The Judiciary

Fiscal Year 2020

Congressional Budget Summary

PREPARED BY

THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE U.S. COURTS

WASHINGTON, DC

February 2019
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Overview

The Judiciary’s fiscal year (FY) 2020 discretionary budget request of $7.6 billion is a 4.9

percent increase over the Judiciary’s FY 2019 assumed appropriation of $7.3 billion. The 

Judiciary’s FY 2020 request also includes $669.8 million in mandatory appropriations. In the 

absence of enacted full year FY 2019 appropriations, the Judiciary made funding assumptions to 

construct its FY 2020 budget request. The FY 2019 funding levels assume that Congress will 

provide a full-year discretionary appropriation for the Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and 

Other Judicial Services Salaries and Expenses account that is 1.1 percent above the FY 2018

enacted level and at or near the requested levels for the Defender Services, Court Security and 

Fees of Jurors and Commissioners accounts. After final FY 2019 appropriations are enacted, the 

Judiciary will update its FY 2020 request and apprise the Appropriations Committees of changes 

to the request level.

The Judicial Conference is grateful for the support that Congress has shown the Judiciary 

during the last several fiscal years. The Conference is hopeful that Congress will continue to 

provide sufficient resources to the Judiciary in FY 2019 and FY 2020. During the recent partial 

government shutdown, the Judiciary worked diligently to utilize fees from court filings and 

available balances in no-year accounts to keep the Judicial Branch open for business. While the 

Judiciary was able to use this budgetary flexibility to continue operations, the Judicial Branch

remains concerned about the adverse impact on the public’s access to the courts and the harm to 

judicial employees if a future lapse in appropriations occurs and available funding is exhausted. 

The Judiciary must ensure that the courts continue to provide citizens with all the judicial 

services that they need and deserve. Our constitutional system of government, with separation of 

powers and checks and balances, can only function as intended if the Judicial Branch is funded 

adequately. The Judiciary’s discretionary request of $7.6 billion is necessary to fulfill its 

constitutional duties in FY 2020. 

Fiscal Year 2019 Priorities

The FY 2019 assumed levels will fund FY 2019 pay and non-pay adjustments to base and 

other Judiciary priorities. For the courts’ Salaries and Expenses account, the FY 2019 assumed 

funding level will fund ongoing cybersecurity requirements, additional resources for ongoing 

courthouse construction projects, and the funding needed to shift some previously fee-funded

Electronic Public Access requirements to this account, consistent with a March 2018 federal 

court ruling. 

Foreword
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The FY 2019 assumed level for the Defender Services account will fund all projected 

panel attorney payments and the continued implementation of the federal defender organization 

staffing formula. The Judiciary is grateful to Congress for providing a $6 above-inflation 

increase to the non-capital panel attorney hourly rate in FY 2018, resulting in a new rate of $140 

per hour for work performed on or after March 23, 2018. In 2019, the assumed hourly rate is 

$142, which is $7 below the statutory maximum rate of $149 per hour. Achieving progress 

toward the statutory maximum will be instrumental in attracting and retaining qualified and 

experienced attorneys willing to provide Criminal Justice Act representation.

The FY 2019 assumed level for the Court Security account will fund the continued 

implementation of the physical access control systems replacement plan, security infrastructure 

for ongoing courthouse construction projects, and the continuation of the phased implementation 

of the revised court security officer staffing standards. 

The FY 2019 assumed level for the Fees of Jurors and Commissioners account will fund 

petit and grand juror requirements for FY 2019. The Judiciary appreciates that Congress 

increased the daily juror attendance fee from $40 to $50 in FY 2018. This increase helps to 

offset some of the financial burden imposed by jury service, particularly on the approximately 40 

percent of private sector workers whose employers do not provide paid leave for jury duty.

Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Request

The FY 2020 budget request will maintain current services across the Judiciary, sustain 

progress on several ongoing initiatives, and fund a number of new priority investments in 

judicial operations and infrastructure.

For the courts’ Salaries and Expenses account, the Judiciary requests $5.4 billion, an 

increase of $230 million (4.5 percent) in discretionary appropriations over the FY 2019 assumed 

level. This request funds current services, as well as a number of critical new investments, 

including six additional full-time magistrate judges, required infrastructure associated with 

ongoing courthouse construction projects, and the replacement of two critical information 

technology systems involving financial disclosure reporting and personnel/payroll projections. 

The request includes court support staffing requirements in FY 2020 to support projected 

workload. 

For the Defender Services account, the Judiciary requests $1.2 billion, an increase of 

$77.2 million (6.7 percent) over the FY 2019 assumed level. This request includes sufficient 

funding to continue implementation of the federal defender organization staffing formula and to 

support projected panel attorney representations in FY 2020. The request also includes a $7 per 

hour above-inflation increase to the non-capital panel attorney hourly rate (from $142 per hour to 

$149 per hour). With this proposed increase, the non-capital panel attorney hourly rate would be 

at the projected statutory maximum. Finally, this request includes additional positions for 
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program oversight and training, as well as funding for necessary information technology 

upgrades. 

For the Court Security account, the Judiciary requests $641.3 million, an increase of 

$34.0 million (5.6 percent) over the assumed FY 2019 level. The request includes funding for 

the continued implementation of the physical access control systems replacement strategy, as 

well as security infrastructure and additional court security officers (CSOs) for new courthouses. 

In addition, the FY 2020 request includes funding for the implementation of a new video 

management system replacement plan, continued phased implementation of the revised CSO

staffing standards, and additional district supervisors for the CSO program. 

For the Fees of Jurors and Commissioners account, the Judiciary seeks $51.9 million, an 

increase of $1.1 million (2.2 percent) over the FY 2019 assumed level. The FY 2020 request is 

sufficient to fund all projected petit and grand juror requirements.

Courthouse Construction and Capital Security Improvements

The Judiciary’s courthouse construction and capital security projects are funded from 

GSA’s budget. For FY 2020, the Judiciary is continuing to focus on effectively managing the 13 

courthouse/federal building projects whose construction costs were funded in FY 2016 and 

FY 2018. In addition, the Judiciary has updated its Courthouse Project Priorities plan to reflect 

its highest construction priorities for FY 2020: Hartford, Connecticut, and Chattanooga, 

Tennessee. For the Capital Security Program, the Judiciary requests that Congress provide GSA 

$31.4 million in FY 2020 for additional capital security projects to ameliorate security 

deficiencies in existing courthouse buildings where physical renovations are viable in lieu of 

construction of a new courthouse. Stable, consistent funding for these projects is crucial to 

address serious deficiencies that threaten the safety and security of the Judiciary and the public.

Cost Containment

The Judiciary aggressively seeks to contain costs whenever possible and has 

implemented a number of cost containment initiatives since 2004. These efforts have achieved 

significant cost savings and cost avoidance for over a dozen years and will continue to do so. 

In 2013, the Judiciary adopted a three percent national space reduction target, to be 

achieved by the end of FY 2018. The Judiciary is pleased to report that, as of September 30, 

2018, approximately 1.1 million usable square feet (USF) has been removed from the Judiciary’s 

rent bill, which is approximately 27 percent over the Judiciary’s original goal of 870,305 USF. 

This net reduction is comprised of space released back to GSA, less space increases since the 

baseline was set. This savings equates to an annual cost avoidance of approximately $36 

million, and a cumulative cost avoidance of $105 million over the last five years.
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Other cost containment initiatives have focused on areas expected to have the greatest 

impact on long-term savings, including personnel expenses, information technology, and 

operating expenses. The Judiciary continues to use work measurement tools to update its court 

support staffing formulas regularly to incorporate best practices, shared administrative services, 

improvements in information technology, and other efficiencies. In fact, utilizing these work 

measurement tools and current workload forecasts results in a modest net reduction of court 

support staff in the Salaries and Expenses budget request. 

The Judiciary has also undertaken significant efforts to develop alternative organizational 

models that may result in cost savings, including expanding shared administrative services 

within and among districts. In addition, the Judicial Conference approved a three-year horizontal 

consolidation pilot project, based on voluntary sharing arrangements between two or more 

bankruptcy court clerks’ offices. The Judiciary will study the pilot to determine whether 

horizontal consolidation of bankruptcy clerks’ offices could produce savings in the level of 

required funding and/or personnel for those offices without decreasing services provided to 

judges, the bar, and the public. 

The Judiciary’s FY 2020 mandatory budget request of $669.8 million and its 

discretionary budget request of $7.6 billion are summarized in the following pages. A more 

detailed description of the Judiciary’s FY 2020 request, as well as the requests for courthouse 

construction and capital security requirements, can be found in The Judiciary, FY 2020

Congressional Budget Justification.

John W. Lungstrum James C. Duff

United States Senior District Judge Director, Administrative Office 

 for the District of Kansas of the United States Courts

Chair, Budget Committee of the Secretary, Judicial Conference of the United States

 Judicial Conference of the United States
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Page

Foreword......................................................................................................................................... i

Overview of the Judiciary .............................................................................................................1

Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Summary - Details of Request............................................................5 

Summary Tables

Judiciary Appropriation Funding for Fiscal Year 2018 – Fiscal Year 2020......................11

Summary of FTE for Fiscal Year 2018 – Fiscal Year 2020 ..............................................12

Fiscal Year 2020 Summary of Requested Changes...........................................................13

Outlays for Fiscal Year 2018 – Fiscal Year 2020 .............................................................16

Fiscal Year 2020 Request Summary by Appropriation

Supreme Court of the United States 

Salaries and Expenses..................................................................................................19

Care of the Building and Grounds...............................................................................21

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.....................................................23

United States Court of International Trade........................................................................25

Courts of Appeals, District Courts and Other Judicial Services (CADCOJS)

Salaries and Expenses..................................................................................................27

Defender Services........................................................................................................37

Fees of Jurors and Commissioners ..............................................................................43

Court Security ..............................................................................................................47

Administrative Office of the United States Courts............................................................53

Federal Judicial Center ......................................................................................................55

United States Sentencing Commission ..............................................................................57

Title III Administrative Provisions – The Judiciary ..........................................................59

Judicial Retirement Funds..................................................................................................61

Judiciary Space Priorities for the Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Request 

Courthouse Construction ...................................................................................................65

Capital Security Program...................................................................................................67

Table of Contents
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The organization of the judiciary, the district and circuit boundaries, the places of holding court, and 

the number of federal judges are established by laws passed by Congress and signed by the President. 

The number of federal judges in each district and in the courts of appeals is authorized by Congress 

on the basis of workload.

In addition to the adjudication of cases, 

other related functions, such as the 

provision of criminal defense services and 

the supervision of offenders, are prescribed 

by statute. Following is a brief overview of 

the work of the courts and other related 

activities of the Judicial Branch.

United States Supreme Court

The United States Supreme Court consists 

of nine justices, one of whom is appointed 

as Chief Justice of the United States. The 

Supreme Court is the final arbiter in the 

federal court system.

United States Courts of Appeals

There are 12 regional courts of appeals and 167 authorized appellate court Article III judgeships 

nationwide. These 12 courts of appeals have jurisdiction over cases within a regional area or 

“circuit.” The 12 regional courts of appeals review cases from the United States district courts and 

the United States Tax Court as well as orders and decisions from a number of federal administrative 

agencies.

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has exclusive national jurisdiction over a 

large number of diverse subject areas, including international trade, government contracts, patents, 

trademarks, certain monetary claims against the United States government, federal personnel, and 

veterans’ benefits. Appeals to the court come from all 94 federal district courts, as well as the United 

States Court of Federal Claims, the United States Court of International Trade, and the United States 

Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. There are 12 authorized Article III circuit judgeships on the 

Court.

Overview of the Judiciary
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United States District Courts

There are 94 district courts in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 

Rico, and the territories of Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The 

U.S. District Courts are the courts of general jurisdiction in the federal court system, and most federal 

cases are initially tried and decided in these courts. There are 677 authorized Article III district court 

judgeships nationwide.

The Federal Magistrates Act of 1968 created the office of magistrate judge to assist the district court 

judges. Magistrate judges are non-Article III judges appointed by the district judges, and they serve 

for a term of years rather than a lifetime appointment. Full-time magistrate judges serve a term of 

eight years and may be reappointed. 

United States Bankruptcy Courts

The bankruptcy courts are separate units of the 

district courts. Federal courts have exclusive 

jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases; a bankruptcy 

case cannot be filed in a state court. United States 

bankruptcy judges are non-Article III judges 

appointed by the courts of appeals for a term of 

years, rather than a lifetime appointment. They 

serve for a term of 14 years and may be 

reappointed.

United States Court of International Trade

The Court of International Trade, with nine Article III judges, has exclusive nationwide jurisdiction 

of civil actions against the United States, its agencies and officers, and certain civil actions brought 

by the United States, arising out of import transactions and the administration and enforcement of the 

federal customs and international trade laws.

United States Court of Federal Claims

The Court of Federal Claims has nationwide 

jurisdiction over certain types of claims against 

the federal government. Its 16 judges are 

appointed for a term of 15 years by the 

President with the advice and consent of the 

Senate. Judges appointed to the Court of 

Federal Claims are authorized under Article I 

of the Constitution and do not have the tenure 

and salary protections of Article III judges.
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Probation and Pretrial Services

Federal probation and pretrial services officers protect the public through the investigation and 

supervision of defendants and offenders within the federal criminal justice system. A pretrial services 

officer supervises defendants awaiting trial who are released into our communities and provides a 

source of information upon which the court can determine conditions of release or detention while 

criminal cases are pending adjudication. In support of sentencing determinations, which require both 

uniformity of practice and attention to individual circumstances, probation officers provide the court 

with reliable information concerning the offender, the victim, and the offense committed, as well as 

an impartial application of the sentencing guidelines. Probation officers supervise offenders 

sentenced to probation, as well as offenders coming out of federal prison who are required to serve a 

term of supervised release.

Defender Services

The federal judiciary oversees and administers the federal defender and appointed counsel program, 

which provides legal representation and other services to persons financially unable to obtain counsel 

in criminal and related matters in federal court. The Sixth Amendment to the Constitution guarantees 

that “[i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right...to have the assistance of 

counsel for his defense.” The Criminal Justice Act provides that courts shall appoint counsel from 

federal public and community defender organizations or from a panel of private attorneys (“panel 

attorneys”) established by the court. 

Court Security

The judiciary’s Court Security appropriation funds protective guard services and security systems and 

equipment for United States courthouses and other facilities housing federal court operations. These 

services are contracted for and managed by the Department of Justice’s United States Marshals 

Service, with additional guard services provided by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal 

Protective Service.

