learn how they, too, can change their operations to model 

them after those of the Clerk’s Office. 
2.12

Along those lines, the Clerk’s Office has partnered with the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts on the creation of a national 

court process improvement program based on the Federal Circuit’s local operations model. Once complete, this program will assist 

other federal and state courts in improving their operations, meeting stakeholder requirements and expectations, and increasing the 

overall public trust and confidence in the judiciary as a whole. The Clerk’s Office continues to share information with, and support 

for, other federal courts interested in similar enhancements to their operations. Court staff continue to be invited to present at national 

programs on topics such as designing an onboarding program that sets up new hires for success, implementing and incorporating the 

concepts and best-practices of strategic planning, court operational training, and adapting quality management practices to court 

operations. 

Request to Create a Director of Civic Engagement Position 

The court is seeking the addition of one full-time equivalent (FTE) to create a Director of Civic Engagement in FY 2024. The 

additional FTE would be used to create an exceptional civic outreach program that is dedicated to educating the public and private 

schools in the DC metro area on (1) the importance of the court system, (2) the issues the court confronts in science, technology, 

engineering, and math (STEM), and (3) the important history that is part of the National Courts Building complex. 

In his 2019 annual report, Chief Justice Roberts emphasized the importance of the judiciary’s role in civic education, challenging 

courts around the country to become part of the solution in educating the future generation of citizens in the principles of democracy, 

justice, and the role the court plays in promoting the preservation of our constitutional democracy. The United States Court of 

Appeals for the Federal Circuit is uniquely qualified and eager to participate in this essential outreach opportunity. 

Details of Staffing Request

The Director of Civic Engagement will develop the various physical spaces to house displays and create a high-tech classroom-like 

environment in an unused portion of the court’s library. There is much to be done, which begins with purging the accumulation of nolonger necessary library resources to make room for other aspects of this project. Rather than pay contractors, the court has already 

hired several local high school and college interns, both paid and unpaid, to assist in preparing spaces and helping plan displays and 

programming. The Director would organize and supervise these endeavors as well as collaborate with chambers and other court staff 

to create content for tours and educational programs. The Director would develop relationships with public and local schools, the 

Federal Circuit Bar Association, Federal Circuit Historical Society, and other relevant civic and educational organizations to maximize 
2.13

outreach. This employee would also be responsible for scheduling and coordinating with all departments about upcoming events and 

requirements. Creating this Director position is critical to the immediate and long-term success of this program. 

The court has many judges and staff already dedicated to this endeavor, but it needs a leader to coordinate the effort. This leadership 

position is modeled on similar positions that exist in several other circuits to perform this same function. The court’s unique position 

within the judiciary, its STEM-focused jurisdiction of cases, and its historic complex permits it to offer a broader range of 

programming and civic opportunities than what is currently available at other judicial learning centers. The creation of this new 

position will assist in accomplishing this goal.

FISCAL YEAR 2023 APPROPRIATIONS

The judiciary built the FY 2024 discretionary budget request for the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit 

appropriation on the FY 2023 enacted discretionary appropriation, which is $36,735,000. For bill language, the judiciary used the 

language from P.L. 117-328, Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2023. 
2.14

Justification of Changes 

The FY 2024 request for the Court of Appeals for the Federal 

Circuit totals $43,214,000. This request includes $3,532,000 

for mandatory expenses and $39,682,000 for discretionary 

expenses. The discretionary request includes $2,849,000 in 

adjustments to base necessary to maintain current services and 

one program increase, totaling $98,000 for one new full-time 

equivalent, for a total discretionary spending increase of 

$2,947,000. The discretionary request of $39,682,000 is a 9.3 

percent increase from the FY 2023 enacted appropriation of 

$36,735,000. 

Adjustments to base to maintain current services include funds 

for the following: increased salaries and benefits costs for 

judges and current staff as well as increased costs for required 

routine operating activities such as rent, postage, 

telecommunications, printing, office supplies, general 

consulting services, and computer-assisted legal research 

services.

ADJUSTMENTS TO BASE TO MAINTAIN CURRENT 

SERVICES

A. JUDGES

Pay and Benefits Adjustments

1. Proposed 2024 pay adjustment

Mandatory Increase: $103,000 

The judiciary is assuming base federal pay rates will increase 

by 4.7 percent in January 2024 for an Employment Cost Index 

(ECI) adjustment. The requested increase provides for the cost 

of nine months of the anticipated pay raise in FY 2024, from 

January 2024 to September 2024. (If the ECI adjustment 

included in the President’s FY 2024 budget request is different 

from this 4.7 percent guidance, the judiciary will revise this 

line item in its FY 2024 budget re-estimate.) 

2. Annualization of 2023 pay adjustment

Mandatory Increase: $31,000

The requested increase provides for the annualized costs of the 

2023 Employment Cost Index (ECI) pay adjustment. As a 

result, the ECI, federal pay rates for judges increased by 4.1 

percent, effective as of January 2023. The requested increase 

provides for the cost of three months (from October 2023 to 

December 2023) of the 2023 pay increase in FY 2024. 

