The Conference of Chief District Judges advises the Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit about the administration of justice in each of the circuit’s 15 district courts. The chair of the conference is a voting member of the council. The conference, which is comprised of the chief district judge of each district, meets twice a year. Chief District Judge John C. Coughenour of the Western District of Washington served as chair of the conference from May 2003 to August 2004. He was succeeded by Chief District Judge Marilyn L. Huff, who served from September 2004 through January 2005.
Conference of Chief Bankruptcy Judges
The Conference of Chief Bankruptcy Judges advises the Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit on the administration of the bankruptcy courts within the circuit. The chair of the conference is a non-voting member of the council. The conference, which consists of chief bankruptcy judges from each district and the presiding judge of the Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel (BAP), meets twice a year. Chief Bankruptcy Judge Patricia Williams of the Eastern District of California, chaired the conference from October 2003 to June 2004, when Chief Bankruptcy Judge Albert E. Radcliffe of the District of Oregon became chair. Judge Radcliffe will chair the conference through September 2005.
Magistrate Judges Executive Board
The Magistrate Judges Executive Board provides a channel of communication between the Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit and the more than 100 full-time, part-time and recalled magistrate judges serving in the district courts. The 10-member board meets twice a year and meets with all magistrate judges at the annual circuit conference. The chair of the board serves on the council as an observer.
Magistrate Judge Virginia Mathis of the District of Arizona completed a two-year term as chair of the board in September 2004. She was succeeded as chair by Chief Magistrate Judge J. Kelley Arnold of the Western District of Washington, who will serve through September 2006.
Associated Court Units
Ninth Circuit courts also rely on several important court-related agencies to ensure the fair administration of justice. The district courts maintain oversight of U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services offices, which are responsible for supervision of criminal defendants and background investigations and reports. The circuit’s Federal Public Defender and Community Defenders represent indigent defendants unable to afford private counsel. They have offices in each of the Ninth Circuit districts with the exception of Northern Mariana Islands, which relies on a Criminal Justice Act panel of attorneys.