Fees of Jurors and Commissioners

The judiciary receives funding to provide for the statutory fees and allowances of federal grand and 

petit jurors and for the compensation of land commissioners.
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Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts

The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts is the central support entity for the judicial branch. It 

has management oversight of the court security program, the probation and pretrial services program, 

and the defender services program. It supports the Judicial Conference of the United States in 

determining judiciary policies; develops new methods, systems, and programs for conducting the 

business of the federal courts efficiently and economically; develops and supports the application of 

technology; collects and analyzes statistics on the business of the federal courts for accurate planning 

and decisions about resource needs; provides financial management services and personnel and 

payroll support; and conducts audits and reviews to ensure the continued quality and integrity of 

federal court operations.

Federal Judicial Center

The Federal Judicial Center is the judiciary’s research and education agency. The Center undertakes 

research and evaluation of judicial operations and procedures for both the committees of the Judicial 

Conference and the courts themselves. It provides judges, court personnel, and others orientation, 

continuing education, and training through seminars; curriculum units for in-court use; monographs 

and manuals; and audio, video, and interactive media programs.

Payment to Judicial Trust Funds

This appropriation finances annuity payments to retired bankruptcy judges and magistrate judges, 

U.S. Court of Federal Claims judges, and spouses and dependent children of deceased judicial 

officers.

United States Sentencing Commission

The U.S. Sentencing Commission promulgates sentencing 

policies, practices, and guidelines for the federal criminal 

justice system. The Chair, three Vice Chairs, and three other 

voting commissioners are appointed by the President with the 

advice and consent of the Senate.
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The judiciary’s appropriation request for FY 2020 totals $8,294,392,000 (including

$669,764,000 in mandatory appropriations and $7,624,628,000 in discretionary appropriations), 

an increase of $388,210,000, or 4.9 percent, over the FY 2019 assumed appropriations. 

Mandatory Discretionary Total

FY 2019 Assumed Appropriation 634,603 7,271,579 7,906,182

FY 2020 Adjustments to Base 35,161 288,935 324,096

FY 2020 Program Increases - 64,114 64,114

FY 2020 Total Increases 35,161 353,049 388,210

FY 2020 Total Request 669,764 7,624,628 8,294,392

($000)

Summary of FY 2020 Request

Fiscal Year 2019 Appropriations Assumption

In the absence of enacted full FY 2019 appropriations, the judiciary made assumptions to 

construct a FY 2020 budget request. The specific assumption for each account is detailed below 

in each section of this Congressional Budget Summary as well as in each chapter of the full

FY 2020 Congressional Budget Justification. After full-year FY 2019 appropriations are 

enacted, the judiciary will re-estimate its FY 2020 budget request and transmit to the 

Appropriations Committees any changes to FY 2020 appropriations requirements and language. 

Further, for bill language, the judiciary used the language from H.R. 6147, the House-passed 

FY 2019 Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill, updated with the 

FY 2019 assumed funding level, as the closest approximation of eventual enacted FY 2019

appropriations language. 

Adjustments to Base (Mandatory Appropriations)

A $35.2 million increase is requested for mandatory judiciary appropriations, as follows: 

1. An increase of $28.4 million is required for the judiciary retirement trust funds accounts 

based on requirements calculated by an independent actuary.

2. An increase of $3.8 million is for pay and benefit adjustments for Article III judges for the 

Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the Court of International 

Trade, and active, senior, and retired Article III judges and bankruptcy judges within the

Salaries and Expenses account, including the annualization of the assumed FY 2019 pay 

adjustment of 1.4 percent for judges. Of the $3.8 million, $1.3 million is requested for an 
6

increase in the agency contribution rate to the Federal Employee Retirement System from 

13.7 percent to 16.0 percent.

3. An increase of $3.0 million is associated with an additional 8 active Article III judge FTE

(based on an assumption of 40 confirmations), an additional 4 senior judge FTE, and an 

additional 1 bankruptcy judge FTE.

Adjustments to Base (Discretionary Appropriations)

Of the requested $353.0 million increase in discretionary appropriations, $288.9 million (82 

percent) will provide for pay adjustments, inflation and other adjustments to base necessary to 

maintain current services. Base adjustments include:

1. An increase of $94.1 million will provide for inflationary pay and benefit increases for 

magistrate and claims judges, judges’ staff, and other judiciary personnel. This includes 

annualizing an assumed January 2019 pay adjustment (1.4 percent for magistrate and claims 

court judges and 1.9 percent for staff), changes in benefit costs, one more compensable day, 

and a wage rate adjustment for court security officers (CSOs). 

2. An increase of $77.1 million is requested for a planned increase to the agency contribution 

rate to the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) plans for FY 2020. Based upon 

guidance from the Office of Management and Budget, the agency contribution rate will 

increase for most employees from 13.7 percent to 16.0 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.

3. An increase of $35.2 million is necessary to replace non-appropriated sources of funds used 

in FY 2019 to support base requirements with direct appropriations for the courts’ Salaries 

and Expenses and Defender Services accounts. The judiciary will keep the Appropriations 

Subcommittees informed of any change in this estimate. 

4. A net increase of $31.1 million is associated with changes in the judiciary’s space program. 

This includes an increase of $38.8 million for space rental adjustments and $0.9 million for 

new space expected to be delivered in FY 2020, partially offset by a decrease of $4.6 million 

in other space-related adjustments and $4.0 million in savings associated with the judiciary’s 

space reduction program. 

5. An increase of $24.6 million will provide for increases in contract rates and other standard 

inflationary increases. Of this amount, $0.5 million is for the Vaccine Injury Compensation 

Trust Fund.

6. An increase of $8.9 million is associated with a change in panel attorney representations 

based on FY 2020 caseload projections in the defender services program.
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7. An increase of $8.6 million is for the annualization of positions assumed to be funded in 

FY 2019, including:

• 2 positions (1 FTE) for the Supreme Court Buildings and Grounds account; 

• 56 federal public defender organization positions (28 FTE) and 14 community defender 

organization positions for the Defender Services account; 

• 3 reimbursable training positions for the Defender Services account; and

• 35 CSO positions for the Court Security account.

8. An increase of $7.7 million is for chambers staff associated with the additional active and 

senior Article III judges and bankruptcy judges (noted above in the mandatory adjustments to 

base section), specifically, 41 FTE for active Article III judges, 13 FTE for senior judges, and 

2 FTE for bankruptcy judges.

9. A net increase of $5.3 million is associated with adjustments to systems and equipment 

requirements in the court security program.

10. An increase of $2.1 million will provide for estimated increases in Federal Protective Service 

(FPS) security charges.

11. A net increase of $0.5 million in information technology (IT) requirements for the courts’ 

Salaries and Expenses account is due to:

• an increase of $15.6 million for the continued implementation of ongoing IT projects,

• a decrease of $13.4 million in non-recurring costs associated with the Probation and 

Pretrial Automated Tracking System (PACTS), and 

• a decrease of $1.7 million due to contractor conversion savings.

12. A decrease of $2.7 million is for non-recurring costs associated with the evidence-based 

practices program.

13. A net decrease of $3.6 million in adjustments to base is associated with:

• a decrease of $4.3 million in non-recurring project requirements in the Supreme Court’s 

Care of the Building and Grounds account,

• an increase of $1.1 million in a base adjustment in the petit juror program in the Fees of 

Jurors account, and

• a net decrease of $0.4 million associated with a projected net change in juror 

requirements based on FY 2020 projected caseload.
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Program Changes (Discretionary Appropriations)

The remaining $64.1 million (18 percent) of the requested increase is for program enhancements 

including:

1. An increase of $18.2 million for Defender Services for the continued implementation of the 

federal defender organization staffing formula. These funds will provide for 190 additional 

staff (150 federal public defender organization positions/75 FTE and 40 community defender 

organization positions).

2. A net increase of $12.7 million will support infrastructure and security requirements for new 

courthouse construction projects consisting of $21.7 million in additional infrastructure 

requirements, partially offset by $9.0 million in non-recurring security requirements.

3. An increase of $6.3 million is to begin the implementation of a multi-year video management 

system replacement strategy in the Court Security account.

4. An increase of $6.0 million will fund 6 additional magistrate judge positions (6 FTE), 18 

chambers staff (18 FTE), and the associated operating costs for newly proposed magistrate 

judgeships in the following locations:

• District of Delaware, 1 judgeship

• District of New Jersey, 2 judgeships

• Western District of Texas, 1 judgeship

• Northern District of Illinois, 2 judgeships

5. An increase of $5.6 million will support 34 additional CSO positions at new courthouses

projected to be open in FY 2020 or early FY 2021 and an additional 69 CSO positions for the 

continued implementation (4th year) of the revised CSO staffing formula.

6. An increase of $5.0 million for the court security program for the continued implementation 

of the physical access control systems (PACS) replacement strategy. This increase results in

a total of $32.0 million in PACS funding for FY 2020.

7. An increase of $4.2 million to the Supreme Court Care of Buildings and Grounds account to 

support infrastructure upgrades requirements for Supreme Court facilities.

8. An increase of $2.8 million for the courts’ Salaries and Expenses account is for the 

development of a new financial disclosure reporting system.

9. An increase of $2.3 million will support 6 national positions (3 FTE) related to IT and 

cyclical replacement of the FDO server infrastructure for the Defender Services account.
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10. An increase of $2.2 million will provide for a $7 hourly rate increase (to $149 per hour)

above the assumed FY 2019 hourly rate of $142 for non-capital panel attorney cases in 

FY 2020, effective January 2020. 

11. An increase of $1.7 million for the courts’ Salaries and Expenses account will support 

upgrades to the judiciary’s payroll projection system.

12. An increase of $0.7 million is for 7 additional FDO panel management positions consisting 

of 4 positions/2 FTE for federal public defender organizations and 3 positions for community 

defender organizations to support panel management.

13. An increase of $0.6 million will fund 8 reimbursable positions to support program operations 

and training programs for federal defender staff and panel attorneys.

14. An increase of $0.6 million is for 11 additional district supervisors to support the CSO 

program.

15. An increase of $0.4 million is for 2 staff positions (2 FTE) to expand the Office of Judicial 

Integrity, which was established within the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts in 2018.

16. A net decrease of $5.2 million is associated with a decline of 42 FTE in court support staffing 

in the courts’ Salaries and Expenses account due to changes in FY 2020 projected caseload.
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Summary Tables

 Appropriation Account Mandatory1 Discretionary Total Mandatory1 Discretionary Total Mandatory Discretionary Total

Supreme Court

 Salaries and Expenses 2,651 82,028 84,679 2,663 84,703 87,366 2,680 87,699 90,379

 Building and Grounds - 16,153 16,153 - 15,999 15,999 - 16,390 16,390

 Total, Supreme Court 2,651 98,181 100,832 2,663 100,702 103,365 2,680 104,089 106,769

Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit 2,998 31,291 34,289 3,028 32,016 35,044 3,042 32,983 36,025

Court of International Trade 1,591 18,889 20,480 2,087 19,450 21,537 2,099 19,930 22,029

Courts of Appeals, District Courts,

 and Other Judicial Services:

 Salaries and Expenses 404,275 5,099,061 5,503,336 415,125 5,154,461 5,569,586 421,843 5,383,970 5,805,813

 Vaccine Injury Trust Fund - 8,230 8,230 - 8,475 8,475 - 9,012 9,012

 Total, Salaries and Expenses 404,275 5,107,291 5,511,566 415,125 5,162,936 5,578,061 421,843 5,392,982 5,814,825

 Defender Services - 1,078,713 1,078,713 - 1,157,390 1,157,390 - 1,234,574 1,234,574

 Fees of Jurors & Commissioners - 50,944 50,944 - 50,750 50,750 - 51,851 51,851

 Court Security - 586,999 586,999 - 607,275 607,275 - 641,273 641,273

 Subtotal, CADCOJS 404,275 6,823,947 7,228,222 415,125 6,978,351 7,393,476 421,843 7,320,680 7,742,523

Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts - 90,423 90,423 - 92,693 92,693 - 96,945 96,945

Federal Judicial Center - 29,265 29,265 - 29,819 29,819 - 30,736 30,736

Judicial Retirement Funds 195,000 - 195,000 211,700 - 211,700 240,100 - 240,100

Sentencing Commission - 18,699 18,699 - 18,548 18,548 - 19,265 19,265

 Total Direct 606,515 7,102,465 7,708,980 634,603 7,263,104 7,897,707 669,764 7,615,616 8,285,380

 Vaccine Injury Trust Fund - 8,230 8,230 - 8,475 8,475 - 9,012 9,012

 Total, Judiciary 606,515 7,110,695 7,717,210 634,603 7,271,579 7,906,182 669,764 7,624,628 8,294,392

1

 FY 2018 mandatory levels reflect actuals, with the exception of Supreme Court which reflecs the FY 2018 financial plan level. 

 FY 2019 mandatory levels represent FY 2019 assumed financial plan levels.