3. Benefits increases

a. Health benefits

Mandatory Increase: $27,000 

Based on information from the Office of Personnel 

Management, health benefit premium contributions are 

projected to increase by an average of 6.6 percent both in 

January 2023 and January 2024. The requested increase 

annualizes the 2023 premium increase and includes a ninemonth provision for the increase anticipated for FY 2024. 
2.15

b. FICA adjustment

Mandatory Increase: $15,000 

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 2023. The salary cap for OASDI increased from 

$147,000 to $160,200 in January 2023. The requested amount 

is needed to pay the court’s contribution in FY 2024. 

B. COURT SUPPORT PERSONNEL

Pay and Benefits Adjustments

4. Proposed 2024 pay adjustment

Requested Increase: $593,000 

The judiciary is assuming federal pay rates will increase by 5.2 

percent in January 2024. The requested increase provides for 

the cost of nine months of the anticipated pay raise in FY 2024, 

from January 2024 to September 2024. (If the pay adjustment 

included in the President’s FY 2024 budget request is different 

from this 5.2 percent guidance, the judiciary will revise this 

line item in its FY 2024 budget re-estimate.)

5. Annualization of 2023 pay adjustment

Requested Increase: $175,000 

The requested increase provides for the annualized costs of the 

2023 pay adjustment for Employment Cost Index (ECI) and 

locality pay. As a result of the pay adjustment, federal pay 

rates increased by an average of 4.6 percent, effective as of 

January 2023. The requested increase provides for the cost of 

three months (from October 2023 to December 2023) of the 

2023 pay increase in FY 2024. 

6. Promotions and within-grade increases

Requested Increase: $114,000 

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.

7. Benefits increases

a. Health benefits

Requested Increase: $257,000

Based on information from the Office of Personnel 

Management, health benefit premium contributions are 

projected to increase by an average of 6.6 percent both in 

January 2023 and January 2024. The requested increase 

annualizes the 2023 premium increase and includes a ninemonth provision for the increase anticipated for FY 2024. 

b. FICA adjustment

Requested Increase: $22,000 
2.16

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 2023. The salary cap for OASDI increased from 

$147,000 to $160,200 in January 2023. The requested amount 

is needed to pay the court’s contribution in FY 2024. 

8. One more compensable day

Requested Increase: $77,000

There is one more compensable day in FY 2024 than in 

FY 2023. The requested increase adjusts for personnel 

compensation and benefits associated with one more 

compensable day. 

C. OTHER ADJUSTMENTS

General Inflationary Adjustments

9. Inflationary increases in charges for contracts, services,

supplies, and equipment

Requested Increase: $141,000

Consistent with guidance from the Office of Management and 

Budget, this request of $141,000 is required to fund 

inflationary increases of 2.4 percent for operating expenses 

such as travel, communications, printing, contractual services, 

supplies and materials, and furniture and equipment. 

10. Inflationary increase in GSA space rental costs

Requested Increase: $203,000 

This request represents an inflationary increase and

adjustments in the cost of GSA space rental charges for space 

occupied by the court for FY 2024 based on a rent estimate 

provided by GSA.

11. Law books and computer-assisted legal research

(CALR)

Requested Increase: $22,000 

An adjustment of $11,000 is requested to fund an estimated 5.0 

percent increase in the cost of library services, including law 

book accessions and continuations, and an adjustment of 

$11,000 is requested to fund an estimated 4.0 percent increase 

in the cost of computer-assisted legal research resources.

12. Rent increase for leased space

Requested Increase: $1,245,288 

This $1,245,288 request represents a full year rent resumption 

for the court’s commercial leased space at 1401 H Street.

Two years ago, the court negotiated with the General Services 

Administration (GSA) a new 17-year lease for the property. 

As a cost savings for the court, the new lease included twoyears of free rent, which the court factored into its

corresponding budget requests by not requesting funding for 

this rent cost in FY 2022 and FY 2023. The two-year period 
2.17

will end in July 2023 with the court paying a partial month’s 

rent in August 2023 and a full month’s rent in September 2023. 

The full annual rent collections resume in October 2023 (FY 

2024). As such, the court is now including the full rent cost as 

an adjustment to base increase in its FY 2024 request.

D. PROGRAM INCREASES

13. New Director of Civic Engagement Position

Requested Increase: $98,000 FTE: 1

The requested increase of $98,000 is to provide for one 

additional permanent position priced out for nine months in 

fiscal year 2024 (salary and benefits). This FTE would be a 

newly created Direct of Civic Engagement position. This 

position would be responsible for development of the various 

physical spaces to house displays and the creation of a hightech classroom-like environment in an unused portion of the 

court’s library, organizing and supervising the planning for 

displays and programming, and collaborating with chambers 

and other court staff to create content for tours and educational 

programs. The Director would also be responsible for 

developing relationships with public and local schools, the 

Federal Circuit Bar Association, Federal Circuit Historical 

Society, and other relevant civic and educational organizations 

to maximize outreach and coordinating with all departments 

about upcoming events and requirements. The Court’s civic 

engagement program is discussed in more detail on page x.

