SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

SUMMARY STATEMENT RELATING APPROPRIATION ESTIMATES TO THE CURRENT APPROPRIATION

Fiscal Year 2021 Enacted Appropriation $ 108,037,000

2021

Enacted

 Appropriation

2022 

Requested 

Appropriation

Salaries and Expenses - Mandatory $ 2,729,000 $ 2,763,000

Salaries and Expenses - Discretionary 94,690,000 97,501,000

Salaries and Expenses - Subtotal 97,419,000 100,265,000

Care of the Building and Grounds 10,618,000 10,309,000

Totals 108,037,000 110,574,000

Proposed Increase over Fiscal Year 2021 Enacted Appropriation $ 2,537,000

Total Requested Budget Authority, Fiscal Year 2022 $ 110,574,000

Requirements

1.1
Mandatory Discretionary Total

Fiscal Year 2021 Enacted Appropriation $ 2,729,000 $ 94,690,000 $ 97,419,000

Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriation Request 2,763,000 97,501,000 100,265,000

Requested Increase from Fiscal Year 2021 Enacted Appropriation 34,000 2,811,000 2,846,000

APPROPRIATION LANGUAGE

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(P.L. 116-260, Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2021)

 For expenses necessary for the operation of the Supreme Court, as required by 

law, excluding care of the building and grounds, including hire of passenger motor 

vehicles as authorized by 31 U.S.C. 1343 and 1344; not to exceed $10,000 for 

official reception and representation expenses; and for miscellaneous expenses, to be 

expended as the Chief Justice may approve, [$94,690,000]$97,501,000 , of which 

$1,500,000 shall remain available until expended.

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

current law for salaries of the chief justice and associate justices of the court.

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

SUMMARY STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT REQUIREMENTS

1.2
FTE Amount FTE Amount FTE Amount

Fiscal Year 2021 Enacted Appropriation 9 2,729 515 94,690 524 97,419

Adjustments to Base to Maintain Current Services

Page

No. A. Justices

1.16 1. Proposed January 2022 pay adjustment (1.0% for nine months) 21 - - - 21

1.16 2. Annualization of the 2021 pay adjustment (1.0% for three months) - 7 - - - 7

1.16 3. Benefits increases

a. Health benefits increases - 3 - - - 3

b. FICA adjustment - 4 - - - 4

B. Personnel

Pay and Benefit Adjustments

1.17 4. Proposed January 2022 pay adjustment (1.0% for nine months) - - 478 - 478

1.17 5. Annualization of the 2021 pay adjustment (1.0% for three months) - - - 173 - 173

1.17 6. Promotions and within-grade increases - - - 478 - 478

1.17 7. Benefits increases

a. Health benefits increase - - - 119 - 119

b. FICA adjustment - - - 23 - 23

c. FERS adjustment - - - 626 - 626

C. Other Adjustments

General Inflationary Adjustments

1.18 8. Inflationary adjustments for contracts, services, supplies, and equipment - - - 521 - 521