 THE JUDICIARY 

Judiciary Appropriation Funding ($000)

FY 2018 Enacted FY 2019 Assumed Appropriation FY 2020 Request
12

 Appropriation Account Mandatory Discretionary Total Mandatory Discretionary Total Mandatory Discretionary Total

Supreme Court

 Salaries and Expenses 9 479 488 9 513 522 9 513 522

 Building and Grounds - 45 45 - 53 53 - 54 54

 Total, Supreme Court 9 524 533 9 566 575 9 567 576

Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit 12 133 145 12 140 152 12 140 152

Court of International Trade 7 53 60 9 68 77 9 68 77

Courts of Appeals, District Courts,

 and Other Judicial Services:

 Salaries and Expenses 1,732 25,902 27,634 1,789 26,081 27,870 1,802 26,119 27,921

 Vaccine Injury Trust Fund - - - - - - - - -

 Total, Salaries and Expenses 1,732 25,902 27,634 1,789 26,081 27,870 1,802 26,119 27,921

 Defender Services - 2,942 2,942 - 3,019 3,019 - 3,127 3,127

 Fees of Jurors & Commissioners - - - - - - - - -

 Court Security - 55 55 - 75 75 - 75 75

 Subtotal, CADCOJS 1,732 28,899 30,631 1,789 29,175 30,964 1,802 29,321 31,123

Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts - 599 599 - 622 622 - 624 624

Federal Judicial Center - 125 125 - 128 128 - 128 128

Judicial Retirement Funds - - - - - - - - -

Sentencing Commission - 93 93 - 95 95 - 95 95

 Total Direct 1,760 30,426 32,186 1,819 30,794 32,613 1,832 30,943 32,775

 Reimbursables, AO - 487 487 - 582 582 - 630 630

 Total, Judiciary 1,760 30,913 32,673 1,819 31,376 33,195 1,832 31,573 33,405

Summary of FTE

 THE JUDICIARY 

FY 2018 Actual FY 2019 Assumed Appropriation FY 2020 Request
13

FTE ($000) FTE ($000) FTE ($000) FTEs ($000)

FY 2019 Assumed Appropriation Level - Mandatory 9 2,663 12 3,028 9 2,087 1,789 415,125

FY 2019 Assumed Appropriation Level - Discretionary 566 100,702 140 32,016 68 19,450 29,175 6,978,351

 AO Reimbursable FTE - - - - - - - -

FY 2019 Assumed Available Appropriation 575 103,365 152 35,044 77 21,537 30,964 7,393,476

FY 2020 Adjustments to Base

 Judges: 

 - Annualization of assumed 2019 pay adjustment (1.4% for three months) - 9 - 9 - 7 - 1,938

- Pay and benefits adjustments - 8 - 5 - 5 - 1,482

 - FERS adjustments - - - - - - - 3,636

 - Increase in average number of filled Article III judgeships - - - - - - 49 7,759

 - Increase in average number of senior judges - - - - - - 17 2,520

 - Increase in average number of filled bankruptcy judgeships - - - - - - 3 405

 - Payments to judiciary retirement trust funds - - - - - - - -

 Court Personnel and Other Programs: 

 - Annualization of assumed 2019 pay adjustment (1.9% for three months) - 309 - 70 - 32 - 18,727

- Pay and benefits adjustments - 695 - 207 - 80 - 35,628

 - FERS adjustments - 1,520 - 244 - 119 - 70,284

 - One more compensable day - 272 - 67 - 35 - 16,691

 - Annualization of assumed 2019 panel attorney capital rate - - - - - - - 200

 - Annualization of assumed 2019 panel attorney non-capital rate - - - - - - - 4,389

 - Annualization of FY 2019 increase in positions 1 125 - - - - 28 6,942

 - Annualization of FY 2019 increase of court security officer (CSO) positions - - - - - - - 1,549

 - FY 2020 CSO contract and wage rate adjustments (3%) - - - - - - - 13,208

 - Funding necessary to maintain current services (financing adjustment) - - - - - - - 35,170

 - Inflation (including law books and computer assisted legal research) - 514 - 146 - 30 - 22,978

 - Space related costs (includes inflation for space rental rates) - - - 233 - 174 - 30,741

 -Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund adjustment - - - - - - - 537

 - Information technology requirements - - - - - - - 466

 - Change in projected panel attorney workload - - - - - - - 8,943

 - Change in available jurors - - - - - - - (438)

 - FPS security service charges - - - - - 10 - 2,113

- Adjustments to base for security systems and equipment - - - - - - - 5,296

 - Evidence-based practices (non-recurring requirements) - - - - - - - (2,719)

- Other adjustments to base - (4,247) - - - - - 1,051

 Subtotal, FY 2020 Adjustments to Base 1 (795) - 981 - 492 97 289,496

Total Adjustments to Base, Mandatory - 17 - 14 - 12 13 6,718

Total Adjustments to Base, Discretionary 1 (812) - 967 - 480 84 282,778

 AO Reimbursable FTE changes - - - - - - - -

FY 2020 Adjusted Base 576 102,570 152 36,025 77 22,029 31,061 7,682,972

FY 2020 Program Increases

 Judges: 

 - Magistrate judges and staff - - - - - - 24 6,031

 Court Personnel and Other Programs: 

 - Increase for electrical resiliency upgrade at Supreme Court - 3,959 - - - - - -

 - Fountain and paver restoration and design at Supreme Court - 240 - - - - - -

- Financial Disclosure Reporting System replacement - - - - - - - 2,784

 - Upgrade to the Payroll Projection System - - - - - - - 1,723

 - Infrastructure costs for new courthouse construction projects - - - - - - - 12,731

 - FY 2020 court support staffing due to workload changes - - - - - - (42) (5,234)

 - Non-capital panel attorney hourly rate increase (from $142 to $149) - - - - - - - 2,195

 - Continued implementation of the FDO staffing formula - - - - - - 75 18,240

 - FDO panel management & national information technology positions - - - - - - 5 1,087

 - Defenders Services reimbursable positions - - - - - - - 620

 - Defenders Services information technology requirements - - - - - - - 1,900

 - Physical access control systems replacement - - - - - - - 5,003

 - CSOs for new courthouse construction projects - - - - - - - 1,660

 - Video management systems replacement - - - - - - - 6,300

 - Phased implementation of CSO staffing standards (69 CSOs) - - - - - - - 3,951

 - Additional district supervisors for court security - - - - - - - 560

 - Expand Office of Judicial Integrity at AO - - - - - - - -

 Subtotal, FY 2020 Program Increases - 4,199 - - - - 62 59,551

Total Program Increases, Mandatory - - - - - - - -

Total Program Increases, Discretionary - 4,199 - - - - 62 59,551

 AO Reimbursable FTE changes - - - - - - - -

Total Mandatory Increases - 17 - 14 - 12 13 6,718

Total Discretionary Increases 1 3,387 - 967 - 480 146 342,329

 AO Reimbursable FTE changes - - - - - - - -

 Subtotal, FY 2020 Total Increases 1 3,404 - 981 - 492 159 349,047

FY 2020, Total Mandatory Appropriation 9 2,680 12 3,042 9 2,099 1,802 421,843

FY 2020, Total Discretionary Appropriation 567 104,089 140 32,983 68 19,930 29,321 7,320,680

 AO Reimbursable FTE - - - - - - - -

FY 2020, Total Judiciary 576 106,769 152 36,025 77 22,029 31,123 7,742,523

International 

Trade

FY 2020 Summary of Requested Mandatory & Discretionary Changes

 1 Includes Salaries and Expenses, Defender Services, Fees of Jurors and Commissioners, and Court Security accounts

Total 

CADCOJS 1

Supreme 

Court

Federal 

Circuit
14

Judicial 

Retirement Funds

FTE ($000) FTE ($000) FTE ($000) ($000) FTE ($000)

FY 2019 Assumed Appropriation Level - Mandatory - - - - - - 211,700 1,819 634,603

FY 2019 Assumed Appropriation Level - Discretionary 622 92,693 128 29,819 95 18,548 - 30,794 7,271,579

 AO Reimbursable FTE 582 - - - - - - 582 -

FY 2019 Assumed Available Appropriation 1,204 92,693 128 29,819 95 18,548 211,700 33,195 7,906,182

FY 2020 Adjustments to Base

 Judges: 

 - Annualization of assumed 2019 pay adjustment (1.4% for three months) - - - - - - - - 1,963

- Pay and benefits adjustments - - - - - - - - 1,500

 - FERS adjustments - - - - - - - - 3,636

 - Increase in average number of filled Article III judgeships - - - - - - - 49 7,759

 - Increase in average number of senior judges - - - - - - - 17 2,520

 - Increase in average number of filled bankruptcy judgeships - - - - - - - 3 405

 - Payments to judiciary retirement trust funds - - - - - - 28,400 - 28,400

 Court Personnel and Other Programs: 

 - Annualization of assumed 2019 pay adjustment (1.9% for three months) - 486 - 96 - 72 - - 19,792

- Pay and benefits adjustments - 930 - 190 - 208 - - 37,938

 - FERS adjustments - 1,967 - 365 - 256 - - 74,755

 - One more compensable day - 400 - 79 - 60 - - 17,604

 - Annualization of assumed 2019 panel attorney capital rate - - - - - - - - 200

 - Annualization of assumed 2019 panel attorney non-capital rate - - - - - - - - 4,389

 - Annualization of FY 2019 increase in positions - - - - - - - 29 7,067

 - Annualization of FY 2019 increase of court security officer (CSO) positions - - - - - - - - 1,549

 - FY 2020 CSO contract and wage rate adjustments (3%) - - - - - - - - 13,208

 - Funding necessary to maintain current services (financing adjustment) - - - - - - - - 35,170

 - Inflation (including law books and computer assisted legal research) - 105 - 187 - 121 - - 24,081

 - Space related costs (includes inflation for space rental rates) - - - - - - - - 31,148

 -Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund adjustment - - - - - - - - 537

 - Information technology requirements - - - - - - - - 466

 - Change in projected panel attorney workload - - - - - - - - 8,943

 - Change in available jurors - - - - - - - - (438)

 - FPS security service charges - - - - - - - - 2,123

- Adjustments to base for security systems and equipment - - - - - - - - 5,296

 - Evidence-based practices (non-recurring requirements) - - - - - - - - (2,719)

- Other adjustments to base - - - - - - - - (3,196)

 Subtotal, FY 2020 Adjustments to Base - 3,888 - 917 - 717 28,400 98 324,096

Total Adjustments to Base, Mandatory - - - - - - 28,400 13 35,161

Total Adjustments to Base, Discretionary - 3,888 - 917 - 717 - 85 288,935

 AO Reimbursable FTE changes 38 - - - - - - 38 -

FY 2020 Adjusted Base 1,242 96,581 128 30,736 95 19,265 240,100 33,331 8,230,278

FY 2020 Program Increases

 Judges: 

 - Magistrate judges and staff - - - - - - - 24 6,031

 Court Personnel and Other Programs: 

 - Increase for electrical resiliency upgrade at Supreme Court - - - - - - - - 3,959

 - Fountain and paver restoration and design at Supreme Court - - - - - - - - 240

- Financial Disclosure Reporting System replacement - - - - - - - - 2,784

 - Upgrade to the Payroll Projection System - - - - - - - - 1,723

 - Infrastructure costs for new courthouse construction projects - - - - - - - - 12,731

 - FY 2020 court support staffing due to workload changes - - - - - - - (42) (5,234)

 - Non-capital panel attorney hourly rate increase (from $142 to $149) - - - - - - - - 2,195

 - Continued implementation of the FDO staffing formula - - - - - - - 75 18,240

 - FDO panel management & national information technology positions - - - - - - - 5 1,087

 - Defenders Services reimbursable positions - - - - - - - - 620

 - Defenders Services information technology requirements - - - - - - - - 1,900

 - Physical access control systems replacement - - - - - - - - 5,003

 - CSOs for new courthouse construction projects - - - - - - - - 1,660

 - Video management systems replacement - - - - - - - - 6,300

 - Phased implementation of CSO staffing standards (69 CSOs) - - - - - - - - 3,951

 - Additional district supervisors for court security - - - - - - - - 560

 - Expand Office of Judicial Integrity at AO 2 364 - - - - - 2 364

 Subtotal, FY 2020 Program Increases 2 364 - - - - - 64 64,114

Total Program Increases, Mandatory - - - - - - - - -

Total Program Increases, Discretionary 2 364 - - - - - 64 64,114

 AO Reimbursable FTE changes 10 - - - - - - 10 -

Total Mandatory Increases - - - - - - 28,400 13 35,161

Total Discretionary Increases 2 4,252 - 917 - 717 - 149 353,049

 AO Reimbursable FTE changes 48 - - - - - - 48 -

 Subtotal, FY 2020 Total Increases 50 4,252 - 917 - 717 28,400 210 388,210

FY 2020, Total Mandatory Appropriation - - - - - - 240,100 1,832 669,764

FY 2020, Total Discretionary Appropriation 624 96,945 128 30,736 95 19,265 - 30,943 7,624,628

 AO Reimbursable FTE 630 - - - - - - 630 -

FY 2020, Total Judiciary 1,254 96,945 128 30,736 95 19,265 240,100 33,405 8,294,392

Administrative 

Office

Fed. Judicial 

Center

 Sentencing 

Commission

Total 

Judiciary

FY 2020 Summary of Requested Mandatory & Discretionary Changes
15

Fees of Jurors and 

Commissioners

FTE ($000) FTE ($000) ($000) FTE ($000) FTE ($000)

FY 2019 Assumed Appropriation Level - Mandatory 1,789 415,125 - - - - - 1,789 415,125

FY 2019 Assumed Appropriation Level - Discretionary 26,081 5,162,936 3,019 1,157,390 50,750 75 607,275 29,175 6,978,351

 AO Reimbursable FTE - - - - - - - - -

FY 2019 Assumed Available Appropriation 27,870 5,578,061 3,019 1,157,390 50,750 75 607,275 30,964 7,393,476

FY 2020 Adjustments to Base

Judges:

- Annualization of assumed 2019 pay adjustment (1.4% for three months) - 1,938 - - - - - - 1,938

- Pay and benefits adjustments - 1,482 - - - - - - 1,482

- FERS adjustments - 3,636 - - - - - - 3,636

- Increase in average number of filled Article III judgeships 49 7,759 - - - - - 49 7,759

- Increase in average number of senior judges 17 2,520 - - - - - 17 2,520

- Increase in average number of filled bankruptcy judgeships 3 405 - - - - - 3 405

- Payments to judiciary retirement trust funds - - - - - - - - -

Court Personnel and Other Programs:

- Annualization of assumed 2019 pay adjustment (1.9% for three months) - 16,031 - 2,641 - - 55 - 18,727

- Pay and benefits adjustments - 31,122 - 4,410 - - 96 - 35,628

- FERS adjustments - 58,326 - 11,701 - - 257 - 70,284

- One more compensable day - 13,050 - 1,796 - - 1,845 - 16,691

- Annualization of assumed 2019 panel attorney capital rate - - - 200 - - - - 200

- Annualization of assumed 2019 panel attorney non-capital rate - - - 4,389 - - - - 4,389

- Annualization of FY 2019 increase in positions - - 28 6,942 - - - 28 6,942

- Annualization of FY 2019 increase of court security officer (CSO) positions - - - - - - 1,549 - 1,549

- FY 2020 CSO contract and wage rate adjustments (3%) - - - - - - 13,208 - 13,208

- Funding necessary to maintain current services (financing adjustment) - 28,170 - 7,000 - - - - 35,170

- Inflation (including law books and computer assisted legal research) - 18,352 - 3,193 488 - 945 - 22,978

- Space related costs (includes inflation for space rental rates) - 28,653 - 1,927 - - 161 - 30,741

-Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund adjustment - 537 - - - - - - 537

- Information technology requirements - 466 - - - - - - 466

- Change in projected panel attorney workload - - - 8,943 - - - - 8,943

- Change in available jurors - - - - (438) - - - (438)

