Criminal Judicial Administration Act of 2021

To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for transportation and subsistence for criminal justice defendants, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Criminal Judicial Administration Act of 2021 2. Transportation and subsistence for criminal justice act defendants Section 4285 of title 18, United States Code, is amended in the first sentence— (1) by striking when the interests of justice would be served thereby and the United States judge or magistrate judge is satisfied, after appropriate inquiry, that the defendant is financially unable to provide the necessary transportation to appear before the required court on his own when the United States judge or magistrate judge is satisfied that the defendant is indigent based on appointment of counsel pursuant to section 3006A, or, after appropriate inquiry, that the defendant is financially unable to provide necessary transportation on his own (2) by striking to the place where his appearance is required, (1) to the place where each appearance is required and (2) to return to the place of the person’s arrest or bona fide residence, (3) by striking to his destination, which includes money for both lodging and food, during travel to the person’s destination and during any proceeding at which the person’s appearance is required 3. Effective use of magistrate judges to decide postjudgment motions Section 3401 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in the second sentence, by striking and trial, judgment, (B) in the second sentence, by inserting , and rulings on all post-judgment motions sentencing (C) in the third sentence, by striking and trial, judgment, (D) in the third sentence, by inserting , and rulings on all post-judgment motions sentencing (2) in subsection (c), by striking , with the approval of a judge of the district court, (3) by inserting after subsection (i) the following: (j) A magistrate judge who exercises trial jurisdiction under this section, in either a petty offense case or a misdemeanor case in which the defendant has consented to a magistrate judge, may also rule on all post-judgment motions in that case, including but not limited to petitions for writs of habeas corpus, writs of coram nobis, motions to vacate a sentence under section 2255 of title 28, and motions related to mental competency under chapter 313 of this title. .

Summary: Criminal Judicial Administration Act of 2021 This bill expands the authority of federal judges to reimburse defendants for expenses related to attending court proceedings. The bill also broadens the authority of magistrate court judges. Currently, when a defendant is released pending further court appearances, federal judges may order the U.S. Marshals Service to provide transportation and subsistence (food and lodging) expenses for a defendant to travel to court appearances, but not expenses during or to return home from such court appearances. This bill allows federal judges to order the Marshals Service to provide a defendant's transportation and subsistence expenses to return home from court proceedings, as well as subsistence expenses during such proceedings. Additionally, the bill authorizes magistrate court judges to rule on post-judgment motions pertaining to misdemeanor cases they tried and disposed of. Current law permits magistrate judges to try and dispose of misdemeanors in the district courts if the defendant consents.