1.18 9. Inflationary increase in GSA space rental costs - - - 11 - 11

1.18 10. Annualize FTEs provided for in FY 2021 - - 2 383 2 383

Subtotal, adjustments to base to maintain current services - 34 2 2,811 2 2,846

Total Appropriation Required, Fiscal Year 2022 9 2,763 517 97,501 526 100,265

*Line items may not sum to totals due to rounding. 1.3
Activity Fiscal Year 2020 

Actual

Fiscal Year 2021 

Assumed

Fiscal Year 2022 

Request

Salaries and Expenses, Total Obligations 88,680 97,419 100,265

Unobligated Balance, Expiring 2,199 - -

Available Appropriation 90,879 97,419 100,265

Available Appropriation - Mandatory 2,680 2,729 2,763

Available Appropriation - Discretionary 88,199 94,690 97,501

Description Fiscal Year 2020 

Actual

Fiscal Year 2021 

Assumed

Fiscal Year 2022 

Request

11 Personnel compensation 49,853 52,803 53,960

12 Personnel benefits 18,684 21,057 22,213

13 Benefits of former personnel 17 6 6

21 Travel 579 1,392 1,420

22 Transportation of things 82 91 92

23 Rent, communications and utilities 1,214 1,282 1,313

24 Printing and reproduction 376 440 449

25 Other services 10,748 12,113 12,355

26 Supplies and materials 2,615 2,475 2,525

31 Equipment 4,512 5,761 5,931

Total Obligations 88,680 97,419 100,265

Object Classification ($000)*

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

OBLIGATIONS BY ACTIVITY ($000)

*Line items may not sum to totals due to rounding. 1.4
Fiscal Year 2020 

Actual

Fiscal Year 2021 

Assumed

Fiscal Year 2022 

Request

Obligations incurred 88,680 97,419 100,265

Obligated balance, start of year 13,109 15,617 14,981

Obligated balance, end of year (15,617) (14,981) (15,719)

Outlays* 86,172 98,054 99,526

Fiscal Year 2020 

Actual

Fiscal Year 2021 

Assumed

Fiscal Year 2022 

Request

Total compensable work years:

 Full-time equivalent employment 508 524 526

Personnel Summary

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

RELATION OF OBLIGATIONS TO OUTLAYS ($000)

*Line items may not sum to totals due to rounding. 1.5
Fiscal Year 2020 

Actual

Fiscal Year 2021 

Assumed

Fiscal Year 2022 

Request

Unobligated Balance, Beginning of the Year 3,002 3,215 2,615

Deposits 1,500 1,500 1,500

Unobligated Balance, End of the Year (3,215) (2,615) (2,615)

Technology Fund, Total Obligations 1,286 2,100 1,500

FY 2020 Actual: Began Network Infrastructure refresh at Court and TMFJB (four year project); Evaluation and planning for 

cellular/wifi infrastructure upgrade; Upgraded server hosts in Court; Began proof of concept for proposed configuration of new 

website infrastructure to include advanced content management capabilities in the Court Lab environment; Began planning for VOIP

implementation.

FY 2021 Projected: Continuation of Network Infrastrucure refresh (3 years remaining); Evaluation and replacement of end of life 

Intrusion Protection System and Mail Room equipment; Continuation of planning and evaluation for website development, including

advanced Content Management Capability; Begin VOIP implementation, replacing end of life PBX.

FY 2022 Request: Continuation of Network Infrastructure refresh; Upgrade end of life lab SAN storage system; Implement 

enhancements to WAN routing backbone; Finalize VOIP implementation.

Activity

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

TECHNOLOGY FUND OBLIGATIONS AND FINANCING (NO-YEAR FUNDING)

($000)