- FPS security service charges - - - - - - 2,113 - 2,113

- Adjustments to base for security systems and equipment - - - - - - 5,296 - 5,296

- Evidence-based practices (non-recurring requirements) - (2,719) - - - - - - (2,719)

- Other adjustments to base - - - - 1,051 - - - 1,051

 Subtotal, FY 2020 Adjustments to Base 69 209,728 28 53,142 1,101 - 25,525 97 289,496

Total Adjustments to Base, Mandatory 13 6,718 - - - - - 13 6,718

Total Adjustments to Base, Discretionary 56 203,010 28 53,142 1,101 - 25,525 84 282,778

 AO Reimbursable FTE - - - - - - - - -

FY 2020 Adjusted Base 27,939 5,787,789 3,047 1,210,532 51,851 75 632,800 31,061 7,682,972

FY 2020 Program Increases

Judges:

- Magistrate judges and staff 24 6,031 - - - - - 24 6,031

Court Personnel and Other Programs: - -

- Increase for electrical resiliency upgrade at Supreme Court - - - - - - - - -

- Fountain and paver restoration and design at Supreme Court - - - - - - - - -

- Financial Disclosure Reporting System replacement - 2,784 - - - - - - 2,784

- Upgrade the Payroll Projection System - 1,723 - - - - - - 1,723

- Infrastructure costs for new courthouse construction projects - 21,732 - - - - (9,001) - 12,731

- FY 2020 court support staffing due to workload changes (42) (5,234) - - - - - (42) (5,234)

- Non-capital panel attorney hourly rate increase (from $142 to $149) - - - 2,195 - - - - 2,195

- Continued implementation of the FDO staffing formula - - 75 18,240 - - - 75 18,240

- FDO panel management & national information technology positions - - 5 1,087 - - - 5 1,087

- Defenders Services reimbursable positions - - - 620 - - - - 620

- Defenders Services information technology requirements - - - 1,900 - - - - 1,900

- Physical access control systems replacement - - - - - - 5,003 - 5,003

- CSOs for new courthouse construction projects - - - - - - 1,660 - 1,660

- Video management systems replacement - - - - - - 6,300 - 6,300

- Phased implementation of CSO staffing standards (69 CSOs) - - - - - - 3,951 - 3,951

- Additional district supervisors for court security - - - - - - 560 - 560

- Expand Office of Judicial Integrity at AO - - - - - - - - -

 Subtotal, FY 2020 Program Increases (18) 27,036 80 24,042 - - 8,473 62 59,551

Total Program Increases, Mandatory - - - - - - - - -

Total Program Increases, Discretionary (18) 27,036 80 24,042 - - 8,473 62 59,551

 AO Reimbursable FTE - - - - - - - - -

Total Mandatory 13 6,718 - - - - - 13 6,718

Total Discretionary 38 230,046 108 77,184 1,101 - 33,998 146 342,329

 AO Reimbursable FTE - - - - - - - - -

 Subtotal, FY 2020 Total Increases 51 236,764 108 77,184 1,101 - 33,998 159 349,047

FY 2020, Total Mandatory Appropriation 1,802 421,843 - - - - - 1,802 421,843

FY 2020, Total Discretionary Appropriation 26,119 5,392,982 3,127 1,234,574 51,851 75 641,273 29,321 7,320,680

 AO Reimbursable FTE - - - - - - - - -

FY 2020, Total Judiciary 27,921 5,814,825 3,127 1,234,574 51,851 75 641,273 31,123 7,742,523

FY 2020 Summary of Requested Mandatory & Discretionary Changes - Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services (CADOJS) Details

Salaries 

and Expenses

Defender 

Services

Court 

Security

Total 

CADCOJ
16

 Appropriation FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020

Supreme Court

 Discretionary 77,663 85,358 87,247

 Mandatory 2,651 2,663 2,680

 Total, Salaries and Expenses 80,314 88,021 89,927

 Buildings and Grounds 10,405 18,176 19,080

Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

 Discretionary 30,268 31,607 33,000

 Mandatory 2,998 3,028 3,042

 Total, Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit 33,266 34,635 36,042

Court of International Trade

 Discretionary 17,880 18,808 19,797

 Mandatory 1,591 2,087 2,099

 Total, Court of International Trade 19,471 20,895 21,896

Courts of Appeals, District Courts,

 and Other Judicial Services:

 Salaries and Expenses - Discretionary 5,156,479 5,587,561 5,596,085

 Salaries and Expenses - Mandatory 404,275 415,125 421,843

 Total, Salaries and Expenses 5,560,754 6,002,686 6,017,928

 Defender Services 1,101,381 1,184,145 1,260,215

 Fees of Jurors & Commissioners 49,198 50,824 52,687

 Court Security 565,751 622,000 642,000

Total, Courts of Appeals, District Courts,

 and Other Judicial Services 7,277,084 7,859,655 7,972,830

Administrative Office of the United 

 States Courts 90,946 94,237 96,345

Federal Judicial Center 28,612 29,451 29,908

Judicial Retirement Funds (Mandatory) 195,000 211,700 240,100

United States Sentencing Commission 17,675 18,136 19,385

 Subtotal, Discretionary 7,146,258 7,740,303 7,855,749

 Subtotal, Mandatory 606,515 634,603 669,764

 Total, Judiciary 7,752,773 8,374,906 8,525,513

THE JUDICIARY

Outlays - FY 2018 to FY 2020
17

Fiscal Year 2020 Request

Summary by Appropriation
18

PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
19

Supreme Court of the United States

Salaries and Expenses

FTE ($000) FTE ($000) FTE ($000)

FY 2019 Assumed Appropriation 9 2,663 513 84,703 522 87,366

Adjustments to Base - 17 - 2,996 - 3,013

Program Increases - - - - - -

FY 2020 Appropriation Request 9 2,680 513 87,699 522 90,379

FY 2020 Request

Mandatory Discretionary Total

The U.S. Supreme Court requests $90.4 million ($2.7 million for mandatory expenses and 

$87.7 million for discretionary expenses) in FY 2020 for the Salaries and Expenses account. 

The $87.7 million request for discretionary appropriations represents a 3.5 percent increase over 

the FY 2019 assumed discretionary appropriation. For this account, the FY 2019 discretionary 

appropriations assumption is $84.7 million, which is the same as the FY 2019 House mark and 

FY 2019 Senate mark. This request reflects the necessary adjustments to base to maintain 

current services. The Court requests no program increases for FY 2020.

I. Mandatory Adjustments to Base

The FY 2020 request includes $17,000 for standard pay increases and changes in benefits for the

Chief Justice and the Associate Justices. 

II. Discretionary Adjustments to Base

The Supreme Court requests a $3.0 million increase for discretionary expenses in FY 2020 for 

standard pay and other inflationary adjustments. 

III. Appropriations Language

Supreme Court of the United States 

Salaries and Expenses

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, 

[$84,703,000]$87,699,000, 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.
20

(H.R. 6147 - Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2019, updated to 

reflect the judiciary’s FY 2019 assumed appropriation.)

IV. Summary of Obligations

Category

FY 2018

Actual

FY 2019

Assumed

Obligations/

Appropriation

FY 2020

Request

Requested

Increase/

Decrease

Compensation and Benefits 62,637 67,492 70,104 2,612

Rent, Communications and Utilities 763 1,229 1,257 28

Travel 800 1,338 1,365 27

Other 18,661 17,307 17,653 346

Total Obligations 82,861 87,366 90,379 3,013

Other Adjustments 1,818 - - -

Available Appropriation 84,679 87,366 90,379 3,013

 Mandatory Appropriation 2,651 2,663 2,680 17

 Discretionary Appropriation 82,028 84,703 87,699 2,996

U.S. Supreme Court - Salaries and Expenses

Comparative Summary of Obligations by Category

($000)
21

Supreme Court of the United States

Care of the Building and Grounds

FTE ($000)

FY 2019 Assumed Appropriation 53 15,999

Adjustments to Base 1 (3,808)

Program Increases - 4,199

FY 2020 Appropriation Request 54 16,390

FY 2020 Request

Discretionary

The U.S. Supreme Court requests $16.4 million for its Care of the Building and Grounds account 

in FY 2020, a 2.4 percent increase over the FY 2019 assumed appropriation. For this account, 

the FY 2019 appropriations assumption is $16.0 million, which is the same as the FY 2019 

House mark and the FY 2019 Senate mark.

The Architect of the Capitol provides for the structural and mechanical care of the U.S. Supreme 

Court Building and Grounds, including maintenance and operation of mechanical, electrical, and 

electronic equipment. This request includes the necessary adjustments to base to maintain 

current services, including the annualization of two positions (1 FTE) assumed to be funded in 

FY 2019. Additionally, it also includes program increases for the next phase of upgrades to the 

Court’s electrical systems and critical infrastructure as well as a small-scale construction and 

renovation design project.

I. Discretionary Adjustments to Base

The Supreme Court requests a net decrease of $3.8 million. The request consists of an increase 

of $0.4 million for standard pay and other inflationary adjustments as well as the annualization of 

two positions (1 FTE) assumed to be funded in FY 2019 offset by a decrease of $4.2 million for 

non-recurring costs associated with the initial phase of the electrical systems and critical 

infrastructure project. 

Program Increases

The FY 2020 budget request for the Building and Grounds account includes $4.2 million for 

program increases.
22

1. Electrical Resiliency and Critical Infrastructure Improvement Project: $4.0 million

The Court requests $4.0 million for the next phase of funding to upgrade the Court’s 

electrical systems and other critical infrastructure. The goal of this multi-phase project is to 

increase service reliability and maintainability.

2. Fountain and Paver Restoration Design: $0.2 million

The Court requests $0.2 million for the analysis and design to restore seven historic fountains 

at the Supreme Court, which includes supporting mechanical and electrical systems and 

surrounding walkways. This project will design systems that meet current health and safety 

codes. It is anticipated that project funding will be requested in a future year budget request.

II. Appropriations Language

Supreme Court of the United States 

Care of the Building and Grounds

For such expenditures as may be necessary to enable the Architect of the Capitol to carry out the 

duties imposed upon the Architect by 40 U.S.C. 6111 and 6112, [$15,999,000]$16,390,000, to 

remain available until expended.

(H.R. 6147 - Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2019, updated to 

reflect the judiciary’s FY 2019 assumed appropriation.)

III. Summary of Obligations

Category

FY 2018

Actual

FY 2019

Assumed

Obligations/

Appropriation

FY 2020

Request

Requested

Increase/

Decrease

Compensation and Benefits 5,411 5,676 6,003 327

Rent, Communications and Utilities 2,163 2,180 2,195 15

Other 5,588 12,209 10,362 (1,847)

Total Obligations 13,162 20,065 18,560 (1,505)

Other Adjustments 2,991 (4,066) (2,170) 1,896

Available Appropriation 16,153 15,999 16,390 391
23

 United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Salaries and Expenses

FTE ($000) FTE ($000) FTE ($000)

FY 2019 Assumed Appropriation 12 3,028 140 32,016 152 35,044

Adjustments to Base - 14 - 967 - 981

Program Increases - - - - - -

FY 2020 Appropriation Request 12 3,042 140 32,983 152 36,025

FY 2020 Request

Mandatory Discretionary Total

The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit requests $36.0 million ($3.0 million for mandatory 

expenses and $33.0 million for discretionary expenses) for FY 2020. 

The $33.0 million request for discretionary appropriations represents a 3.0 percent increase over

the FY 2019 assumed discretionary appropriation. For this account, the FY 2019 discretionary 

appropriations assumption is $32.0 million, which is the same as the FY 2019 House mark and 

FY 2019 Senate mark. This request includes the necessary adjustments to base to maintain 

current services. The Court requests no program increases for FY 2020.

I. Mandatory Adjustments to Base

The FY 2020 request includes $14,000 for standard pay and benefits increases for judges. 

II. Discretionary Adjustments to Base

The Court requests an increase of $1.0 million for standard pay and other inflationary 

adjustments. 

III. Appropriations 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, [$32,016,000]$32,983,000.

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.

(H.R. 6147 - Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2019, updated to 

reflect the judiciary’s FY 2019 assumed appropriation.)
24

IV. Summary of Obligations

Category

FY 2018

Actual

FY 2019

Assumed

Obligations/

Appropriation

FY 2020

Request

Requested

Increase/

Decrease

Compensation and Benefits 20,580 22,062 22,665 603

Rent, Communications and Utilities 6,283 6,457 6,697 240

Travel 81 102 115 13

Other 7,244 7,875 6,918 (957)

Total Obligations 34,188 36,496 36,395 (101)

Other Adjustments 101 (1,452) (370) 1,082

Available Appropriation 34,289 35,044 36,025 981

 Mandatory Appropriation 2,998 3,028 3,042 14

 Discretionary Appropriation 31,291 32,016 32,983 967

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Comparative Summary of Obligations by Category

($000)
25

United States Court of International Trade

Salaries and Expenses

FTE ($000) FTE ($000) FTE ($000)

FY 2019 Assumed Appropriation 9 2,087 68 19,450 77 21,537

Adjustments to Base - 12 - 480 - 492

Program Increases - - - - - -

FY 2020 Appropriation Request 9 2,099 68 19,930 77 22,029

FY 2020 Request

Mandatory Discretionary Total

The Court of International Trade requests $22.0 million ($2.1 million for mandatory expenses 

and $19.9 million for discretionary expenses) in FY 2020. 

The $19.9 million request for discretionary appropriations represents a 2.5 percent increase over 

the FY 2019 assumed discretionary appropriation. For this account, the FY 2019 discretionary 

appropriations assumption is $19.5 million, which is the same as the FY 2019 House mark and 

FY 2019 Senate mark. This request reflects the necessary adjustments to base to maintain 

current services. The Court requests no program increases for FY 2020.

I. Mandatory Adjustments to Base

The FY 2020 request includes $12,000 for standard pay and benefits increases for judges. 

II. Discretionary Adjustments to Base

The FY 2020 request includes an increase of $0.5 million for standard pay, other inflationary, 

and other court operating expense increases. 

III. Appropriations Language

United States Court of International Trade

Salaries and Expenses

For salaries of officers and employees of the court, services, and necessary expenses of the court, 

as authorized by law, [$19,450,000]$19,930,000.

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.

