Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1996

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

19 June 1996

Last action

19 October 1996 · President

Status

Became Public Law No: 104-317.

Summary

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Amendments Title II: Judicial Process Improvements Title III: Judiciary Personnel Administration, Benefits, and Protections Title IV: Judicial Financial Administration Title V: Federal Courts Study Committee Recommendations Title VI: Miscellaneous Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1996 - Title I: Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Amendments - Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize probation and pretrial services officers, if approved by the district court, to carry firearms under such rules as the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts may prescribe. (Sec. 102) Amends the Federal judicial code to make the Federal Tort Claims Act inapplicable to certain claims arising from malpractice or negligence of a Federal Public Defender organization in furnishing representational services. Title II: Judicial Process Improvements - Amends the Federal judicial code to expand the duties of a magistrate on an emergency assignment. (Sec. 202) Authorizes: (1) only a person charged with a misdemeanor that is not a petty offense to elect to be tried before a judge of the district court for the district in which the offense was committed; and (2) the magistrate judge, in a petty offense case involving a juvenile, to exercise powers granted to the district court. Prohibits a magistrate judge from proceeding to try a case unless specified conditions are met. (Sec. 203) Repeals provisions authorizing: (1) civil actions, not of a local nature, against defendants residing in different districts in the same State to be brought in any of such districts; and (2) payment of compensation of a deceased Supreme Court clerk to his personal representatives until his successor is appointed and qualifies. (Sec. 204) Specifies that a judgment in an action for the recovery of money or property entered in any court of appeals, bankruptcy court, or in the Court of International Trade, as well as any district court, may be registered by filing a certified copy of the judgment, subject to specified requirements. (Sec. 205) Provides that when: (1) the office of clerk of court is vacant, the deputy clerks shall perform the duties of the clerk in the name of the last person who held that office; and (2) the clerk is incapacitated, absent, or otherwise unavailable to perform official duties, the deputy clerks shall perform such duties. (Sec. 206) Increases the threshold amount in controversy (from $50,000 to $75,000) to qualify for diversity of citizenship jurisdiction. (Sec. 207) Provides that, until specified amendments made by the Bankruptcy Judges, United States Trustees, and Family Farmer Bankruptcy Act of 1986 become effective in a judicial district and apply to a case, a bankruptcy administrator appointed to serve in the district shall appoint the trustees, examiners, and standing trustees. (Sec. 208) Modifies the Federal judicial code to: (1) authorize the removal of a civil action or criminal prosecution commenced in State court against the United States or any agency or officer thereof, sued in an official or individual capacity for any act under color of such office; and (2) repeal a provision authorizing the parties to consent to appeals of decisions by magistrate judges in civil cases to a judge of the district court in the same manner as on an appeal from a judgment of the district court to a court of appeals. (Sec. 210) Requires each judicial council, by January 31 of each year, to submit a report to the Administrative Office on orders entered during the preceding calendar year relating to judicial misconduct or disability. Title III: Judiciary Personnel Administration, Benefits, and Protections - Amends the Federal judicial code to authorize retroactive credit for resumption of a significant workload by a judge under specified circumstances and aggregation by a justice or judge for partial years worked. (Sec. 302) Revises provisions regarding: (1) the refund of contribution for deceased deferred annuitants under the judicial survivors' annuities system; (2) creditable service for judicial administrative officials' retirement; and (3) the contribution rate for senior judges under the judicial survivors' annuities system. (Sec. 304) Amends the Bankruptcy Amendments and Federal Judgeship Act of 1984 to provide that when filling vacancies: (1) the court of appeals may consider reappointing incumbent bankruptcy judges; and (2) all incumbent nominees seeking reappointment may be considered for such a reappointment pursuant to a majority vote of the judges of the appointing court of appeals, under specified procedures. (Sec. 305) Authorizes a judicial officer of the United States to carry firearms under regulations promulgated by the Judicial Conference of the United States. Grants immunity to any such officer from civil liability when possessing or using a firearm, for the purpose of self-defense, under the authority of this section and in accordance with Judicial Conference regulation. (Sec. 307) Deems a court reporter to be a full-time employee during any pay period for which the reporter receives a salary at the annual salary rate fixed for a full-time reporter. (Sec. 308) Authorizes the presiding judicial officer to appoint a certified or otherwise qualified sign language interpreter to provide services to a participant in a judicial proceeding upon determining that such participant suffers from a hearing impairment. Title IV: Judicial Financial Administration - Amends the Federal judicial code to increase the civil action filing fee in U.S. district court from $120 to $150. Modifies the allocation of filing fees to the special fund of the Treasury. (Sec. 402) Authorizes the Director of the Administrative Office to: (1) prescribe a uniform fee for applicants to take examinations for the selection of qualified interpreters, taking into consideration the fees charged by other organizations for examinations that are similar in scope or nature; and (2) include in any contract for the development or administration of such examinations a provision permitting the contractor to collect and retain fees in payment for contractual services. (Sec. 403) Directs the Judicial Conference to periodically prescribe the fees and costs to be charged and collected by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. (Sec. 404) Sets forth provisions regarding the disposition of attorney admission fees and bankruptcy complaint filing fees. Title V: Federal Courts Study Committee Recommendations - Amends the Federal judicial code to revise bankruptcy provisions to allow a bankruptcy judge to hear a proceeding that is not a core proceeding but that is otherwise related to a case under title 11, subject to specified requirements. (Sec. 502) Requires the chief judge of the Court of International Trade to be the judge of the court in regular active service who is senior in commission of those judges who: (1) are age 64 or younger; (2) have served for one year or more as a judge of the court; and (3) have not served previously as chief judge. Sets forth provisions regarding the precedence of judges in acting as chief judge. (Sec. 503) Repeals a provision prohibiting the obligation or expenditure of funds to increase the salary of any Federal judge or U.S. Supreme Court justice, except as specifically authorized by Act of Congress. Title VI: Miscellaneous - Modifies the Federal judicial code to authorize a member of: (1) the Judicial Conference to be a district judge retired from regular active service; and (2) the Board of the Federal Judicial Center to be a circuit or district judge retired from regular active service. (Sec. 602) Makes technical amendments relating to: (1) the Director and Deputy Director of the Administrative Office as Federal officers; (2) the filing of notice of removal of a criminal proceeding from a State court; and (3) Federal Judicial Center retirement provisions. (Sec. 605) Modifies the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 to abolish the judicial panel established under such Act. Transfers such panel's jurisdiction and future rail reorganization proceedings to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. (Sec. 606) Revises the Federal judicial code regarding: (1) the place of holding court in the District Court of Utah; and (2) an exception to the residency requirement for district judges appointed to the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. (Sec. 608) Extends by: (1) six months the due date of reports under the Civil Justice Reform Act of 1990 on demonstration and pilot programs; and (2) one year the authorization of appropriations for the use of arbitration by district courts under the Judicial Improvements and Access to Justice Act.

