Chief Justice Names Conference Committee Chairs

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

• Judge Robert J. Jonker (Michigan-Western) succeeded Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod (Fifth Circuit) as chair of the Committee on Codes of Conduct.
• Judge Michael Y. Scudder (Seventh Circuit) was extended for one year as chair of the Committee on Information Technology.
• Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis (New York-Eastern) was extended for one 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 Nancy L. Moritz (Tenth Circuit) succeeded Judge Brian S. Miller (Arkansas-Eastern) as chair of the Committee on Judicial Resources.
• Judge Richard J. Sullivan (Second Circuit) was extended for one year as chair of the Committee on Judicial Security.
• Judge Nancy E. Brasel (Minnesota) succeeded Judge Marcia Morales Howard (Florida-Middle) as chair of the Committee on the Administration of the Magistrate Judges System.
• Judge John D. Bates (District of Columbia) was extended for one year as chair of the Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure.
• Judge Allison H. Eid (Tenth Circuit) succeeded Judge Jay S. Bybee (Ninth Circuit) as chair of the Advisory Committee on Appellate Rules.
• Judge Jesse M. Furman (New York-Southern) succeeded Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz (Minnesota) as chair of the Advisory Committee on Evidence Rules.

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.