(H.R. 6147 - Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2019, updated to 

reflect the judiciary’s FY 2019 assumed appropriation.)
26

IV. Summary of Obligations

Category

FY2018

Actual

FY 2019

Assumed

Obligations/

Appropriation

FY 2020

Request

Requested

Increase/

Decrease

Compensation and Benefits 8,726 11,049 11,326 277

Rent, Communications and Utilities 7,415 8,707 8,871 164

Travel 103 105 102 (3)

Other 4,858 2,687 2,162 (525)

Total Obligations 21,102 22,548 22,461 (87)

Other Adjustments (622) (1,011) (432) 579

Available Appropriation 20,480 21,537 22,029 492

 Mandatory Appropriation 1,591 2,087 2,099 12

 Discretionary Appropriation 18,889 19,450 19,930 480

United States Court of International Trade

Comparative Summary of Obligations by Category

($000)
27

Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and

Other Judicial Services

Salaries and Expenses

FTE ($000) FTE ($000) FTE ($000)

FY 2019 Salaries and Expenses Assumed Appropriation 1,789 415,125 26,081 5,154,461 27,870 5,569,586

Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund Assumed Appropriation - - - 8,475 - 8,475

 Total, FY 2019 Assumed Appropriation 1,789 415,125 26,081 5,162,936 27,870 5,578,061

Adjustments to Base 13 6,718 56 202,473 69 209,191

Adjustments to Base - Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund - - - 537 - 537

 Total, Adjustmements to Base 13 6,718 56 203,010 69 209,728

Program Changes - - (18) 27,036 (18) 27,036

 Total, Program Changes - - (18) 27,036 (18) 27,036

FY 2020 Salaries and Expenses Appropriation 1,802 421,843 26,119 5,383,970 27,921 5,805,813

Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund Appropriation - - - 9,012 - 9,012

 Total, FY 2020 Appropriation Request 1,802 421,843 26,119 5,392,982 27,921 5,814,825

FY 2020 Request

Mandatory Discretionary Total

The judiciary requests $5,814.8 million for the Salaries and Expenses account in FY 2020, 

including $421.8 million for mandatory expenses; $5,384.0 million for discretionary expenses;

and $9.0 million from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund. For this account, the 

FY 2019 discretionary appropriations assumption is $5,162.9 million, which is equal to the FY 

2019 Senate mark. The FY 2020 total discretionary request of $5,393.0 million is a 4.5 percent 

increase over the FY 2019 assumed discretionary appropriation. 

The request maintains base funding for operations of the courts and related offices at a current 

services level, as well as program changes for six new magistrate judges and associated support 

staff, changes in court support staff due to workload estimates, critical IT projects for the 

development of a new financial disclosure reporting system and upgrades to the judiciary’s 

payroll projection system, and infrastructure requirements associated with the new courthouse 

construction projects.

This account provides for the operating expenses of the 12 regional circuit courts of appeals, 

district courts, bankruptcy courts, and probation and pretrial services offices. This account 

utilizes other funding sources, including fee collections and prior year carryforward balances, to 

offset appropriated funds. The judiciary currently projects that these sources of non-appropriated 

funds will total $401.7 million in FY 2020, $28.2 million below the FY 2019 estimated level of 

$429.8 million.
28

I. Mandatory Adjustments to Base

The FY 2020 request includes $6.7 million for mandatory increases for Article III, senior, and 

bankruptcy judges as follows: 

1. Pay and benefit cost adjustment for Article III, senior, and bankruptcy judges: 

$3.8 million

An increase of $3.8 million will provide for expected changes in pay and benefits for 

Article III, senior, and bankruptcy judges, including the annualization of the assumed 

January 2019 pay adjustment. Of the $3.8 million, $1.3 million is requested for the 

increase to the agency contribution rate for bankruptcy judges to the Federal Employee 

Retirement System from 13.7 percent to 16.0 percent.

2. Increase in average number of filled Article III judgeships: $1.9 million and 8 FTE

An increase of $1.9 million will provide for an additional 8 filled Article III judgeships

anticipated in FY 2020, based on a projected 40 confirmations in FY 2020, offset by 32 

active judges projected to take senior status or retire.

3. Increase in average number of senior judges: $0.9 million and 4 FTE

An increase of $0.9 million will provide for an additional 4 senior judges anticipated in 

FY 2020.

4. Increase in average number of bankruptcy judgeships: $0.1 million and 1 FTE

An increase of $0.1 million will provide for an additional 1 filled bankruptcy judgeship 

anticipated in FY 2020.

II. Discretionary Adjustments to Base

The FY 2020 request includes a net increase of $203.0 million for discretionary adjustments to 

base. This consists of $148.4 million for standard pay and other inflationary increases; a net 

increase of $28.7 million for space-related adjustments; $28.1 million to replace nonappropriated funds; and a net increase of $0.5 million for information technology requirements. 

This is partially offset by a decrease of $2.7 million for non-recurring evidence-based practices 

requirements in the probation and pretrial services program.

1. Pay and benefit cost adjustment for magistrate and claims court judges: $3.3 million

An increase of $3.3 million will provide for expected changes in pay and benefits for 

magistrate and claims judges. Of this amount, $2.3 million is requested for the increase 

in the agency contribution rate to the Federal Employee Retirement System.
29

2. Increase in the number of filled Article III judges’ staff: $5.9 million and 41 FTE

An increase of $5.9 million will provide for an additional 41 staff FTE to support the

additional 8 filled Article III judgeships anticipated in FY 2020 (noted above in the 

mandatory adjustments to base section).

3. Increase in the number of senior judges’ staff: $1.6 million and 13 FTE

An increase of $1.6 million will provide for an additional 13 staff FTE to support the 4

additional senior judges anticipated in FY 2020 (noted above in the mandatory 

adjustments to base section).

4. Increase in average number of filled bankruptcy judgeships: $0.3 million and 2 FTE

An increase of $0.3 million will provide for an additional 2 staff FTE to support the one

additional filled bankruptcy judgeship anticipated in FY 2020 (noted above in the 

mandatory adjustments to base section). 

5. Pay and benefit adjustments for court personnel: $118.5 million

An increase of $118.5 million will provide for the annualization of the assumed January 

2019 pay adjustment, within-grade increases, changes in benefits rates, and one more 

compensable day. Of this amount, $58.3 million is requested for the increase in the 

agency contribution rate to the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS). 

6. Funding necessary to maintain FY 2019 current service levels due to an anticipated 

decline in non-appropriated funds: $28.2 million

In FY 2019, $429.8 million in non-appropriated funds were available to finance FY 2019

requirements. In FY 2020, the judiciary expects $401.7 million in non-appropriated 

funds to be available, which is a decrease of $28.2 million from FY 2019. Therefore, the 

judiciary requests $28.2 million in appropriations to replace this funding.

7. Non-pay inflationary and contractual increases: $18.4 million

An increase of $18.4 million is requested for a 2.0 percent general inflationary increase 

and other contractual and miscellaneous increases.

8. Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund: $0.5 million

The FY 2020 level reflects an increase of $0.5 million for standard pay and non-pay 

inflationary adjustments for the Vaccine Injury program.
30

9. GSA space rental and related expenses: $28.7 million

The FY 2020 request includes a net increase of $28.7 million for General Services 

Administration (GSA) space rental and related expenses consisting of:

a) new space to be delivered in FY 2020 (+$0.9 million), 

b) inflationary adjustments (3.47 percent) to the GSA space rental base costs (+$36.4 

million),

c) savings associated with the judiciary’s space reduction program (-$4.0 million), and

d) other space-related adjustments (-$4.6 million). 

10. Evidence-based practices non-recurring requirements: -$2.7 million

A decrease of $2.7 million is associated with non-recurring costs for evidence-based 

practices training and curricula materials. 

11. Information technology (IT) requirements: $0.5 million

The FY 2020 request includes a net increase of $0.5 million consisting of:

a) the continued implementation of ongoing IT projects (+$15.6 million),

b) non-recurring costs associated with the Probation and Pretrial Automated Tracking 

System (PACTS) (-$13.4 million), and 

c) contractor conversion savings (-$1.7 million).

III. Program Changes

The FY 2020 request includes a net increase of $27.0 million for program changes. These 

changes include:

1. New FY 2020 full-time magistrate judges and staff: $6.0 million and 24 FTE

The judiciary requests an additional $6.0 million for 6 additional magistrate judge 

positions (6 FTE), 18 support staff (18 FTE), and associated operating costs for the 

following locations:

• District of Delaware, 1 judgeship

• District of New Jersey, 2 judgeships

• Western District of Texas at Austin, 1 judgeship

• Northern District of Illinois, 2 judgeships

2. FY 2020 Court Support Staffing due to workload changes: -$5.2 million and -42 FTE

The judiciary requests a net program decrease of $5.2 million associated with court 

support staff (-42 FTE) in appellate, bankruptcy, district, and probation and pretrial 
31

services offices in FY 2020 based on projected changes in case filings. The judiciary also 

requests a decrease for court reporters and pro se law clerks and death penalty law clerks. 

3. Financial Disclosure Reporting System Replacement: $2.8 million

The judiciary requests an increase of $2.8 million for the financial disclosure system 

modernization project which will replace the current outdated and inefficient system and 

will enhance judiciary compliance with the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, which 

requires designated personnel to disclose yearly income, outside income, assets, 

investments, and work outside of the judiciary.

4. Upgrade the Payroll Projection System: $1.7 million

The judiciary requests an increase of $1.7 million to upgrade the judiciary’s legacy 

payroll projection system which is used throughout the courts nationwide to accurately 

track and project personnel costs for current and future fiscal years.

5. Infrastructure costs for new courthouse construction projects: $21.7 million

This request includes increases of $14.0 million for furniture, $6.5 million for other 

services associated with new courthouse construction projects, and $1.6 million for 

temporary swing space, partially offset by a decrease of $0.4 million for IT requirements

associated with these projects.

Appellate -13 ($1,331)

Bankruptcy -18 (1,393)

District 8 622 

Probation/Pretrial 5 501 

Court Reporters -8 (816)

Pro Se and Death Penalty 

Law Clerk

-16 (2,817)

Total -42 ($5,234)

Program Fiscal Year 

2020 FTE

Dollars in 

Thousands
32

IV. Appropriations Language

Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services 

Salaries and Expenses

For the salaries of judges of the United States Court of Federal Claims, magistrate judges, and all 

other officers and employees of the Federal Judiciary not otherwise specifically provided for, 

necessary expenses of the courts, and the purchase, rental, repair, and cleaning of uniforms for 

Probation and Pretrial Services Office staff, as authorized by law, [$5,154,461,000]

$5,383,970,000 (including the purchase of firearms and ammunition); of which not to exceed 

$27,817,000 shall remain available until expended for space alteration projects and for furniture 

and furnishings related to new space alteration and construction projects.

In addition, there are appropriated such sums as may be necessary under current law for the 

salaries of circuit and district judges (including judges of the territorial courts of the United 

States), bankruptcy judges, and justices and judges retired from office or from regular active 

service.

In addition, for expenses of the United States Court of Federal Claims associated with processing 

cases under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-660), not to 

exceed [$8,475,000]$9,012,000, to be appropriated from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust 

Fund. 

(H.R. 6147 - Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2019, updated to 

reflect the judiciary’s FY 2019 assumed appropriation.)

V. Summary of Obligations

Category

FY 2018

Actual

FY 2019

Assumed

Obligations/

Appropriation

FY 2020

Request

Requested

Increase/

Decrease

Compensation and Benefits 3,632,628 3,838,143 3,957,645 119,502

Rent, Communications and Utilities 1,182,460 1,220,113 1,225,526 5,413

Travel 67,913 74,035 77,912 3,877

Other 855,522 890,955 955,407 64,452

Total Obligations 5,738,523 6,023,246 6,216,490 193,244

Other Adjustments (235,187) (453,660) (410,677) 42,983

Available Appropriation (Direct) 5,503,336 5,569,586 5,805,813 236,227

Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund 8,230 8,475 9,012 537

Total Available Appropriation 5,511,566 5,578,061 5,814,825 236,764

 Mandatory Appropriation 404,275 415,125 421,843 6,718

 Discretionary Appropriation - Salaries and 

 Expenses Direct 5,099,061 5,154,461 5,383,970 229,509

 Discretionary Appropriation - Vaccine Injury

 Compensation Trust Fund 8,230 8,475 9,012 537

Courts of Appeals, District Courts and Other Judicial Services

Salaries and Expenses

Comparative Summary of Obligations by Category

($000)
33

VI. Budget Request by Category

Judges & Chambers Staff 

Salaries & Expenses

22%

Court Support Personnel 

Benefits

17%

Rent

17%

Court Support Personnel 

Salaries

25%

Information Technology

9%

Operations and 

Maintenance

10%

FY 2020 Budget Request

Salaries and Expenses Account

(Obligations)
34

VII. Court Support Staffing

VIII. Judiciary Workload Factors

Criminal Filings 69,642 64,027 60,866 61,021 58,121 67,257 73,300

Year-to-Year Change: -5.2% -8.1% -4.9% 0.3% -4.8% 15.7% 9.0%

Criminal Defendants Filed 91,812 84,017 79,154 79,968 75,235 84,828 90,700

Year-to-Year Change: -5.3% -8.5% -5.8% 1.0% -5.9% 12.8% 6.9%

Probation: Persons Under Supervision 132,362 132,597 133,428 137,882 135,947 131,036 126,500

Year-to-Year Change: -0.3% 0.2% 0.6% 3.3% -1.4% -3.6% -3.5%

Pretrial Services: Cases Activated 102,457 98,122 90,588 88,140 82,265 90,951 95,500

Year-to-Year Change: -3.2% -4.2% -7.7% -2.7% -6.7% 10.6% 5.0%

Bankruptcy Filings 1,137,978 1,000,083 879,736 819,159 796,037 775,578 757,100

Year-to-Year Change: -13.2% -12.1% -12.0% -6.9% -2.8% -2.6% -2.4%

Appellate Filings 56,360 55,260 53,032 60,099 52,028 49,220 49,700

Year-to-Year Change: -2.3% -2.0% -4.0% 13.3% -13.4% -5.4% 1.0%

Civil Filings 283,087 298,713 280,037 290,430 271,721 281,202 279,900

Year-to-Year Change: -1.1% 5.5% -6.3% 3.7% -6.4% 3.5% -0.5%

12 months 

ending June 30, 

2019 Projected

WORKLOAD FACTOR

12 months 

ending June 30, 

2015 Actual

12 months 

ending June 30, 

2013 Actual

12 months 

ending June 30, 

2014 Actual

12 months 

ending June 30, 

2016 Actual

12 months 

ending June 30, 

2017 Actuals

12 months 

ending June 30, 

2018 Actual

22,136

On-board 

21,524 

On-board 

20,659

On-board 

19,418

On-board 

19,101

On-board 

19,183 

Estimated

 17,000

 17,500

 18,000

 18,500

 19,000

 19,500

 20,000

 20,500

 21,000

 21,500

 22,000

 22,500

 23,000

 23,500

7/31/2011 9/30/2011 9/30/2012 9/30/2013 9/30/2014 9/30/2015 9/30/2016 9/30/2017 9/30/2018 1/20/2019 9/30/2019 9/30/2020

Court Support Staffing 

FY 2011 - FY 2020

On-Board FTE

19,267

On-board 19,200

Plan

19,232 

On-board

19,283

On-board 19,194 

On-board 19,123

On-board
35

IX. Other Sources of Funding for the Judiciary

Explanation of Other Funding Sources

In addition to appropriated funds, each year the judiciary uses other non-appropriated funds to 

offset its appropriation requirements. Fee collections, primarily from court filing fees, comprise 

the majority of these sources of funds. These funds are used to offset expenses within the 

Salaries and Expenses account.

