[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 59 (Thursday, April 1, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E326]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING JAMES C. DUFF ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE 
                       OFFICE OF THE U.S. COURTS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JERROLD NADLER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 1, 2021

  Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today, along with Representative 
Hank Johnson, chair of the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual 
Property, and the Internet to honor and congratulate James Duff, who 
recently retired from his position as Director of the Administrative 
Office of the U.S. Courts. In his role as Director, he also served as 
Secretary of the Judicial Conference of the United States, the 
principal policy-making body of the federal Judiciary. The Supreme 
Court and our federal court system are a cornerstone of our democracy; 
the third branch of our government is tasked with rendering impartial 
justice through interpreting and applying the laws that we in Congress 
pass, and of course, the Constitution. The judges and Justices who have 
this enormous responsibility rely on the Administrative Office to set 
them up for success, and this is no small undertaking. During his more 
than eleven years of service, Director Duff guided the courts through 
government shutdowns and the COVID-19 pandemic among other challenges, 
dedicating his efforts to ensuring that our federal courts have the 
resources and support they need to faithfully fulfill their 
constitutional role as the third branch of government.
  Even prior to his role as Director, Mr. Duff had a long history of 
public service with the courts, particularly the Supreme Court. He was 
an assistant to Chief Justice Warren E. Burger while studying at 
Georgetown Law. From 1996-2000, he was a counselor/administrative 
assistant to Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist. In that role, he was 
the Court's liaison to Congress, the executive branch, and various 
state and federal organizations involved with the administration of 
justice and assisted the Chief Justice in his duties as Chancellor of 
the Smithsonian Institution.
  Besides his work for the courts, Director Duff has been active in the 
community and educating the next generation of lawyers. He has served 
as the chairman of the Supreme Court Fellows Commission, a board member 
of the Supreme Court Historical Society, and an adjunct faculty member 
at Georgetown University, teaching constitutional law and civil 
liberties. In 2012, he was named to the University of Kentucky Arts & 
Sciences Hall of Fame and was the recipient of the Georgetown 
Entertainment and Media Law Achievement Award. In 2014, Director Duff 
was appointed to Georgetown Law's Board of Visitors and was named the 
Peter Mullen Professor of Law.
  Upon appointment from Chief Justice Roberts, Director Duff twice 
served as the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, 
from 2006 to 2011, and from 2015 to 2021. About his tenure, the Chief 
Justice shared the following congratulatory words which are worth 
reiterating here:

       Jim Duff has provided invaluable service to the Judiciary 
     during his first term as Director from 2006 to 2011 and his 
     second term from 2015 to the present. During these periods, 
     he has provided superb judgment in addressing a broad range 
     of issues. Among his many accomplishments, he has resolved 
     budgetary challenges, implemented workplace conduct reforms, 
     introduced new technology, strengthened and improved the 
     auditing and oversight of the Judicial Branch's financial 
     management, and--most recently--ensured that the courts 
     continue to operate effectively in the face of the nationwide 
     pandemic. As much as I appreciate his many contributions, I 
     understand his desire to begin a new phase of his life. On 
     behalf of the Judiciary, I thank Jim for his leadership.

  The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts does critical work to 
help ensure the nation's federal courts remain fair, efficient, 
independent, and impartial. We thank and congratulate Director Duff for 
his over eleven-year tenure as the head of that office and for his work 
with Congress during that time. This work has included securing 
critical appropriations for the judiciary, such as emergency funding 
during the recent coronavirus pandemic, ensuring that the law 
establishes courthouse locations and district divisions that reflect 
the needs of the community and judiciary, helping to ensure the safety 
of judges by securing legislation, the Court Security Improvement Act 
of 2007, which was directed at coordinating the work of the U.S. 
Marshals with the Judicial Conference and imposing criminal penalties 
designed to protect judges, witnesses, and others involved in court 
proceedings, and, in separate legislation, providing that sensitive 
information in financial disclosures can be redacted. We also commend 
Director Duff's commitment to public service and teaching throughout 
his career. After all of these accomplishments, we wish Director Duff 
the best in the next chapter in his life along with a fulfilling and 
rewarding retirement.

                          ____________________