Fellowship

Fellows are based at one of the following national institutions of the federal judiciary:

Supreme Court of the United States

One fellow is based at the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Chief Justice. The Administrative Assistant aids the Chief Justice in his administrative, policy, and ceremonial responsibilities for the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary. The fellow based at the Court participates in long-range projects as well as day-to-day administrative tasks, and is assisted by two judicial interns operating under the fellow’s supervision. The fellow is responsible for briefing distinguished court visitors on the workings of the American judicial system and the Supreme Court of the United States. Projects in which fellows may participate include researching and providing background information for speeches and reports; preparing analytical reports on legal and managerial issues; providing assistance to the Court offices; and developing programs designed to enhance public understanding of the federal judiciary and the Supreme Court.

Lorry Fenner, left, 2002–2003 Supreme Court fellow at the Supreme Court of the United States, with Sally Rider, administrative assistant to the Chief Justice.

Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts

The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts is the agency that provides program management, legal counsel, legislative services, and administrative support to the federal courts. Assignments for fellows at the Administrative Office have included analyzing legal and policy issues associated with the judiciary’s use of information technology; analyzing litigation and proposed legislation affecting federal court proceedings; drafting publications for the bench and public; developing programs to support the federal judiciary’s international judicial relations program; and researching areas of civil justice reform, federal–state judicial relations, the jurisdiction, structure, and governance of the judicial branch, and the impact of growth on the federal courts.

Helen Trainor, second from right, 2002–2003 Supreme Court fellow at the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, with AO colleagues including Judges Programs Assistant Director Peter McCabe, second from left, and Office of Court Administration and Defender’s Services Assistant Director Noel Augustyn, third from left.

Federal Judicial Center

The Federal Judicial Center, the federal judiciary’s agency for research and education, provides orientation and continuing education for all federal judges, as well as management and supervisory education for the courts’ staff. Assignments for fellows working at the Center have included researching special masters and other topics as part of the Center’s project on science and technology; an oral history project of the first large class of women federal judges appointed in the 1970s; extensive analysis and drafting for the fourth addition of the Center’s Manual for Complex Litigation; work on a deskbook for federal judges on international law and transnational litigation; assisting with a project to ascertain the extent and nature of settlements filed with district courts under seal.

Left to right, Natacha Blain, 2002–2003 Supreme Court fellow at the Federal Judicial Center, with FJC Deputy Director Russell Wheeler and Jim Eaglin, director of the Center’s Research Division.

United States Sentencing Commission

The United States Sentencing Commission engages in policy analysis at the national level and uses the results in the development of federal sentencing guidelines that prescribe the punishment for offenders convicted of federal crimes. Fellows participate in professional teams conducting policy, legal, and social science research on the cutting edge of criminal sentencing reform at the national level. The breadth of Commission work in criminal justice matters, combined with its relatively small size, gives fellows the flexibility to explore new areas of interest while simultaneously having practical input in their established areas of expertise.

Dan Krauss, right, 2002–2003 Supreme Court fellow at the U.S. Sentencing Commission, with Paul Hofer, senior research associate in the USSC’s Office of Policy Analysis.

"The fellowship year offers an unparalleled opportunity to observe the Supreme Court and the judicial system as a whole."

Matthew Duchesne
Environmental compliance advisor, Department of Energy