§462 Court Accommodations

Summary

Federal courts (except the Supreme Court) may only meet where the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts provides space, or where suitable space is given free to the courts. The Director may supply courtrooms and judges’ chambers only at places where regular court sessions are allowed by law and when the circuit’s judicial council agrees, though that council can also OK chambers for circuit judges at other sites in the circuit. Permanent space for the Federal Circuit and the Court of Federal Claims must be in the District of Columbia, but those courts can hold sessions elsewhere using space provided to other courts. The Director also provides space for probation officers, pretrial officers, and Federal Public Defender Organizations with circuit council approval, and may ask the Administrator of General Services to open or close facilities as requested (closures need Judicial Conference approval).