Strategic Plan for the Federal Judiciary
The federal judiciary is respected throughout America and the world for its excellence, for the independence of its judges, and for its delivery of equal justice under the law. Through this plan, the judiciary identifies a set of strategies that will enable it to continue as a model in providing fair and impartial justice.
This plan begins with expressions of the mission and core values of the federal judiciary. Although any plan is by nature aspirational, these are constants which this plan strives to preserve. The aim is to stimulate and promote beneficial change within the federal judiciary—change that helps fulfill, and is consistent with, the mission and core values.
Mission
The United States Courts are an independent, national judiciary providing fair and impartial justice within the jurisdiction conferred by the Constitution and Congress. As an equal branch of government, the federal judiciary preserves and enhances its core values as the courts meet changing national and local needs.
Core Values
Rule of Law: legal predictability, continuity, and coherence; reasoned decisions made through publicly visible processes and based faithfully on the law
Equal Justice: fairness and impartiality in the administration of justice; accessibility of court processes; treatment of all with dignity and respect
Judicial Independence: the ability to render justice without fear that decisions may threaten tenure, compensation, or security; sufficient structural autonomy for the judiciary as an equal branch of government in matters of internal governance and management
Accountability: stringent standards of conduct; self-enforcement of legal and ethical rules; good stewardship of public funds and property; effective and efficient use of resources
Excellence: adherence to the highest jurisprudential and administrative standards; effective recruitment, development and retention of highly competent and diverse judges and staff; commitment to innovative management and administration; availability of sufficient financial and other resources
Service: commitment to the faithful discharge of official duties; allegiance to the Constitution and laws of the United States; dedication to meeting the needs of jurors, court users, and the public in a timely and effective manner
The Plan in Brief
The Strategic Plan for the Federal Judiciary, updated in 2015, continues the judiciary’s tradition of meeting challenges and taking advantage of opportunities while preserving its core values. It takes into consideration various trends and issues affecting the judiciary, many of which challenge or complicate the judiciary’s ability to perform its mission effectively. In addition, the plan recognizes that the future may provide tremendous opportunities for improving the delivery of justice.
This plan anticipates a future in which the federal judiciary is noteworthy for its accessibility, timeliness, and efficiency, attracts to judicial service the nation’s finest legal talent, is an employer of choice for highly qualified executives and support staff, works effectively with the other branches of government, and enjoys the people’s trust and confidence.
This plan serves as an agenda outlining actions needed to preserve the judiciary’s successes and, where appropriate, bring about positive change. Although it's stated goals and strategies do not include every important activity, project, initiative, or study that is underway or being considered, the plan focuses on issues that affect the judiciary at large, and on responding to those matters in ways that benefit the entire judicial branch and the public it serves.
Identified in the plan are seven fundamental issues that the judiciary must now address, and a set of responses for each issue. The scope of these issues includes the delivery of justice, the effective and efficient management of resources, the workforce of the future, technology’s potential, access to the judicial process, relations with the other branches of government, and the public’s level of understanding, trust, and confidence in federal courts.
Strategic Issues for the Federal Judiciary
The strategies and goals in this plan are organized around seven issues— fundamental policy questions or challenges that are based on an assessment of key trends affecting the judiciary’s mission and core values:
Issue 1: Providing Justice
Issue 2: The Effective and Efficient Management of Public Resources
Issue 3: The Judiciary Workforce of the Future
Issue 4: Harnessing Technology’s Potential
Issue 5: Enhancing Access to the Judicial Process
Issue 6: The Judiciary’s Relationships with the Other Branches of Government
Issue 7: Enhancing Public Understanding, Trust, and Confidence
These issues also take into account the judiciary’s organizational culture. The strategies and goals developed in response to these issues are designed with the judiciary’s decentralized systems of governance and administration in mind.