1.6
Term* Case Filings 

During Term

Original 

& Paid

In Forma 

Pauperis

Total Cases 

Disposed Of

1980 4,174 970 5,144 2,773 2,371 4,255 889

1981 4,422 889 5,311 2,957 2,354 4,433 878

1982 4,201 878 5,079 2,727 2,352 4,201 878

1983 4,222 878 5,100 2,706 2,394 4,141 959

1984 4,047 959 5,006 2,590 2,416 4,261 745

1985 4,413 745 5,158 2,581 2,577 4,275 883

1986 4,240 883 5,123 2,559 2,564 4,348 775

1987 4,493 775 5,268 2,593 2,675 4,387 881

1988 4,776 881 5,657 2,599 3,058 4,829 828

1989 4,918 828 5,746 2,430 3,316 4,932 814

1990 5,502 814 6,316 2,365 3,951 5,412 904

1991 5,866 904 6,770 2,463 4,307 5,828 942

1992 6,303 942 7,245 2,453 4,792 6,356 889

1993 6,897 889 7,786 2,454 5,332 6,682 1,104

1994 6,996 1,104 8,100 2,526 5,574 7,132 968

1995 6,597 968 7,565 2,467 5,098 6,599 966

1996 6,634 966 7,600 2,435 5,165 6,689 911

1997 6,781 911 7,692 2,439 5,253 6,718 974

1998 7,109 974 8,083 2,394 5,689 7,015 1,068

1999 7,377 1,068 8,445 2,421 6,024 7,332 1,113

2000 7,852 1,113 8,965 2,314 6,651 7,713 1,252

2001 7,924 1,252 9,176 2,218 6,958 8,025 1,151

2002 8,255 1,151 9,406 2,197 7,209 8,337 1,069

2003 7,814 1,068 8,882 2,064 6,818 7,790 1,092

2004 7,496 1,092 8,588 2,045 6,543 7,501 1,087

2005 8,521 1,087 9,608 2,033 7,575 8,209 1,399

2006 8,857 1,399 10,256 2,075 8,181 8,895 1,361

2007 8,241 1,361 9,602 1,974 7,628 8,375 1,227

2008 7,738 1,228 8,966 1,945 7,021 7,824 1,142

2009 8,159 1,142 9,301 1,913 7,388 8,096 1,205

2010 7,857 1,205 9,062 1,895 7,167 7,828 1,234

2011 7,713 1,239 8,952 1,870 7,082 7,656 1,296

2012 7,509 1,297 8,806 1,809 6,997 7,602 1,204

2013 7,376 1,204 8,580 1,874 6,706 7,547 1,033

2014 7,033 1,033 8,066 1,851 6,215 7,006 1,060

2015 6,475 1,060 7,535 1,847 5,688 6,506 1,029

2016 6,305 1,029 7,334 1,857 5,477 6,260 1,074

2017 6,315 1,075 7,390 2,070 5,320 6,206 1,184

2018 6,442 1,184 7,626 1,924 5,702 6,528 1,098

2019 5,411 1,123 6,534 1,828 4,706 5,712 822

*October Term 2019 corresponds with fiscal year 2020.

