2. Judges. The Eleventh Circuit has 12 authorized active judges. Each active judge’s office, maintained in the place of residence, is authorized three law clerks and two secretaries or four law clerks and one secretary. The chief judge is authorized one additional law clerk or secretary. Several senior judges maintain offices and staffs commensurate with the judicial work they choose to do, and sit on oral argument panels several times during the year. Senior judges do not normally participate in the administrative work of the court, although they are authorized by law to do so.
3. Circuit Executive. The circuit executive is the chief administrative officer of the court. The circuit executive’s office contains staff assistants and secretaries. See 28 U.S.C. §332.
4. Office of Staff Attorneys. The office is comprised of a senior staff attorney, staff attorneys, and supporting clerical personnel. This office assists the court in legal research, analysis of appellate records, and studies of particular legal problems. It also assists in handling pro se prisoner matters. In many cases the office prepares memoranda to assist the judges.
5. Library. The library is staffed by the circuit librarian and assistant librarians. Library hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
All persons admitted to practice before the court are authorized to use the library. Under regulations approved by the court, others may use the library by special permission only. Books and materials may not be removed from the library without permission of the librarian.
6. Judicial Conference. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §333 there is held biennially, and may be held annually, at such time and place as designated by the chief judge of the court, a conference of all circuit, district and bankruptcy judges of the circuit for the purpose of considering the business of the courts and advising means of improving the administration of justice within the circuit. See Addendum One to the circuit rules.
7. Judicial Council. The judicial council established by 28 U.S.C. §332 is composed of nineteen members: one active judge from each of the nine district courts, nine active circuit judges, and the circuit chief judge. The judicial council meets on call of the chief judge approximately three times a year to consider and to make orders for the effective and expeditious administration of the courts within the circuit. The council is responsible for considering complaints against judges.
8. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Reorganization Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-452, October 4, 1980)Section 9 of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Reorganization Act of 1980 determines appellate case processing after October 1, 1981, in terms of the “submitted for decision” date of each appeal.
The date an appeal assigned to the oral argument calendar is submitted for decision, is the date on which the initial argument of the appeal is heard. The date an appeal decided on the summary or non-argument calendar is submitted for decision, is the date on which the last panel judge concurs in summary or nonargument calendar disposition.
9. Recusal or Disqualification of Judges.
b. Administrative Motions Procedure -
(2) panel matter - If a judge who is the initiating judge recuses himself or herself from considering or is disqualified to consider an administrative motion, the file is returned to the clerk for submission to the next available panel on the appropriate log.
d. Oral Argument Calendar Appeals - Prior to issuance of the court calendar, each judge on the panel is furnished with a copy for each appeal of the Certificate of Interested Persons and Corporate Disclosure Statement described in FRAP 26.1 and the accompanying circuit rules, for each judge’s advance study to determine if the judge should recuse himself or herself or is disqualified in any of the appeals.
11. Pro Se Applications. The clerk’s office processes and answers prisoner and other pro se correspondence with the assistance of the staff attorneys’ office. When a pro se petition is in the proper form for docketing and processing, it is routed to the staff attorneys’ office. This office prepares legal memoranda for the court on such interlocutory matters as applications for leave to appeal in forma pauperis, certificates of appealability, and appointment of counsel, and on other pro se matters.
12. Statistics. The clerk periodically prepares statistical reports for the court and for the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. These reports are used to manage the internal affairs of the court and to provide information for purposes of determining personnel and equipment needs, the number of oral argument sessions to be scheduled, the workload of the judges and staff, and other management concerns. The reports are distributed to the judges and the circuit executive, and are discussed at judicial council meetings.
