Federal Courts Improvement Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-1302
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21]
Introduced: 2003-03-18 in the House
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Administration of justice
Alabama
Aliens
Annuities
Arkansas
Armed Forces and National Security
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy courts
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Cost of living adjustments
Court records
Courthouses
Crime and Law Enforcement
Disability insurance
Disability retirement
Disabled
District courts
Donation of organs, tissues, etc.
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic government information
Electronic mail systems
Emergency Management
Employee benefit plans
Federal employees
Federal officials
Fees
Finance and Financial Sector
Fines (Penalties)
Fire fighters
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Guam
Health
Immigrants
Immigration
Imprisonment
Internet
Judges
Judicial compensation
Judicial districts
Judicial officers
Judicial tenure
Juries
Jurisdiction
Labor and Employment
Law libraries
Lawyers
Leave of absence
Legal fees
Liens
Local officials
Magistrates
Members of Congress
Military personnel
New York State
North Carolina
Northern Mariana Islands
Parole
Police
Probation
Public defenders
Residence requirements
Right of privacy
Salaries
Science, Technology, Communications
Sick leave
State officials
Stockholders
Supreme Court justices
Tennessee
Texas
Trusts and trustees
Victims of crimes
Virgin Islands
Warrants (Law)
Wiretapping
World Wide Web

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-18
text: Federal Courts Improvement Act of 2003 - Sets forth or modifies various provisions regarding judicial process, including provisions concerning: (1) bankruptcy administrator authority to appoint and serve as trustees; (2) the places of holding court in the Eastern District of Texas, Texarkana, and the Northern District of New York and the composition of divisions in the Western District of Tennessee; and (3) conditions of probation and supervised release. Modifies wiretap order reporting requirements. Eliminates: (1) the automatic excuse from jury service for members of the armed forces, members of fire and police departments, and public officers; and (2) public drawing requirements for the selection of juror wheels. Makes the supplemental attendance fee for petit jurors serving on lengthy trials applicable where the juror is required to attend more than five (currently, 30) days in hearing one case.
Sets forth or modifies various provisions regarding judicial personnel administration, benefits, and protections, including provisions concerning: (1) disability retirement and cost-of-living adjustments of annuities for territorial judges; (2) compensation for Federal Judicial Center employees; (3) the annual leave limit for judicial branch executives; (4) a supplemental benefits program for judicial branch employees; (5) inclusion of judicial branch personnel in the organ donor leave program; and (6) maximum compensation for attorneys and for services other than counsel.
Prohibits knowingly filing a false lien or encumbrance against the real or personal property of a Federal judge in any public record or any private record that is generally available to the public.
Authorizes the judicial council of each circuit (currently each court of appeals) to appoint a librarian.
Requires the Judicial Conference to take specified steps to safeguard the privacy of judicial branch officers and employees from the interception of electronic communications, with exceptions.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property.
action_date: 2003-03-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2003-03-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-03-18
text: Introduced in House