FEDERAL JUDICIAL CENTER

Salaries and Expenses

SUMMARY STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT REQUIREMENTS

Fiscal Year 2019 Assumed Appropriation 

Fiscal Year 2020 Requested Appropriation

Requested Increase from Fiscal Year 2019 Assumed Appropriation

APPROPRIATION LANGUAGE

FEDERAL JUDICIAL CENTER

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

$29,819,000

$30,736,000

$917,000

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

updated to reflect the judiciary's fiscal year 2019 assumed appropriation)

 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.

 9.1
Fiscal Year 2020 Resource Requirements:

FTEs Amount

Fiscal Year 2019 Assumed Obligations................................................................................................ 128 30,664

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

 Utilization of Judiciary Information Technology Fund........................................................................... - (430)

Fiscal Year 2019 Assumed Appropriation.......................................................................................... 128 29,819

Page Adjustments to Base to Maintain Current Services:

No.

A. PERSONNEL

Pay and Benefit Adjustments

9.10 1. Annualization of assumed January 2019 pay adjustment (1.9% for three months)..................................... - 96

9.10 2. Promotions and within-grade increases......................................................................................... - 155

9.10 3. Benefits increases

a. Health benefits........................................................................................................ 13

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

c. FERS adjustment..................................................................................................... - 365

9.11 4. One more compensable day...................................................................................................... - 79

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

SUMMARY OF REQUEST

FEDERAL JUDICIAL CENTER

FISCAL YEAR 2020

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

 9.2
B. OTHER ADJUSTMENTS FTEs Amount

General Inflationary Adjustments

9.11 - 187

Subtotal, Adjustments to Base to Maintain Current Services.................................................................. - 917

Total Current Services Appropriation Required ................................................................................. 128 30,736

Total Fiscal Year 2020 Appropriation Required.................................................................................... 128 30,736

 Total Appropriation Increase...................................................................................................... - 917

Financing the Fiscal Year 2020 Request:

Total Appropriation Required, Fiscal Year 2020................................................................................... 128 30,736

9.11 - 390

Total Estimated Obligations, Fiscal Year 2020.................................................................................... 128 31,126

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

SUMMARY OF REQUEST

FEDERAL JUDICIAL CENTER

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

FISCAL YEAR 2020

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

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

 9.3
FEDERAL JUDICIAL CENTER

Salaries and Expenses

Obligations by Activity ($000)

Fiscal Year 2018 Fiscal Year 2019 Fiscal Year 2020

Offsetting Offsetting Offsetting

Activity Direct Collections Total Direct Collections Total Direct Collections Total

Education & Training 20,091 548 20,639 20,728 415 21,143 21,365 390 21,755

Research 5,307 - 5,307 5,386 - 5,386 5,551 - 5,551

Program Support1/ 4,168 7 4,175 4,135 - 4,135 3,819 - 3,819

Total Obligations 29,566 555 30,121 30,249 415 30,664 30,736 390 31,126

Unobligated Balance, Start of Year

 Judiciary Information Technology Fund (301) - (301) (430) - (430) - - -

 New Deposits (430) (430) - - - - - -

Unobligated Balance, End of Year

 Judiciary Information Technology Fund 430 - 430 - - - - - -

Total Direct Obligations 29,265 555 29,820 29,819 415 30,234 30,736 390 31,126

Offsetting Collections

 Reimbursable programs - (555) (555) - (415) (415) - (390) (390)

Available Appropriation 29,265 - 29,265 29,819 - 29,819 30,736 - 30,736

1/ Includes JITF obligations of $301,000 in FY 2018 and projected $430,000 in FY 2019.

