Terms are staggered to minimize turnover each year. A permanent file is maintained for reference during the annual appointment process. The federal court system's personnel decisions are decentralized. This means that each court unit does its own advertising and hiring for job positions. Court unit heads generally control the hiring within their office so that chief probation officers, staff attorneys, circuit executives, clerks of court, and circuit librarians each exercise such authority within their offices.
Judges select and hire their own chambers staff.
Some employment opportunities are available on this web site but often the clerk's office of the court of appeals, district, or bankruptcy court is the best source for a complete listing. The federal Judiciary is committed to the national policy of ensuring equal employment opportunity to all persons.