FINANCING THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 REQUEST

14. Utilization of Electronic Public Access Receipts and

Judiciary Information Technology Fund

Estimated obligation: $1,467,000 

The court anticipates obligating $53,000 of Electronic Public 

Access receipts in FY 2024. These funds will be used for 

various expenditures to improve electronic access to court 

information and services for the public, including supporting 

court audio recording software and equipment used for 

providing public access to court hearings. 

The court also anticipates obligating $1,414,000 from the 

Judiciary Information Technology Fund (JITF) in FY 2024. 

This amount includes all required cyclical replacement of 

equipment. Cyclical information technology equipment 

replacements scheduled for FY 2024 include the court’s 

desktop computers, laptops, and tablets. 

Obligations will also include equipment and software upgrades 

in support of IT security, the annual renewal of software 

licenses such as Office 365 and the many other software 

packages integral to court operations, wireless service, and ITrelated training and travel. Finally, IT equipment maintenance 

expenses will be paid using funds from the JITF. 
2.18

APPENDIX

The following is a more complete listing of the Federal 

Circuit’s jurisdiction. It hears appeals from the following 

matters: 

(A) final decisions of all Federal District Courts in cases

arising under 28 U.S.C. § 1338(a) relating to patent laws

generally; 35 U.S.C. §§ 145-146 and 154(b) relating to review

of decisions of the Patent and Trademark Office, Patent Trial

and Appeal Board; 28 U.S.C. § 1346(a)(2) relating to Little

Tucker Act claims against the United States; and section 211 of

the Economic Stabilization Act of 1970, section 5 of the

Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973, section 506 (c)

of the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978, and section 523 of the

Energy Policy and Conservation Act relating to all statutes

formerly under the jurisdiction of the Temporary Emergency

Court of Appeals;

(B) final decisions of the United States Court of International

Trade, 28 U.S.C. § 2645(c);

(C) final decisions of the United States Court of Appeals for

Veterans Claims, 38 U.S.C. § 7292;

(D) final decisions of the United States Court of Federal

Claims, 28 U.S.C. § 2522 and 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa - 12(f);

(E) certain final decisions of the High Court of the Trust

Territory of the Pacific Islands, 48 U.S.C. § 1901, note and

§ 1931, note (1988) (Compact of Free Association; Federated

States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Islands, TITLE II,

Title One, Article VII, § 174(c));

(F) final determinations of the United States International

Trade Commission relating to unfair practices in import trade

made under 19 U.S.C. § 1337;

(G) findings of the Secretary of Commerce under U.S. note 6

to subchapter X of chapter 98 of the Harmonized Tariff

Schedule of the United States relating to importation of

educational or scientific instruments and apparatus;

(H) final orders or decisions of the Merit Systems Protection

Board and certain arbitrators, 5 U.S.C. § 7703;

(I) final decisions of the General Accounting Office Personnel

Appeals Board, 31 U.S.C. § 755;

(J) final decisions of Boards of Contract Appeals, 41 U.S.C.

§ 7107(a)(1);

(K) final decisions of the Patent and Trademark Office

tribunals on, among other things, patent applications,

trademark applications and interferences, cancellations,

concurrent use proceedings, and oppositions, 35 U.S.C. § 141

and 15 U.S.C. § 1071;

(L) appeals under section 71 of the Plant Variety Protection

Act of 1970, 7 U.S.C. § 2461;

(M) certain actions of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 38

U.S.C. § 502;

(N) decisions of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, 42 U.S.C.

§ 3796c-2;

(O) certain actions of the Board of Directors of the Office of

Congressional Workplace Rights of the U.S. Congress under 2

U.S.C. § 1407(a); and

(P) final decisions of certain agencies pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 1296.
2.19

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1292(c), the Federal Circuit also has 

exclusive jurisdiction regarding 

a. appealable interlocutory orders or decrees in cases

where the court would otherwise have jurisdiction over

an appeal; and

b. appeals from judgments in civil actions for patent

infringement otherwise appealable to the court and final

except for accounting.

Pursuance to 28 U.S.C. § 1292(d), the Federal Circuit

a. has exclusive jurisdiction of appeals from interlocutory

orders granting or denying, in whole or in part, a

motion to transfer an action to the Court of Federal

Claims; and

b. may, in its discretion, permit an appeal from an

interlocutory order of a judge who certifies that there is

a controlling question of law and a substantial ground

for difference of opinion thereon, and that an immediate

appeal may materially advance the ultimate termination

of the litigation.