
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 28USC620]

 
               TITLE 28--JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE
 
                 PART III--COURT OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
 
                   CHAPTER 42--FEDERAL JUDICIAL CENTER
 
Sec. 620. Federal Judicial Center

    (a) There is established within the judicial branch of the 
Government a Federal Judicial Center, whose purpose it shall be to 
further the development and adoption of improved judicial administration 
in the courts of the United States.
    (b) The Center shall have the following functions:
        (1) to conduct research and study of the operation of the courts 
    of the United States, and to stimulate and coordinate such research 
    and study on the part of other public and private persons and 
    agencies;
        (2) to develop and present for consideration by the Judicial 
    Conference of the United States recommendations for improvement of 
    the administration and management of the courts of the United 
    States;
        (3) to stimulate, create, develop, and conduct programs of 
    continuing education and training for personnel of the judicial 
    branch of the Government and other persons whose participation in 
    such programs would improve the operation of the judicial branch, 
    including, but not limited to, judges, United States magistrate 
    judges, clerks of court, probation officers, and persons serving as 
    mediators and arbitrators;
        (4) insofar as may be consistent with the performance of the 
    other functions set forth in this section, to provide staff, 
    research, and planning assistance to the Judicial Conference of the 
    United States and its committees;
        (5) Insofar \1\ as may be consistent with the performance of the 
    other functions set forth in this section, to cooperate with the 
    State Justice Institute in the establishment and coordination of 
    research and programs concerning the administration of justice; and
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    \1\ So in original. Probably should not be capitalized.
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        (6) insofar as may be consistent with the performance of the 
    other functions set forth in this section, to cooperate with and 
    assist agencies of the Federal Government and other appropriate 
    organizations in providing information and advice to further 
    improvement in the administration of justice in the courts of 
    foreign countries and to acquire information about judicial 
    administration in foreign countries that may contribute to 
    performing the other functions set forth in this section.

(Added Pub. L. 90-219, title I, Sec. 101, Dec. 20, 1967, 81 Stat. 664; 
amended Pub. L. 95-598, title II, Sec. 227, Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2665; 
Pub. L. 98-620, title II, Sec. 214, Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3346; Pub. L. 
99-336, Sec. 6(b), June 19, 1986, 100 Stat. 639; Pub. L. 100-702, title 
III, Sec. 303, Nov. 19, 1988, 102 Stat. 4648; Pub. L. 101-650, title 
III, Sec. 321, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5117; Pub. L. 102-572, title VI, 
Sec. 602(a), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4514.)


                               Amendments

    1992--Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 102-572 added par. (6).
    1988--Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 100-702 amended par. (3) generally. 
Prior to amendment, par. (3) read as follows: ``to stimulate, create, 
develop, and conduct programs of continuing education and training for 
personnel of the judicial branch of the Government, including, but not 
limited to, judges, clerks of court, probation officers, and United 
States magistrates;''.
    1986--Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 99-336 struck out ``referees,'' after 
``judges,'' and substituted ``magistrates'' for ``commissioners''.
    1984--Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 98-620 added par. (5).
    1978--Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 95-598 directed the amendment of par. 
(3) by striking out ``referees,'' and by substituting ``magistrates'' 
for ``commissioners'', which amendment did not become effective pursuant 
to section 402(b) of Pub. L. 95-598, as amended, set out as an Effective 
Date note preceding section 101 of Title 11, Bankruptcy.

                         Change of Name

    ``United States magistrate judges'' substituted for ``United States 
magistrates'' in subsec. (b)(3) pursuant to section 321 of Pub. L. 101-
650, set out as a note under section 631 of this title.


                    Effective Date of 1992 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 102-572 effective Jan. 1, 1993, see section 
1101(a) of Pub. L. 102-572, set out as a note under section 905 of Title 
2, The Congress.


                    Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

    Section 6(c) of Pub. L. 99-336 provided that: ``The amendments made 
by this section [amending this section and section 288d of Title 2, The 
Congress, and redesignating sections 1364 to 1366 of this title] shall 
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [June 19, 1986].''


                    Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 98-620 effective Oct. 1, 1985, see section 216 
of Pub. L. 98-620, set out as a note under section 10701 of Title 42, 
The Public Health and Welfare.


 Study of Intercircuit Conflicts and Structural Alternatives for Courts 
                  of Appeals by Federal Judicial Center

    Pub. L. 101-650, title III, Sec. 302, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5104, 
as amended by Pub. L. 102-572, title V, Sec. 502(c), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 
Stat. 4513, directed Board of the Federal Judicial Center to conduct 
study and submit report to Congress by Jan. 1, 1992, on number and 
frequency of conflicts among judicial circuits in interpreting law that 
remain unresolved because they are not heard by the Supreme Court, and 
further directed Board to study full range of structural alternatives 
for Federal Courts of Appeals and submit report on the study to Congress 
and Judicial Conference of the United States, no later than 2 years and 
9 months after Dec. 1, 1990.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in title 42 section 14001.