1.7

Total Cases 

Not Disposed Of Total Cases Carried Over From Prior Term

Table SC.1

Summary of Supreme Court Cases
1980 154 152 122 183

1981 184 170 126 201

1982 183 174 119 179

1983 184 174 81 149

1984 175 159 73 185

1985 171 171 106 187

1986 175 174 109 167

1987 167 160 87 180

1988 170 168 107 147

1989 146 146 80 123

1990 125 125 115 141

1991 127 123 77 121

1992 116 115 113 97

1993 99 99 70 99

1994 94 94 69 96

1995 90 90 120 106

1996 90 90 83 87

1997 96 94 51 90

1998 90 88 59 81

1999 83 79 54 92

2000 86 83 127 99

2001 88 85 72 88

2002 84 79 66 91

2003 91 89 52 87

2004 87 85 826 80

2005 90 82 105 78

2006 78 74 280 77

2007 75 72 208 95

2008 87 83 95 88

2009 82 77 95 78

2010 86 83 84 90

2011 79 73 137 66

2012 77 76 88 93

2013 79 77 72 76

2014 75 75 112 68

2015 82 76 146 81

2016 71 68 71 75

2017 69 63 103 78

2018 72 69 56 86

2019 73 69 105 60

1.8

Disposed of 

Term by Opinion

 Table SC.2

Summary of Case Dispositions

Cases Granted Review 

During Term

Cases Reviewed and Decided 

Without Argument 

During Term

Cases Granted Review

Argued This 

Term
Term

1980 1,096 11 32

1981 1,145 7 39

1982 1,077 19 45

1983 1,072 14 76

1984 982 11 62

1985 1,050 6 66

1986 951 11 86

1987 1,001 3 60

1988 1,064 5 90

1989 929 0 71

1990 984 3 55

1991 968 1 74

1992 974 2 76

1993 1,113 5 79

1994 992 5 82

1995 1,067 5 87

1996 935 1 110

1997 985 1 115

1998 1,100 0 133

1999 1,085 0 132

2000 1,145 1 87

2001 1,006 2 91

2002 1,096 3 99

2003 1,064 2 86

2004 1,081 3 68

2005 1,236 2 112

2006 1,243 2 71

2007 1,094 3 20

2008 1,167 2 63

2009 1,268 2 60

2010 1,277 2 65

2011 1,256 1 61

2012 1,251 2 44

2013 1,286 1 73

2014 1,313 0 73

2015 1,303 0 47

2016 1,269 0 43

2017 1,425 0 45

2018 1,369 0 39

2019 1,071 0 32

*Some Applications addressed to a Justice are referred to the whole

Court for decision.

1.9

Applications for Relief 

to Individual Justices

Chambers 

Opinions

Applications for Stay 

in Capital Cases*

Table SC.3

Applications to Individual Justices,

Including Capital Cases
SUPREME COURT OF THE US Office of the Clerk

1.10

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

70 75 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Cases on Docket By Type

No. Original & Paid In Forma Pauperis of Cases
SUPREME COURT OF THE US Office of the Clerk

1.11

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Cases Carried Over & Docketed

No. of Cases Carried Over Docketed During Term
SUPREME COURT OF THE US Office of the Clerk

Term Year 2019 1.12

Civil

2122

39%

Habeas Corpus

1555

29%

Criminal

1622

30%

Other

112

2%

Cases Docketed By Type
SUPREME COURT OF THE US Office of the Clerk

Term Year 2019 1.13

Civil

59

82%

Habeas Corpus

4

6%

Criminal

9

12%

Cases Argued By Type
SUPREME COURT OF THE US Office of the Clerk

Term Year 2019 1.14

Paid and Original

1481

27%

I.F.P.

3930

73%

Cases Docketed
1.15

GENERAL STATEMENT AND INFORMATION

The Supreme Court Salaries and Expenses account funds salaries of the Chief Justice, eight Associate Justices, the Counselor to the 

Chief Justice, the four Statutory Officers of the Court, and the employees of the Court. The account also funds the necessary expenses 

of the Court, including printing and binding of the Supreme Court reports, purchasing books for the Supreme Court, and 

miscellaneous expenses.

The fiscal year (FY) 2022 request for the Court totals $100,265,000. The request is the sum of $2,763,000 of mandatory 

appropriations and $97,501,000 of discretionary appropriations, including $1,500,000 of no-year funding for planning and 

implementing periodic Court-wide technology and automation upgrades. 

FISCAL YEAR 2021 APPROPRIATIONS

The judiciary built the FY 2022 discretionary budget request for the Supreme Court Salaries and Expenses account on the FY 2021 

enacted appropriation, which is $94,690,000. This amount fully funds the Supreme Court’s FY 2022 requirements. For bill language, 

the judiciary used the language from P.L. 116-260, Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2021. 
1.16

JUSTIFICATION OF CHANGES

The FY 2022 request for the Court includes $2,763,000 for 

mandatory expenses and $97,501,000 for discretionary 

expenses. The discretionary request is a 3.0 percent increase 

over the FY 2021 enacted level. The request includes $2.8 

million in necessary adjustments to maintain current services. 

The request also includes no-year funding for planning and 

implementing periodic Court-wide technology and automation 

upgrades totaling $1,500,000. 

Adjustments to base to maintain current services include funds 

for pay and benefits increases for current Justices and staff. 

Also included are increased costs of ongoing activities such as 

physical security and cybersecurity, supplies, equipment, 

furnishings, automation, and offsite warehouse space for 

activities that include mail screening.

ADJUSTMENTS TO BASE TO MAINTAIN CURRENT 

SERVICES

A. JUSTICES

1. Proposed 2022 pay adjustment

Mandatory Increase: $21,000 

The judiciary is assuming federal pay rates will increase by 1.0 

percent in January 2022. The requested increase provides for 

the cost of nine months of the anticipated pay adjustment in FY

2022, from January 2022 to September 2022. (If the pay 

adjustment included in the President’s FY 2022 budget request 

is different from this 1.0 percent guidance, the judiciary will 

revise this line item in its FY 2022 budget re-estimate.)

