We ask for no new initiatives, no new programs . . . In developing its proposed budget, the Judiciary made several assumptions concerning workload, uncontrollable expenses, and productivity enhancements due to automation and technology. Judge Rya W. Zobel, Director of the Federal Judicial Center, presented the Center's budget request. The crisis is caused by the inordinately low hourly rate currently paid private panel attorneys in non-capital cases. We believe that the time has come to raise rates to at least a minimally acceptable level.
Federal courts are among the most vulnerable security risks of any facilities in the nation.
The ability of the courts to handle an ever-growing workload with no additional staff in either fiscal year 1999 or 2000, is dependent upon the potential savings and productivity improvements associated with these initiatives. Finally, Judge Heyburn asked the subcommittee to provide fair and adequate compensation to top government officials in all three branches of the federal government. Since 1993, these officials have received only a modest 2.3 percent pay adjustment. I believe that a majority of the American public supports fair compensation for its government's top officials. With that in mind, we are hopeful that Congress will allow the mechanisms of the 1989 Ethics Reform Act to work, and that all top government officials will be provided a COLA in FY 2000.