§715 Staff attorneys and technical assistants

Summary

The chief judge of each court of appeals can appoint a senior staff attorney if the court agrees. That senior staff attorney, with the chief judge’s OK, can hire staff attorneys and secretarial and clerical staff in numbers approved by the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. The total number of staff attorneys cannot be more than the positions set in an annual appropriation Act. The chief judge can remove the senior staff attorney, and the senior can remove hires, but both need the court’s approval. For the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the chief judge can appoint a senior technical assistant with the court’s agreement. That senior technical assistant, with the court’s OK, can hire technical assistants in numbers approved by the Director, but not more than the number of circuit judges in regular active service in that circuit. Removals also require the court’s approval.