“Unencumbered” Funds

In addition to fee collections, in certain instances the judiciary may carry forward funds from one 

year to the next. These carryforward funds are considered “unencumbered” when they are 

generated by savings in the financial plan in base areas or where budgeted costs did not 

materialize, such as variations in Article III judge confirmations or space delivery dates. These 

savings are usually unforeseen and uncontrollable by the judiciary.

Recognizing that savings in the financial plan tend to occur each year, but at unpredictable 

levels, the judiciary has tried to estimate the level of unencumbered funds that will be available 

to offset FY 2020 requirements. As the table below indicates, the judiciary has estimated that 

unencumbered funds will total $401.7 million in FY 2020, including $201.7 million in fee 

collections and $200.0 million in other unencumbered carryforward. As shown in the table 

below, this level of unencumbered funds represents a decrease of $28.2 million from the $429.8

million estimated in FY 2019 to help finance court operations. The judiciary requests $28.2

million to replace these non-appropriated funds in order to maintain current services in FY 2020. 

The judiciary’s estimates for non-appropriated funds typically fluctuate during the fiscal year. 

Administrative Office staff will update the Appropriations Subcommittee staffs on changes in 

non-appropriated funding levels during FY 2019.

Sources of Non-Appropriated Unencumbered Funds

in Salaries and Expenses

($000)

Fee Collections 204,835 201,665 (3,170)

Other Carryforward 225,000 200,000 (25,000)

Total, NonAppropriated Sources 

of Funding, Excluding 

Slippage

429,835 401,665 (28,170)

Dollars in Thousands FY 2019 

Estimated

FY 2020 

Request Difference
36

“Encumbered” Funds

Carryforward funds are considered “encumbered” when both the funds and the associated need 

for the funds shift to the next year. The judiciary has no-year authority for specific purposes for 

multi-year IT investments and new space-related requirements. In some cases, as was described 

above, this authority is used to carry forward savings where planned expenses did not occur. 

This authority is also used when planned expenses are delayed, or slipped, from one year to the 

next. In FY 2019, $184.7 million was slipped from FY 2018. 

“Encumbered” funds, while adding to the judiciary’s projected obligations in a given fiscal year, 

do not impact the judiciary’s appropriation requirements. Even if the total amount fluctuates 

from year to year, the funds associated with the specific project are brought forward from the 

prior year to fund the project, resulting in no additional appropriation requirements.
37

Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and

Other Judicial Services

Defender Services

FTE ($000)

FY 2019 Assumed Appropriation 3,019 1,157,390

Adjustments to Base 28 53,142

Program Increases 80 24,042

FY 2020 Appropriation Request 3,127 1,234,574

FY 2020 Request

Discretionary

The judiciary requests $1,234.6 million for Defender Services in FY 2020, a 6.7 percent increase

over the FY 2019 assumed discretionary appropriation. For this account, the FY 2019

appropriations assumption is $1,157.4 million, which is the FY 2019 re-estimated requested 

appropriation, excluding the $6 above Employment Cost Index (ECI) increase to the hourly noncapital panel attorney rate. This FY 2020 request reflects the necessary adjustments to base to 

maintain current services, as well as program increases for a $7 per hour increase to the noncapital panel attorney hourly rate (from $142 to $149); continued implementation of the federal 

defender organization (FDO) staffing formula; additional FDO panel management, national 

information technology, and reimbursable positions; and IT requirements.

This funding supports the provision of constitutionally-mandated legal representation and other 

services to persons financially unable to obtain counsel in criminal and related matters in federal 

court. The Criminal Justice Act provides that courts shall appoint counsel from federal public 

and community defender organizations or from a panel of private attorneys established by the 

court.

I. Discretionary Adjustments to Base

An increase of $53.1 million is requested for adjustments to base for pay and inflationary 

increases as well as for adjustments that will allow the judiciary to meet its constitutional 

obligation to provide defense counsel to all eligible persons in FY 2020. These increases 

include:

1. Pay and benefit adjustments, federal defender organizations, and program 

administration: $25.1 million

An increase of $25.1 million will provide for the annualization of the assumed January 

2019 pay adjustment, within-grade increases, changes in benefits rates, and one more 

compensable day. Of this amount, $11.7 million is requested for the increase in the
38

agency contribution rate to the Federal Employee Retirement System from 13.7 percent 

to 16.0 percent. 

2. Other inflationary increases: $5.1 million

An increase of $5.1 million is required for inflationary adjustments for non-pay 

categories, including space rental costs.

3. Annualization of FDO positions assumed to be added in FY 2019: $6.8 million and 28 

FTE

Funding is required to annualize the costs for 56 federal public defender organization

(FPDO) positions (28 FTE) and 14 community defender organization (CDO) positions 

assumed to be added in FY 2019.

4. Annualization of reimbursable positions assumed to be added in FY 2019: $0.2 million 

Funding is required to annualize the costs for three reimbursable positions at the AO’s 

Defender Services Office’s Training Division assumed to be funded in FY 2019.

5. Change in projected panel attorney workload: $8.9 million

The requested increase represents the costs associated with a change in panel attorney 

caseload. Panel attorney representations are projected to be 85,200 in FY 2020. This is 

an increase of 4,500 above the assumed FY 2019 panel caseload of 80,700

representations.

6. Increase in appropriations needed to fund current services: $7.0 million

In FY 2019, $37.0 million in balances from FY 2018 and prior years was assumed to be 

available to finance FY 2019 requirements. In FY 2020, the judiciary expects $30.0

million in non-appropriated funds to be available, a decrease of $7.0 million from 

FY 2019. Because the judiciary anticipates having $7 million less in carryforward 

funding available in FY 2020, it requests $7 million in funding to substitute direct 

appropriations for base expenses previously funded from carryforward balances.

II. Program Increases

The FY 2020 request includes $24.0 million for program increases. These increases include:

1. Non-capital panel attorney hourly rate increase: $2.2 million

The requested funding supports a $7 hourly rate increase from the assumed level of $142

to $149 per hour for non-capital panel attorney cases in 2020 (for work performed on or 

after January 1, 2020). This would bring the non-capital panel attorney hourly rate to the 

statutory maximum of $149 per hour. In FY 2018, the non-capital panel attorney rate 
39

was $140 per hour. For FY 2019, the judiciary assumed approval of an Employment 

Cost Index (ECI) adjustment, which would increase the hourly rate from $140 to $142 in 

FY 2019. In this FY 2020 request, an ECI adjustment to the non-capital rate is not 

assumed. However, the judiciary is seeking a $7 per hour rate increase above the 

assumed FY 2019 hourly rate of $142 to reach the statutory maximum rate of $149 per 

hour. This $7 increase is needed to ensure that courts retain and recruit qualified and 

experienced criminal defense practitioners for their CJA panels. The full second-year 

cost of the $7 increase in FY 2021 is $17.6 million.

2. Change in projected FDO workload: $18.2 million and 75 FTE

The FY 2020 request includes an increase of $18.2 million and 75 FTE for 190 additional 

FDO staff funded for six months (150 federal public defender organization positions/75

FTE and 40 community defender organization positions) for the continued 

implementation of the FDO staffing formula. The additional staff would allow 

authorized staffing levels to remain at 98 percent of formula requirements.

3. CJA panel management positions: $0.7 million and 2 FTE

The requested increase supports 7 additional FDO panel attorney management positions 

consisting of 4 positions (2 FTE) for FPDOs and 3 positions for CDOs. These positions 

are necessary for FDOs to effectively and efficiently administer the CJA panel in districts 

where that responsibility is held by the FDO.

4. National positions: $0.4 million and 3 FTE

The requested increase supports 6 national IT positions (3 FTE). Three positions will 

address cybersecurity requirements for establishing a security incident response team. 

The other three positions would address non-cybersecurity requirements (2 operating 

systems administrators and 1 information technology/software trainer). The requested 

positions are necessary to ensure that the IT systems are mission capable and secure.

5. Reimbursable positions: $0.6 million

The requested increase supports 8 reimbursable positions. 6 of these positions are for the 

Program Operations Division within the AO’s Defender Services Office and will aid in 

oversight of the defender services program. The other 2 positions are for the Training 

Division within the AO’s Defender Services Office and will support training programs 

that support federal defender staff and panel attorneys in better representing their clients. 
40

6. Information technology requirements: $1.9 million

The requested increase will fund cyclical replacement of the FDO server infrastructure.

This cyclical replacement of the FDO server infrastructure will improve IT asset 

management practices.

III. Appropriations Language

Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services 

Defender Services

For the operation of Federal Defender organizations; the compensation and reimbursement of 

expenses of attorneys appointed to represent persons under 18 U.S.C. 3006A and 3599, and for 

the compensation and reimbursement of expenses of persons furnishing investigative, expert, and 

other services for such representations as authorized by law; the compensation (in accordance 

with the maximums under 18 U.S.C. 3006A) and reimbursement of expenses of attorneys 

appointed to assist the court in criminal cases where the defendant has waived representation by 

counsel; the compensation and reimbursement of expenses of attorneys appointed to represent 

jurors in civil actions for the protection of their employment, as authorized by 28 U.S.C. 

1875(d)(1); the compensation and reimbursement of expenses of attorneys appointed under 18 

U.S.C. 983(b)(1) in connection with certain judicial civil forfeiture proceedings; the 

compensation and reimbursement of travel expenses of guardians ad litem appointed under 18 

U.S.C. 4100(b); and for necessary training and general administrative expenses, 

[$1,157,390,000]$1,234,574,000, to remain available until expended.

(H.R. 6147 - Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2019, updated to 

reflect the judiciary’s FY 2019 assumed appropriation.)

IV. Summary of Obligations

Category

FY 2018

Actual

FY 2019

Assumed

Obligations/

Appropriation

FY 2020

Request

Requested

Increase/

Decrease

Compensation and Benefits 446,934 472,346 505,852 33,506

Rent, Communications and Utilities 49,807 52,709 55,353 2,644

Travel 13,804 14,662 15,415 753

Contractual Services (includes panel attorney payments) 442,223 472,344 491,864 19,520

Other (includes grants to Community Defender Organizations) 172,312 183,617 196,090 12,473

Total Obligations 1,125,080 1,195,678 1,264,574 68,896

Encumbered Carryforward N/A (1,288) - 1,288

Total Obligations (Excluding Encumbered Carryforward) 1,125,080 1,194,390 1,264,574 70,184

Other Adjustments (46,367) (37,000) (30,000) 7,000

Available Appropriation 1,078,713 1,157,390 1,234,574 77,184

Courts of Appeals, District Courts and Other Judicial Services

Comparative Summary of Obligations by Category

($000)

Defender Services
41

V. Budget Request by Category

1

65%

2

34%

3

1%

FY 2020 Budget Request

Defender Services Account

(Obligations)
42

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43

Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and

Other Judicial Services

Fees of Jurors and Commissioners

FTE ($000)

FY 2019 Assumed Appropriation - 50,750

Adjustments to Base - 1,101

Program Increases - -

FY 2020 Appropriation Request - 51,851

FY 2020 Request

Discretionary

The judiciary requests $51.9 million for Fees of Jurors and Commissioners in FY 2020, a 2.2

percent increase over the FY 2019 assumed discretionary appropriation. For this account, the

FY 2019 appropriations assumption is $50.8 million, which is the FY 2019 re-estimated 

requested appropriation. The FY 2020 request reflects the necessary adjustments to base to 

maintain current services. 

Costs associated with this account can be unpredictable and are driven by the number of jury 

trials, the length of those trials, and statutory rates for reimbursement paid to jurors.

I. Discretionary Adjustments to Base

The FY 2020 request includes a net increase of $1.1 million in adjustments to base associated 

with inflationary adjustments, and projected changes in juror days. This will allow the account 

to continue to pay for the statutory fees and expenses of grand and petit jurors and compensation 

of land commissioners in FY 2020. These adjustments include:

1. Inflationary adjustments: $0.5 million

In addition to attendance fees, jurors also are reimbursed for certain expenses, including 

meals and lodging for sequestered jurors and transportation of juries to view evidence or 

crime scenes. Inflationary increases associated with these expenses are expected to total 

$0.2 million for grand jurors and $0.3 million for petit jurors in FY 2020.

2. Adjustment to base to FY 2019 requirements: $1.1 million

The requested increase reflects a base increase to FY 2019 requirements in the petit juror 

program. The FY 2019 assumed level funds these requirements at a lower level than 

actual petit juror activity and revised, projected caseload anticipated in FY 2019.
44

3. Projected change in juror days: -$0.4 million

Overall expenses for grand and petit jurors are expected to decrease by a $0.4 million in 

FY 2020 based on the projected number of available grand and petit jurors.

II. Appropriations Language

Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services 

Fees of Jurors and Commissioners

For fees and expenses of jurors as authorized by 28 U.S.C. 1871 and 1876; compensation of jury 

commissioners as authorized by 28 U.S.C. 1863; and compensation of commissioners appointed 

in condemnation cases pursuant to rule 71.1(h) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (28 

U.S.C. Appendix Rule 71.1(h)), [$50,750,000]$51,851,000, to remain available until expended: 

Provided, That the compensation of land commissioners shall not exceed the daily equivalent of 

the highest rate payable under 5 U.S.C. 5332.

(H.R. 6147 - Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2019, updated to 

reflect the judiciary’s FY 2019 assumed appropriation.)