 9.4
FEDERAL JUDICIAL CENTER

Salaries & Expenses

Obligations by Object Class ($000)

Fiscal Year 2018 Fiscal Year 2019 Fiscal Year 2020

Offsetting Total Offsetting Total Offsetting Total

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

1100 Personnel compensation 14,936 112 15,048 15,448 112 15,560 15,719 112 15,831

1200 Personnel benefits 4,701 28 4,729 5,026 28 5,054 5,485 28 5,513

2100 Travel 5,557 415 5,972 6,202 275 6,477 6,326 250 6,576

2200 Transporation of things 50 0 50 47 0 47 48 0 48

2330 Communications, utilities & misc 504 0 504 578 0 578 590 0 590

2400 Printing and reproduction 21 0 21 57 0 57 58 0 58

2500 Other services 1,353 0 1,353 1,024 0 1,024 1,044 0 1,044

2600 Supplies and materials 622 0 622 743 0 743 758 0 758

3100 Equipment 1,822 0 1,822 1,124 0 1,124 708 0 708

Total Obligations1 29,566 555 30,121 30,249 415 30,664 30,736 390 31,126

1/ Includes JITF obligations of $301,000 in FY 2018 and projected $430,000 in FY 2019.

Description

 9.5
FEDERAL JUDICIAL CENTER

Salaries & Expenses

Relation of Obligations to Outlays ($000)

FY 2019

FY 2018 Assumed FY 2020 Difference

Actual Obligations Request (+) or (-)

Total Obligations 30,121 30,664 31,126 462

Obligated balance, start of year 4,084 4,483 4,564 81

Adjustment of prior year activity (558) (568) (577) (9)

Obligated balance, end of year (4,483) (4,564) (4,633) (69)

Total Outlays 29,164 30,015 30,480 465

Less Judiciary Information 

 Technology Fund Obligations (293) (300) 0 300

Less offsetting collections:

 Reimbursable Programs (259) (264) (572) (308)

Net Outlays 28,612 29,451 29,908 457

 9.6
FEDERAL JUDICIAL CENTER

Salaries and Expenses

 Full Time Equivalents by Activity

Activity Direct

Reimb 

Program Total Direct

Reimb 

Program Total Direct

Reimb 

Program Total

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

Research 27 0 27 28 0 28 28 0 28

Program Support 9 0 9 9 0 9 9 0 9

Total, Full Time Equivalents 125 0 125 128 0 128 128 0 128

Fiscal Year 2018 Fiscal Year 2019 Fiscal Year 2020

9.7
9.8

GENERAL STATEMENT AND INFORMATION

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

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

improved judicial administration” in the federal courts.

The fiscal year (FY) 2020 request for the Federal Judicial Center totals $30,736,000 to support the operations of the Center at a current 

services level.

Functional Responsibilities of the Center

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

assess case management tools for complex litigation. (The Center’s statute also assigns it less extensive duties with regard to statefederal judicial relations, assisting foreign judiciaries, and federal judicial history, which it also performs.) Program planning is 

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

efficiency in meeting their distinct responsibilities. 
9.9

Duties of the Board

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

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

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

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

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

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

the AO in developing the Center’s appropriation requests.

FISCAL YEAR 2019 APPROPRIATIONS ASSUMPTION

In the absence of enacted full year FY 2019 appropriations, the judiciary made assumptions to construct a FY 2020 budget request. 

The judiciary built the FY 2020 budget request for the Federal Judicial Center assuming the FY 2019 House and Senate mark as an 

estimate for final FY 2019 appropriations. This amount would fund the Center’s full FY 2019 requirements. 

For bill language, the judiciary used the language from H.R. 6147, the House-passed FY 2019 Financial Services and General 

Government appropriations act, updated with the assumed funding level as described above, as the closest approximation of eventual 

enacted FY 2019 appropriations language.

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.
9.10

JUSTIFICATION OF CHANGES

The Federal Judicial Center’s FY 2020 appropriation request is 

$30,736,000 representing an overall increase of $917,000 (3.1

percent) over the assumed FY 2019 appropriation of 

$29,819,000. The total requested increase, $917,000, is for 

adjustments to base to maintain current services. These 

adjustments include pay and benefits cost increases for current 

staff. Also included are general inflationary increases for 

operating expenses such as travel, utilities, printing, contractual 

services, supplies and materials, furniture and equipment. The 

Center requests no program increases.

