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Federal judges and the journalists who cover them share much common ground. One clear area of mutual interest is accurate and informed coverage of federal courts. A Journalist's Guide to the Federal Courts is intended to assist reporters assigned to court coverage. It is the media who inform and educate the public about the courts, spark discussion and debate about their work, instill public trust and confidence in the institution and its function, and help protect judicial independence. These are worthwhile and important pursuits.

There are justifiable and distinct differences between the three branches of government and the access they grant the news media. Most of the work of federal courts is performed in open court and decisions, and in most cases court filings are available on the Internet. This primer is aimed at helping reporters who cover federal appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts – the cases, the people, and the process.

The Guide does not constitute a statement of Judicial Conference policy and is not binding on any federal court. The individual courts of appeals, district courts, and bankruptcy courts may regulate their own media relations, and there also may be some variation in press policies even among different judges on the same court. In addition to this Guide, two useful sources are the web site: www.uscourts.gov, and the Office of Public Affairs at the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts in Washington, D.C., (202-502-2600).

This page is maintained by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts on behalf of the U.S. Courts. The purpose of this site is to function as a clearinghouse for information from and about the Judicial Branch of the U.S. Government.

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