III. Summary of Obligations

Category

FY 2018

Actual

FY 2019

Assumed

Obligations/

Appropriation

FY 2020

Request

Requested

Increase/

Decrease

Compensation and Benefits 24,000 24,280 23,888 (392)

Rent, Communications and Utilities 2,375 2,423 2,643 220

Travel 22,476 21,482 22,462 980

Other 2,319 3,565 3,858 293

Total Obligations 51,170 51,750 52,851 1,101

Other Adjustments (226) (1,000) (1,000) -

Available Appropriation 50,944 50,750 51,851 1,101

Courts of Appeals, District Courts and Other Judicial Services

Comparative Summary of Obligations by Category

($000)

Fees of Jurors and Commissioners
45

IV. Budget Request by Category

Petit Jurors

66.6%

Grand Jurors

33.2%

Land 

Commissioners

0.2%

FY 2020 Budget Request

Fees of Jurors and Commissioners Account

(Obligations)
46

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47

Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and

Other Judicial Services

Court Security

FTE ($000)

FY 2019 Assumed Appropriation 75 607,275

Adjustments to Base - 25,525

Program Increases - 8,473

FY 2020 Appropriation Request 75 641,273

Discretionary

FY 2020 Request

The judiciary requests $641.3 million for Court Security in FY 2020, a 5.6 percent increase over 

the FY 2019 assumed discretionary appropriation. For this account, the FY 2019 appropriations 

assumption is $607.3 million, which is the FY 2019 re-estimated requested appropriation. This

FY 2020 request reflects the necessary adjustments to base to maintain current services. The 

request also includes program increases for the continued implementation of the physical access 

control systems (PACS) replacement strategy, security infrastructure and additional court 

security officers (CSOs) for new courthouses, the initial implementation of the video 

management system replacement strategy, the fourth year of the phased implementation of the 

revised CSO staffing standards, and additional district supervisor contractors. 

The majority of the funding in this account is transferred to the U.S. Marshals Service, which is 

responsible for administering the Judicial Facility Security Program. 

I. Discretionary Adjustments to Base

The Court Security account requests $25.5 million for adjustments to base for pay and benefits, 

inflationary increases, and other adjustments to maintain current services in FY 2020. These 

adjustments include:

1. Pay and benefits increases: $2.3 million

The increase accounts for the annualization of the assumed January 2019 pay adjustment, 

within-grade increases, changes in benefits rates, and one more compensable day. 

2. Annualization of CSO positions (35): $1.5 million

Funding is required to annualize costs for 35 additional CSO positions expected to be 

hired in FY 2019, based on the phased implementation of the revised CSO staffing 

standards.
48

3. FY 2020 CSO contract and wage rate adjustments: $13.2 million

This increase provides for an average 3.0 percent wage adjustment for contract CSOs, as 

established by the U.S. Department of Labor and based on collective bargaining 

agreements.

4. Non-pay inflationary increase: $0.9 million

An increase of $0.9 million is requested for a 2.0 percent general inflationary increase for 

travel, supplies, equipment, and other contractual services (exclusive of CSO contracts).

5. GSA space rental increase: $0.2 million

The request represents an inflationary increase and adjustments in the cost of GSA space 

rental charges for space for FY 2020. 

6. Changes in Federal Protective Service security charges: $2.1 million

The requested increase of $2.1 million will fund basic and building-specific security 

expenses based on anticipated billings from the Department of Homeland Security 

Federal Protective Service (FPS). The total request for FPS charges is $87.9 million in 

FY 2020, which is a 2.5 percent increase over the $85.8 million projected for FY 2019. 

($000) FY 2019 FY 2020 Difference

Basic 33,000 34,691 1,691

Building-Specific 52,813 53,235 422

Total FPS 85,813 87,926 2,113

7. Adjustments to base for security systems and equipment: net $5.3 million

The requested amount reflects a net increase of $5.3 million in the court security systems 

and equipment acquisition plan (excluding proposed program increases). This includes 

$5.6 million in increases for nationwide maintenance contract for existing security 

systems and equipment; CSO radios, accessories, repairs and over-the-air re-key; 

nationwide contract for vehicle barrier maintenance; other additional and replacement 

equipment; perimeter security improvements; and miscellaneous systems and equipment. 

An offsetting decrease of $0.3 million is for cyclical replacement of x-ray screening 

equipment and walk-through metal detectors.

II. Program Increases

The FY 2020 request includes $8.5 million for program increases. These increases include:
49

1. Physical access control systems (PACS) replacement strategy: $5.0 million

The FY 2020 request includes an additional $5.0 million to implement the PACS 

replacement strategy, for a total of $32.0 million to replace PACS at significant risk of 

failure. The judiciary’s strategy is to seek increases in PACS funding by approximately 

$5 million each year from FY 2019 to FY 2022 to replace old and failing building access 

systems at court facilities nationwide.

2. New courthouse construction projects

a. Security infrastructure for new courthouses: -$9.0 million

The FY 2020 request includes a decrease of $12.4 million associated with non-recurring 

security requirements for new courthouse construction projects assumed to be funded in 

FY 2019. This is partially offset by an increase of $3.4 million for new security systems 

and screening equipment at the new courthouse planned for Des Moines, IA. 

b. Additional CSOs (34) for new courthouses: $1.7 million

The FY 2020 request includes $1.7 million for an additional 34 CSO positions for 

courthouses in Greenville, SC; Savannah, GA; Toledo, OH, and Nashville, TN. These 

positions are needed to adequately staff new courthouse construction projects that are 

projected to be open in FY 2020 or early FY 2021.

3. Video management systems (VMS) replacement: $6.3 million

The FY 2020 request includes $6.3 million to begin implementing a multi-year VMS 

replacement strategy. Based on initial estimates, the proposed VMS replacement plan 

would cost $63.0 million over 10 years ($6.3 million per year).

4. Phased implementation of the new CSO staffing standards: $4.0 million

The FY 2020 request includes $4.0 million for an additional 69 CSO positions. With this 

request, the phased implementation of the new staffing standards will be 70 percent

complete.

5. Additional district supervisors: $0.6 million

The FY 2020 request includes $0.6 million for 11 additional district supervisors 

(contractors) to support the CSO program. The current CSO contract assigns only one 

district supervisor to each district throughout the nation. The additional positions would 

be assigned to districts with many facilities, districts covering a wide geographic area, 

and/or districts with a large CSO workforce.
50

III. Appropriations Language

Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services 

Court Security

(Including Transfers of Funds)

For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, incident to the provision of 

protective guard services for United States courthouses and other facilities housing Federal court 

operations, and the procurement, installation, and maintenance of security systems and 

equipment for United States courthouses and other facilities housing Federal court operations, 

including building ingress-egress control, inspection of mail and packages, directed security 

patrols, perimeter security, basic security services provided by the Federal Protective Service, 

and other similar activities as authorized by section 1010 of the Judicial Improvement and 

Access to Justice Act (Public Law 100-702), [$607,275,000]$641,273,000, of which not to 

exceed $20,000,000 shall remain available until expended, to be expended directly or transferred 

to the United States Marshals Service, which shall be responsible for administering the Judicial 

Facility Security Program consistent with standards or guidelines agreed to by the Director of the

Administrative Office of the United States Courts and the Attorney General.

(H.R. 6147 - Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2019, updated to 

reflect the judiciary’s FY 2019 assumed appropriation.)

IV. Summary of Obligations

Category

FY 2018

Actual

FY 2019

Assumed

Obligations/

Appropriation

FY 2020

Request

Requested

Increase/

Decrease

Compensation and Benefits 9,181 11,445 11,979 534

Rent, Communications and Utilities 7,587 7,569 7,730 161

Travel 602 431 498 67

Court Security Officers Contract 392,476 416,434 438,748 22,314

Federal Protective Service Charges 82,169 85,813 87,926 2,113

Other 86,987 95,632 104,392 8,760

Total Obligations 579,002 617,324 651,273 33,949

Other Adjustments 7,997 (10,049) (10,000) 49

Available Appropriation 586,999 607,275 641,273 33,998

Courts of Appeals, District Courts and Other Judicial Services

Comparative Summary of Obligations by Category

($000)

Court Security
51

V. Summary of Requirements and Financing

Security 

Systems/Equip.

FPS 

Provided 

Security

CSOs ($000) ($000) ($000) FTE ($000) FTE ($000)

FY 2019 Assumed Financial Obligations 4,411 416,434 99,424 85,813 75 31,706 75 633,377

Less: Encumbered Carryforward from FY 2017 - - (14,328) - - (1,725) - (16,053)

FY 2019 Assumed Financial Obligations less 

Encumbered Carryforward 4,411 416,434 85,096 85,813 75 29,981 75 617,324

Less: Judiciary Information Technology Fund (JITF) - - - - - (49) - (49)

Less: Unencumbered Carryforward from FY 2019 - - (10,000) - - - - (10,000)

Total FY 2019 Assumed Appropriation 4,411 416,434 75,096 85,813 75 29,932 75 607,275

FY 2020 Appropriations Increases/Decreases 103 22,314 7,733 2,113 - 1,838 - 33,998

Total FY 2020 Request 4,514 438,748 82,829 87,926 75 31,770 75 641,273

Court Security - Summary of Requirements and Financing

Court Security Officers 

(CSOs) Program Administration Total

VI. Budget Request by Category

Court Security 

Officer Contract 

Costs

67%

Security Systems 

and Equipment

14%

Federal Protective 

Service Charges

14%

Program 

Administration

5%

FY 2020 Budget Request

Court Security Account

(Obligations)
52

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53

Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts

 Salaries and Expenses

FTE ($000)

FY 2019 Assumed Appropriation 622 92,693

Adjustments to Base - 3,888

Program Increases 2 364

FY 2020 Appropriation Request 624 96,945

Discretionary

FY 2020 Request

The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO) requests $96.9 million in FY 2020, a 4.6

percent increase over the FY 2019 assumed discretionary appropriation. For this account, the

FY 2019 appropriations assumption is $92.7 million, which is the FY 2019 re-estimated 

requested appropriation. The FY 2020 request reflects the necessary adjustments to base to 

maintain current services and a program increase to expand the Office of Judicial Integrity. 

In addition to the appropriation provided by Congress, the AO receives non-appropriated funds 

from sources such as fee collections and carryover balances to offset its appropriation 

requirements. The AO also receives reimbursements from other judiciary accounts for 

information technology development and services that are in direct support of the courts, the 

court security program, and defender services. 

I. Discretionary Adjustments to Base

The AO requests $3.9 million in adjustments to base in FY 2020 for standard pay, benefit, and 

other inflationary adjustments. 

II. Program Increases

Expand Office of Judicial Integrity: $0.4 million and 2 FTE

The Office of Judicial Integrity was established in FY 2018 to provide counseling and 

assistance regarding workplace conduct to all judiciary employees. The first judicial 

integrity officer was named in December 2018. This request provides $0.4 million for 

the full-year salaries, benefits, and expenses of two staff positions to expand the office.
54

III. Appropriations Language

Administrative Office of the United States Courts

Salaries and Expenses

For necessary expenses of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts as authorized by 

law, including travel as authorized by 31 U.S.C. 1345, hire of a passenger motor vehicle as 

authorized by 31 U.S.C. 1343(b), advertising and rent in the District of Columbia and elsewhere, 

[$92,693,000]$96,945,000, of which not to exceed $8,500 is authorized for official reception and 

representation expenses.

(H.R. 6147 - Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2019, updated to 

reflect the judiciary’s FY 2019 assumed appropriation.)

IV. Summary of Obligations

Category

FY 2018

Actual

FY 2019

Assumed

Obligations/

Appropriation

FY 2020

Request

Requested

Increase/

Decrease

Compensation and Benefits 181,806 208,698 223,479 14,781

Rent, Communications and Utilities 471 603 613 10

Travel 1,696 1,707 1,741 34

Other 13,157 11,089 7,881 (3,208)

Total Obligations 197,130 222,097 233,714 11,617

Other Adjustments (21,976) (24,602) (21,140) 3,462

Reimbursable Program (84,731) (104,802) (115,629) (10,827)

Available Appropriation 90,423 92,693 96,945 4,252

Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts

Comparative Summary of Obligations by Category

($000)
55

Federal Judicial Center

Salaries and Expenses

FTE ($000)

FY 2018 Assumed Appropriation 128 29,819

Adjustments to Base - 917

Program Increases - -

FY 2019 Appropriation Request 128 30,736

FY 2020 Request

Discretionary

The Federal Judicial Center (FJC) requests $30.7 million in FY 2020, a 3.1 percent increase over 

the FY 2019 assumed discretionary appropriation. For this account, the FY 2019 appropriations 

assumption is $29.8 million, which is the same as the FY 2019 House mark and the FY 2019 

Senate mark. This request reflects the necessary adjustments to base to maintain current 

services. The FJC requests no program increases for FY 2020.

The FJC, which is the research and education arm of the Third Branch, provides judges and other 

judiciary personnel with education and training on legal developments and efficient litigation 

management and court administration. As such, its workload is derived in large part by the 

population of the courts. 

I. Discretionary Adjustments to Base

The Federal Judicial Center requests $0.9 million in adjustments to base for increases to standard 

pay, benefit, and other inflationary adjustments. 

II. Appropriations Language

Federal Judicial Center

Salaries and Expenses

For necessary expenses of the Federal Judicial Center, as authorized by Public Law 90-219, 

[$29,819,000]$30,736,000; of which $1,800,000 shall remain available until September 30, 

[2020]2021, 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.

(H.R. 6147 - Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2019, updated to 

reflect the judiciary’s FY 2019 assumed appropriation.)
56

III. Summary of Obligations

Category

FY 2018

Actual

FY 2019

Assumed

Obligations/

Appropriation

FY 2020

Request

Requested

Increase/

Decrease

Compensation and Benefits 19,777 20,614 21,344 730

Rent, Communications and Utilities 504 578 590 12

Travel 5,972 6,477 6,576 99

Other 3,868 2,995 2,616 (379)

Total Obligations 30,121 30,664 31,126 462

Other Adjustments (856) (845) (390) 455

Available Appropriation 29,265 29,819 30,736 917

Federal Judicial Center

Comparative Summary of Obligations by Category

($000)
57

United States Sentencing Commission

Salaries and Expenses

FTE ($000)

FY 2019 Assumed Appropriation 95 18,548

Adjustments to Base - 717

Program Increases - -

FY 2020 Appropriation Request 95 19,265

FY 2020 Request

Discretionary

The United States Sentencing Commission (the Commission) requests $19.3 million in FY 2020, 

a 3.9 percent increase over the FY 2019 assumed discretionary appropriation. For this account, 

the FY 2019 appropriations assumption is $18.5 million, which is the same as the FY 2019 

House mark and FY 2019 Senate mark. The FY 2020 request reflects the necessary adjustments 

to base to maintain current services. The Commission requests no program increases for FY 

2020.