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Timeline

19 June 1996
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
19 June 1996
Introduced
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6518-6520)
Source: IntroReferral
19 June 1996
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
25 July 1996
Reported
Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Source: Committee
30 July 1996
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 547.
Source: Calendars
30 July 1996
Reported
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Hatch with amendments. Without written report.
Source: Committee
30 July 1996
Reported
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Hatch with amendments. Without written report.
Source: Committee
9 September 1996
Floor
By Senator Hatch from Committee on Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 104-366. Additional views filed.
Source: Floor
9 September 1996
Committee
By Senator Hatch from Committee on Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 104-366. Additional views filed.
Source: Committee
3 October 1996
Floor
Measure laid before Senate. (consideration: CR S12379-12390)
Source: Floor
3 October 1996
Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.
Source: Floor
4 October 1996
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
4 October 1996
Passed
On passage Passed without objection.
Source: Floor
4 October 1996
Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.
Source: Floor
4 October 1996
Floor
Mr. Solomon asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.
Source: Floor
4 October 1996
Floor
Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H12277-12281)
Source: Floor
4 October 1996
Floor
Received in the House.
Source: Floor
4 October 1996
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
9 October 1996
Floor
Presented to President.
Source: Floor
9 October 1996
President
Presented to President.
Source: President
19 October 1996
Became law
Became Public Law No: 104-317.
Source: President
19 October 1996
Became law
Signed by President.
Source: BecameLaw
19 October 1996
President
Signed by President.
Source: President

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Public Law · 20 October 1996 · Download file
Enrolled Bill · 4 October 1996 · Download file
Engrossed in Senate · 3 October 1996 · Download file
Reported to Senate · 30 July 1996 · Download file
Introduced in Senate · 19 June 1996 · Download file

Documents

13 official files

Public Law (text)

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Public Law (text)
Public Law · EN · 20 October 1996
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Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 20 October 1996
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Enrolled Bill (text)
Enrolled Bill · EN · 4 October 1996
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Enrolled Bill (PDF)
Enrolled Bill · EN · 4 October 1996
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Engrossed in Senate (text)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 3 October 1996
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Engrossed in Senate (PDF)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 3 October 1996
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Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 3 October 1996
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Reported to Senate (text)
Reported to Senate · EN · 30 July 1996
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Reported to Senate (PDF)
Reported to Senate · EN · 30 July 1996
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Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 30 July 1996
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Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 19 June 1996
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Introduced in Senate (PDF)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 19 June 1996
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Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 19 June 1996
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Related records

related to → Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1996
related to → Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1996
amends ← To make improvements in the judicial system, and for other purposes.

Related across the Repo ecosystem

Direct relationships are identifier-backed. Topic context means shared TopicMembership — not a citation and not causation.

Direct relationships

Legal framework · Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1996 · S. 1887 (104th) · US

Identifier matchPROJECTS_FROM
Same us record 104-s-1887 projected from PoliticalRepo US row.
Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1996

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1887
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/104/s/1887
us · 104-s-1887 · source updated 10 August 2026