Chief Justice Names Conference Committee Chairs

Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., has named seven new chairs of Judicial Conference committees and extended the term of six current chairs by one year. The appointments took effect Oct. 1.

• Bankruptcy Judge Julie A. Manning (Connecticut) succeeded Judge K. Michael Moore (Florida-Southern) as chair of the Committee on Audits and Administrative Office Accountability.
• Judge William L. Osteen, Jr., (North Carolina-Middle) succeeded Chief Judge Sara L. Darrow (Illinois-Central) as chair of the Committee on the Administration of the Bankruptcy System.
• Judge Edmond E. Chang (Illinois-Northern) succeeded Judge Randolph D. Moss (District of Columbia) as chair of the Committee on Criminal Law.
• Judge Cathy Seibel (New York-Southern) succeeded Judge Micaela Alvarez (Texas-Southern) as chair of the Committee on Defender Services.
• Judge Darrin P. Gayles (Florida-Southern) succeeded Judge D. Michael Fisher (Third Circuit) as chair of the Committee on Federal-State Jurisdiction.
• Chief Judge Beth Phillips (Missouri-Western) succeeded Judge David L. Bunning (Kentucky-Eastern) as chair of the Committee on Financial Disclosure.
• Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis (New York-Eastern) was extended for another year as chair of the Committee on Intercircuit Assignments.
• Judge William B. Traxler, Jr., (Fourth Circuit) was extended for one year as chair of the Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability.
• Judge Brian S. Miller (Arkansas-Eastern) was extended for one year as chair of the Committee on Judicial Resources.
• Judge John D. Bates (District of Columbia) was extended for one year as chair of the Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure.
• Judge Jay S. Bybee (Ninth Circuit) was extended for one year as chair of the Advisory Committee on Appellate Rules.
• Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz (Minnesota) was extended for one year as chair of the Advisory Committee on Evidence Rules.
• Judge Glenn T. Suddaby (New York-Northern) succeeded Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick (Ohio-Northern) as chair of the Committee on Space and Facilities.

The 26-member Judicial Conference is the policy-making body for the federal court system. By statute, the Chief Justice of the United States serves as its presiding officer and its members are the chief judges of the 13 courts of appeals, a district judge from each of the 12 geographic circuits and the chief judge of the Court of International Trade. The Conference meets twice a year to consider administrative and policy issues affecting the court system and to make recommendations to Congress concerning legislation involving the Judicial Branch.