The Commission’s duties are to review and revise the sentencing guidelines regularly, collect 

data from federal sentencing courts, analyze these data to provide meaningful information on 

federal sentencing practices, and provide extensive training to guideline users.

I. Discretionary Adjustments to Base

The Commission requests $0.7 million in adjustments to base for increases to standard pay, 

benefit, and other inflationary adjustments. 

II. Appropriations Language

United States Sentencing Commission

Salaries and Expenses

For the salaries and expenses necessary to carry out the provisions of chapter 58 of title 28, 

United States Code, [$18,548,000]$19,265,000, of which not to exceed $1,000 is authorized for 

official reception and representation expenses.

(H.R. 6147 - Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2019, updated to 

reflect the judiciary’s FY 2019 assumed appropriation)
58

III. Summary of Obligations

Category

FY 2018

Actual

FY 2019

Assumed

Obligations/

Appropriation

FY 2020

Request

Requested

Increase/

Decrease

Compensation and Benefits 13,398 15,336 16,000 664

Rent, Communications and Utilities 29 29 27 (2)

Travel 412 335 343 8

Other 4,723 4,517 2,895 (1,622)

Total Obligations 18,562 20,217 19,265 (952)

Other Adjustments 137 (1,669) - 1,669

Available Appropriation 18,699 18,548 19,265 717

United States Sentencing Commission

Comparative Summary of Obligations by Category

($000)
59

Title III Administrative Provisions – The Judiciary

Note: In the absence of enacted FY 2019 full year appropriations, the judiciary built its 

FY 2020 language requests using the House-passed version of the FY 2019 Financial 

Services and General Government (FSGG) bill. Therefore, the bracketed and italicized 

changes reflected below are being made to FY 2019 language as it appears in H.R. 6147.

SEC. 301. Appropriations and authorizations made in this title which are available for 

salaries and expenses shall be available for services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109.

SEC. 302. Not to exceed 5 percent of any appropriation made available for the current 

fiscal year for the Judiciary in this Act may be transferred between such appropriations, but no 

such appropriation, except ‘‘Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services, 

Defender Services’’ and ‘‘Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services, Fees 

of Jurors and Commissioners’’, shall be increased by more than 10 percent by any such transfers: 

Provided, That any transfer pursuant to this section shall be treated as a reprogramming of funds 

under sections 604 and 608 of this Act and shall not be available for obligation or expenditure 

except in compliance with the procedures set forth in section 608.

SEC. 303. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the salaries and expenses 

appropriation for ‘‘Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services’’ shall be 

available for official reception and representation expenses of the Judicial Conference of the 

United States: Provided, That such available funds shall not exceed $11,000 and shall be 

administered by the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts in the 

capacity as Secretary of the Judicial Conference.

SEC. 304. Section 3315(a) of title 40, United States Code, shall be applied by substituting 

‘‘Federal’’ for ‘‘executive’’ each place it appears.

SEC. 305. In accordance with 28 U.S.C. 561–569, and notwithstanding any other 

provision of law, the United States Marshals Service shall provide, for such courthouses as its 

Director may designate in consultation with the Director of the Administrative Office of the 

United States Courts, for purposes of a pilot program, the security services that 40 U.S.C. 1315 

authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to provide, except for the services specified in 

40 U.S.C. 1315(b)(2)(E). For building-specific security services at these courthouses, the 

Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall reimburse the United 

States Marshals Service rather than the Department of Homeland Security.

SEC. 306. (a) Section 203(c) of the Judicial Improvements Act of 1990 (Public Law 101–

650; 28 U.S.C. 133 note), is amended in the second sentence (relating to the District of Kansas) 

following paragraph (12), by striking ‘‘[27]28 years and 6 months’’ and inserting ‘‘[28]29 years 

and 6 months’’.
60

(b) Section 406 of the Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the 

Judiciary, the District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (Public 

Law 109–115; 119 Stat. 2470; 28 U.S.C. 133 note) is amended in the second sentence (relating 

to the eastern District of Missouri) by striking ‘‘[25]26 years and 6 months’’ and inserting 

‘‘[26]27 years and 6 months’’.

(c) Section 312(c)(2) of the 21st Century Department of Justice Appropriations 

Authorization Act (Public Law 107–273; 28 U.S.C. 133 note), is amended—

[(1) in the first sentence by inserting after “except in the case of” the following: 

“the northern district of Alabama,”;

(2) in the first sentence by inserting after “the central district of California” the 

following: “,”;]

([3]1) in the first sentence by striking ‘‘[16]17 years’’ and inserting ‘‘[17]18

years’’;

[(4) by adding at the end of the first sentence the following: “The first vacancy in 

the office of district judge in the district of Alabama occurring 16 years or more after the 

confirmation of the judge named to fill the temporary district judgeship created in that 

district by this subsection, shall not be filled.”;]

([5]2) in the third sentence (relating to the central District of California), by 

striking ‘‘[15]16 years and 6 months’’ and inserting ‘‘[16]17 years and 6 months’’; and

([6]3) in the fourth sentence (relating to the western district of North Carolina), by 

striking ‘‘[14]15 years’’ and inserting ‘‘[15]16 years’’.

This title may be cited as the ‘‘Judiciary Appropriations Act, [2019]2020’’.

Explanation of Changes

Revised Section 306: This language extends for 12 months the authorizations of eight temporary 

district judgeships that are assumed to be extended in FY 2019 and whose authorizations will 

then expire on a rolling basis between April and September of FY 2020. The language assumes 

the extension of only those temporary district judgeships reflected in the most recent judgeship 

recommendations of the Judicial Conference.
61

Judicial Retirement Funds

Payment to Judiciary Trust Funds

FTE ($000)

FY 2019 Assumed Appropriation - 211,700

Adjustments to Base - 28,400

FY 2020 Appropriation Request - 240,100

FY 2020 Request

Mandatory

The judiciary requests $240.1 million in mandatory appropriations for the Judicial Retirement 

Funds in FY 2020, a 13.4 percent increase over the FY 2019 assumed appropriation. 

The Payment to the Judiciary Trust Funds is a mandatory account and is divided among three 

trust funds that finance payments to (1) retired bankruptcy and magistrate judges, (2) retired 

Court of Federal Claims judges, and (3) spouses and dependent children of deceased judicial 

officers. The appropriation requirements are calculated annually by an enrolled actuary pursuant 

to 31 U.S.C. 9503.

I. Mandatory Adjustments to Base

Based on independent actuarial calculations, a net increase of $28.4 million is required for this 

account for FY 2020. 

II. Appropriations Language

Sec. [619]___. (a) There are appropriated for the following activities the amounts required under 

current law:

(1) Compensation of the President (3 U.S.C. 102).

(2) Payments to--

(A) the Judicial Officers' Retirement Fund (28 U.S.C. 377(o));

(B) the Judicial Survivors' Annuities Fund (28 U.S.C. 376(c)); and

(C) the United States Court of Federal Claims Judges' Retirement Fund (28 U.S.C. 

178(l)).

(3) Payment of Government contributions--

(A) with respect to the health benefits of retired employees, as authorized by chapter 

89 of title 5, United States Code, and the Retired Federal Employees Health Benefits Act 

(74 Stat. 849); and

(B) with respect to the life insurance benefits for employees retiring after December 

31, 1989 (5 U.S.C. ch. 87).
62

(4) Payment to finance the unfunded liability of new and increased annuity benefits under 

the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund (5 U.S.C. 8348).

(5) Payment of annuities authorized to be paid from the Civil Service Retirement and 

Disability Fund by statutory provisions other than subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84 

of title 5, United States Code.

(b) Nothing in this section may be construed to exempt any amount appropriated by this 

section from any otherwise applicable limitation on the use of funds contained in this Act.

(H.R. 6147 - Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2019)

III. Summary of Obligations

Category

FY 2018

Actual

FY 2019

Assumed

Obligations/

Appropriations

FY 2020

Request

Requested

Increase/

Decrease

Other - Judicial Officers' Retirement Fund 160,700 181,300 203,900 22,600

Other - Judicial Survivors' Annuities Fund 28,600 26,000 32,400 6,400

Other - United States Court of Federal Claims 

Judges' Retirement Fund 5,700 4,400 3,800 (600)

Total Obligations/Appropriations 195,000 211,700 240,100 28,400

Judicial Retirement Funds

Comparative Summary of Obligations by Category

($000)
63

Judiciary Space Priorities

for the

Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Request
64

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65

The federal courthouse construction program is jointly administered by the judiciary and General 

Services Administration (GSA). The judiciary establishes priorities for courthouse construction 

projects and sets the housing requirements for each project to ensure that completed facilities

meet the needs of the courts. GSA, as the holder of real property authority, secures the funding 

for courthouse construction and completes design and construction work on the facilities 

themselves. 

The judiciary sets forth its priorities for courthouse construction funding on its Federal Judiciary 

Courthouse Project Priorities (CPP) list. The CPP is divided into two parts. Part I consists of 

the judiciary’s highest courthouse construction funding priorities for the budget year. Part II 

identifies outyear courthouse construction priorities.

Management of Fiscal Year 2016 Funding

In FY 2016, Congress provided $948 million to GSA for the construction of courthouses on the 

judiciary’s CPP list, as approved by the Judicial Conference in September 2015. Consistent with 

congressional intent, this FY 2016 courthouse construction funding is being used to fully fund 

eight projects: Nashville, Tennessee; Toledo, Ohio; Charlotte, North Carolina; Des Moines, 

Iowa; Greenville, South Carolina; Anniston, Alabama; Savannah, Georgia; and San Antonio, 

Texas. Partial funding was also provided for Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Congress also provided 

$53 million for GSA for new construction and acquisition of federal buildings that jointly house 

U.S. courthouses and other federal agencies in Greenville, Mississippi, and Rutland, Vermont. 

Joint courthouse/federal building projects are prioritized by GSA and do not appear on the 

judiciary’s CPP. All the courthouse projects have been authorized by both the House Committee 

on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public 

Works. 

Each of these projects is in a different stage of development and construction. The AO continues 

to engage with GSA, USMS, and other Executive Branch stakeholders to ensure that additional 

milestones are reached, and projects remain on track. These activities include regular 

coordination and project status meetings; the development of a communications and program 

management plan; establishment of a National Courthouse Change Management Board to 

provide key oversight of the changes impacting scope, schedule, and budget; and the deployment 

of a program management dashboard to track progress. Ongoing coordination continues among 

judiciary stakeholders to address issues impacting the portfolio including risks, policies, and best 

practices.

Courthouse Construction
66

Management of Fiscal Year 2018 Funding

In FY 2018, Congress provided the remainder of funding needed to complete the project in 

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania ($137.2 million), as well as complete construction funding for two 

additional projects: Huntsville, Alabama ($110.0 million), and Fort Lauderdale, Florida ($190.1 

million). Both the Huntsville and Fort Lauderdale projects are awaiting congressional 

authorization.

Update to the CPP

In September 2018, the Judicial Conference of the United States approved an updated CPP list 

for FY 2020 and beyond. The approved CPP reflects the removal of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 

Huntsville, Alabama, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from Part I since they were funded in FY 

2018. Further, two new locations were added to the CPP – Hartford, Connecticut, and 

Greensboro/Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Based on the judiciary’s Asset Management 

Planning (AMP) process, Urgency Evaluation scores, and the recommendations in each project’s 

completed GSA feasibility study, Hartford, Connecticut, was added to Part I of the CPP, and 

Greensboro/Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was added to Part II. In addition, one project was 

moved up from Part II to Part I – Chattanooga, Tennessee. For FY 2020, Part I of the CPP 

includes two projects:

• Hartford, Connecticut – $271.2 million for site acquisition, design, and construction

• Chattanooga, Tennessee – $189.1 million for site acquisition, design, and construction
67

Courthouse Project ($000)

Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse, Detroit, 

Michigan 11,600

U.S Courthouse, Augusta, Georgia 19,800

FY 2020 Request 31,400

FY 2020 Request

The Capital Security Program (CSP) is funded as a Special Emphasis Program within GSA’s

Federal Buildings Fund. The CSP provides funding to address serious security deficiencies in 

existing courthouse buildings where physical renovations are viable in lieu of constructing a new 

courthouse. 

Fiscal Year 2020 Projects

The judiciary requests $31.4 million in FY 2020 for GSA to address security deficiencies at 

existing courthouses through the CSP. This request is based on an assumption that the CSP will 

receive no appropriations in FY 2019. FY 2020 funds are requested for the following projects1:

1. Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse, Detroit, Michigan. $11.6 million

The Levin Courthouse was constructed in 1934 and is listed on the National Register of 

Historic Places. The 402,935 usable square feet, ten-story plus basement structure houses 

13 courtrooms and 13 chambers. Security deficiencies at this courthouse will be partially 

addressed by constructing an enclosed USMS sally port, adding a visitor access enclosure, 

providing courtroom holding cells on two floors, and incorporating a detention grade 

elevator cab in the existing shared freight elevator shaft to provide improved prisoner 

movement. This project was requested in FY 2019 but is assumed to be unfunded in that 

year.

2. U.S. Courthouse, Augusta, Georgia: $19.8 million

The U.S. Courthouse in Augusta was constructed in 1916 and expanded in 1930. It is 

listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The 28,321 useable square feet, threestory plus basement structure houses two courtrooms, one hearing room, and three 

chambers. Security deficiencies at this courthouse will be addressed by replacing an 

existing open air carport with an enclosed USMS sally port and separate judges’ parking 

________________

1 All project cost estimates are subject to verification by GSA. In addition, the actual projects funded and the dollar 

amounts associated with each project may change depending on the amount appropriated for the CSP and the most 

recent cost estimates available at the time of appropriation. 

Judiciary Capital Security Program
68

area, enlarging/reconfiguring the existing security screening queuing area, providing a 

dedicated judges’ elevator and a dedicated prisoner elevator, reconfiguring the first floor 

to provide secure and restricted circulation paths for prisoners and judges, and 

constructing a new prisoner movement circulation corridor over the first-floor roof to 

provide secure circulation on the second floor. This project was requested in FY 2019 

but is assumed to be unfunded in that year.