[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 19 (Monday, May 12, 2003)]
[Pages 571-572]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Executive Order 13300--Facilitating the Administration of Justice in the 
Federal Courts

May 9, 2003

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and 
the laws of the United States of America, and in order to promote the 
prompt appointment of judges to the Federal courts, it is hereby ordered 
as follows:
    Section 1. Policy. The Federal courts play a central role in the 
American justice system. For the Federal courts to function effectively, 
judicial vacancies in those courts must

[[Page 572]]

be filled in a timely manner with well-qualified candidates.
    Sec. 2. Plan. The presidential plan announced on October 30, 2002, 
calls for timely consideration of judicial nominees, with the President 
submitting a nomination to fill a vacancy in United States courts of 
appeals and district courts within 180 days after the President receives 
notice of a vacancy or intended retirement, absent extraordinary 
circumstances.
    Sec. 3. Responsibilities. The Counsel to the President shall take 
all appropriate steps to ensure that the President is in a position to 
make timely nominations for judicial vacancies consistent with this 
plan. All Federal departments and agencies shall assist, as requested 
and permitted by law, in the implementation of this order.
    Sec. 4. Reservation of Authority. Nothing in this order shall be 
construed to affect the authority of the President to fill vacancies 
under clause 3 of section 2 of article II of the Constitution.
    Sec. 5. Judicial Review. This order is intended only to improve the 
internal management of the Federal Government and is not intended to, 
and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, 
enforceable at law or in equity by a party against the United States, 
its departments, agencies, instrumentalities or entities, its officers 
or employees, or any other person.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 May 9, 2003.

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 9:24 a.m., May 12, 
2003]

Note: This Executive order will be published in the Federal Register on 
May 13.