ADJUSTMENTS TO BASE TO MAINTAIN CURRENT 

SERVICES 

A. PERSONNEL

Pay and Benefit Adjustments 

1. Annualization of assumed 2019 pay adjustment

Requested Increase: $96,000 

The requested increase provides for the annualized costs of an 

assumed 2019 pay adjustment for Employment Cost Index 

(ECI) and locality pay. Based on the FY 2019 appropriations 

action to date, federal pay rates are assumed to increase by an 

average of 1.9 percent, effective as of January 2019. The 

requested increase provides for the cost of three months (from 

October 2019 to December 2019) of the assumed 2019 pay 

increase in FY 2020. (If Congress ultimately does not enact a 

2019 pay adjustment for federal civilian workers, or one is 

provided at a rate different than 1.9 percent, the judiciary will 

revise this line item in its FY 2020 budget re-estimate.)

2. Promotions and within-grade increases

Requested Increase: $155,000 

The requested amount provides for an increase to allow Federal 

Judicial Center personnel to be granted adjustments in 

compensation for merit. The salary plan for judicial support 

personnel provides for periodic within-grade increases for staff 

who receive at least a satisfactory performance rating.

3. Benefits increases

a. Health benefits 

Requested Increase: $13,000 

Based on information from the Office of Personnel 

Management, health benefit premium contributions are 

projected to increase by an average of 1.2 percent both in 

January 2019 and January 2020. The requested increase 

annualizes the 2019 premium increase, and includes a ninemonth provision for the increase anticipated for fiscal year 

2020.
9.11

b. FICA adjustment

Requested Increase: $22,000 

Based on information from the Social Security Administration, 

employer contributions to the Old Age, Survivor, and 

Disability Insurance (OASDI) portion of the FICA tax will 

increase in 2019. The salary cap for OASDI increased from 

$128,400 to $132,900 in January 2019. The requested amount 

is needed to pay the agency contribution in FY 2020. 

c. FERS adjustment

Requested Increase: $365,000 

Consistent with guidance from the Office of Management and 

Budget, funds are requested for an increase in the agency 

contribution rate to Federal Employee Retirement System 

(FERS) plans for FY 2020. For most employees, the agency 

contribution rate will increase 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. 

4. One more compensable day

Requested Increase: $79,000 

There is one more compensable day in FY 2020 than in 

FY 2019. The requested amount increases personnel 

compensation and benefits associated with one more 

compensable day for biweekly paid employees.

B. OTHER ADJUSTMENTS

5. Inflationary increases in charges for contracts, services, 

supplies, and equipment

Requested Increase: $187,000

Consistent with guidance from the Office of Management and 

Budget, this request of $187,000 is required to fund 

inflationary increases of 2.0 percent for operating expenses 

such as travel, communications, printing, contractual services, 

supplies and materials, and furniture and equipment.

FINANCING THE FISCAL YEAR 2020 REQUEST

OFFSETTING COLLECTIONS 

6. Estimated reimbursements from federal accounts and 

the FJC Foundation.

Estimated Reimbursement: $390,000 FTE: 0 

The Center enters into reimbursable agreements to provide 

additional services to, or to allow economizing by, the AO, the 

courts, and non-judicial federal entities. For example, on 

occasion, the AO will add on to scheduled FJC programs 

additional training days for judges and thereby avoid incurring 

duplicative transportation costs for such efforts. In addition, 

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 629, the Center receives support from 
9.12

occasional donations to the Federal Judicial Center Foundation 

which the Center uses to conduct additional educational 

programs for judges. The Center estimates that $390,000 will 

be reimbursed to it in FY 2020. 

Estimated obligation of available balance from Judiciary 

Information Technology Fund (JITF) 

At the beginning of FY 2019, the Federal Judicial Center had 

$430,000 available in the Judiciary Information Technology 

Fund (JITF) from deposits that were made in previous fiscal 

years. A total of $430,000 is planned for obligation in FY

2019. These funds will provide for the estimated costs 

associated with IT infrastructure, contract services to support 

maintenance of IT systems, and planned life-cycle replacement 

of various office automation and technology equipment.