Administrative Office Of The U.S. Courts

The Administrative Office of the United States Courts (or AO) is an agency of the Judicial branch of the United States government that serves the federal judiciary in carrying out its constitutional mission to provide equal justice under law. It was established in 1939.The AO is the central support entity for the judicial branch helping the federal judiciary conserve and enhance society's trust in the federal courts. This trust depends on these core values of the federal Judiciary: the rule of law, equal justice, judicial independence, national courts of limited jurisdiction, excellence, and accountability. It provides a wide range of administrative, legal, financial, management, program, and information technology services to the federal courts. The AO provides support and staff counsel to the Judicial Conference of the United States and its committees, and implements and executes Judicial Conference policies, as well as applicable federal statutes and regulations. The AO facilitates communications within the Judiciary and with Congress, the executive branch, and the public on behalf of the Judiciary.
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Many support functions for the federal court system are performed by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO). The AO was created in 1939 by Congress as an administrative body for the courts that functions independently of the executive branch. The courts formerly had received such services from the Department of Justice.

The AO is directed and supervised by the Judicial Conference. In that capacity, the AO prepares and submits the budget and legislative agenda for the courts to the Judicial Conference for transmittal to Congress. The AO monitors legislation that affects federal court operations and personnel, and also provides administrative assistance to the court of appeals, district, bankruptcy, and magistrate judges, clerks of court, pretrial services officers, probation officers, court reporters, public defenders, and other court personnel. The AO performs audits (financial examinations of court accounts); manages funds for the operation of the courts; compiles and publishes statistics on the volume and distribution of the business in the courts; and recommends plans and strategies to efficiently manage court business.

To support the Judicial Conference of the United States, the AO supplies a professional secretariat, legal and statistical services, and conducts studies of court procedures. As the secretary to the Conference, the AO director furnishes the professional support to its committees. The AO also maintains liaison with various groups interested in court operations, including committees of Congress, executive branch agencies, state courts, and the public.

The director of the AO is appointed by the Chief Justice after consultation with the Judicial Conference. The agency's headquarters are located in Washington, D.C.