2. Annualization of 2021 pay adjustment

Mandatory Increase: $7,000

The requested increase provides for the annualized costs of a 

2021 Employment Cost Index pay adjustment. Based on the 

enacted appropriation, federal pay rates for justices increased 

by 1.0 percent, effective as of January 2021. The requested 

increase provides for the cost of three months (from October 

2021 to December 2021) of the 2021 pay increase in FY 2022. 

3. Benefits increase

a. Health benefits

Mandatory Increase: $3,000 

Based on information from the Office of Personnel 

Management, agency health benefit premium contributions are 

projected to increase by an average of 3.0 percent both in 

January 2021 and January 2022. The requested increase 

annualizes the 2021 premium increase and includes a ninemonth provision for an estimated 3.0 percent increase 

anticipated for FY 2022. 
1.17

b. FICA adjustment

Mandatory Increase: $4,000 

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 2021. The salary cap for OASDI increased from 

$137,700 to $142,800 in January 2021. The requested amount 

is needed to pay the agency’s contribution in FY 2022. 

B. PERSONNEL

Pay and Benefit Adjustments

4. Proposed 2022 pay adjustment

Requested Increase: $478,000

The judiciary is assuming federal pay rates will increase by 1.0 

percent in January 2022. The requested increase provides for 

the cost of nine months of the anticipated pay raise in FY 2022, 

from January 2022 to September 2022. (If the pay adjustment 

included in the President’s FY 2022 budget request is different 

from this 1.0 percent guidance, the judiciary will revise this 

line item in its FY 2022 budget re-estimate.)

5. Annualization of 2021 pay adjustment

Requested Increase: $173,000

The requested increase provides for the annualized costs of a 

2021 Employment Cost Index pay adjustment for federal 

civilian workers. Based on the enacted appropriation, federal 

pay rates increased by an average of 1.0 percent, effective as of 

January 2021. The requested increase provides for the cost of 

three months (from October 2021 to December 2021) of the 

2021 pay increase in FY 2022. 

6. Promotions and within-grade increases

Requested Increase: $478,000 

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: $119,000 

Based on information from the Office of Personnel 

Management, agency health benefit premium contributions are 

projected to increase by an average of 3.0 percent both in 

January 2021 and January 2022. The requested increase 

annualizes the 2021 premium increase and includes a ninemonth provision for an estimated 3.0 percent increase 

anticipated for FY 2022. 
1.18

b. FICA adjustment

Requested Increase: $23,000 

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 2021. The salary cap for OASDI increased from 

$137,700 to $142,800 in January 2021. The requested amount 

is needed to pay the agency contribution in FY 2022. 

c. FERS adjustment

Requested Increase: $626,000 

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 2022. For most employees, the agency 

contribution rate will increase from 17.3 percent to 18.4 

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.

C. OTHER ADJUSTMENTS

General Inflationary Adjustments

8. Inflationary increases in charges for contracts, services,

supplies, and equipment

Requested Increase: $521,000

Consistent with guidance from the Office of Management and 

Budget, the 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. 

9. Inflationary increase and adjustments in GSA space

rental costs

Requested Increase: $11,000 

This request represents a 4.0 percent increase in the cost of 

GSA space rental charges for warehouse space in FY 2022. 

10. Annualization of four new positions provided for in FY

2021

Requested Increase: $383,000 FTE: 2

The FY 2021 enacted appropriation provided funding 

necessary for four new administrative positions, hardware and 

software system upgrades, specialized services, and other costs 

associated with administrative improvements to enhance the 

Supreme Court’s security programs. This request includes 

funding for the remainder of those positions’ salaries and 

benefits, which were pro-rated for half of the fiscal year.