PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

§12381 Authorization of Circuit Studies; Education and Training Grants

Title 34 › Subtitle I — Comprehensive Acts › CHAPTER 121 — VIOLENT CRIME CONTROL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT › SUBCHAPTER III — VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN › Part D — Equal Justice for Women in Courts › subpart 2 — education and training for judges and court personnel in federal courts › § 12381

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

Circuit judicial councils are encouraged to study whether gender bias exists in their federal courts and to put recommended fixes into practice. The studies can look at many things, including how gender affects treatment of people in court (litigants, witnesses, lawyers, jurors, and judges, including magistrate and bankruptcy judges), how laws are applied in civil and criminal cases, treatment of defendants and victims, sentencing and supervision, committee and appointment choices, case management and court-run dispute programs, hiring and promotion of court staff, appointment of experts and arbitrators, the use of a victim’s past sexual history, and other court-related topics listed in section 12372 of this title. The Administrative Office of the United States Courts must collect and share the task force reports and respond to requests for them, and the task forces must give their reports to that Office. The Federal Judicial Center must include training on the court-related topics from section 12372 in its education programs, including training for newly appointed judges, and prepare the needed materials under section 620(b)(3) of title 28.

Title 34, §12381

Navy, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Studies

In order to gain a better understanding of the nature and the extent of gender bias in the Federal courts, the circuit judicial councils are encouraged to conduct studies of the instances, if any, of gender bias in their respective circuits and to implement recommended reforms.

(b)Matters for examination

The studies under subsection (a) may include an examination of the effects of gender on—

(1)the treatment of litigants, witnesses, attorneys, jurors, and judges in the courts, including before magistrate and bankruptcy judges;

(2)the interpretation and application of the law, both civil and criminal;

(3)treatment of defendants in criminal cases;

(4)treatment of victims of violent crimes in judicial proceedings;

(5)sentencing;

(6)sentencing alternatives and the nature of supervision of probation and parole;

(7)appointments to committees of the Judicial Conference and the courts;

(8)case management and court sponsored alternative dispute resolution programs;

(9)the selection, retention, promotion, and treatment of employees;

(10)appointment of arbitrators, experts, and special masters;

(11)the admissibility of the victim’s past sexual history in civil and criminal cases; and

(12)the aspects of the topics listed in section 12372 of this title that pertain to issues within the jurisdiction of the Federal courts.

(c)Clearinghouse

The Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall act as a clearinghouse to disseminate any reports and materials issued by the gender bias task forces under subsection (a) and to respond to requests for such reports and materials. The gender bias task forces shall provide the Administrative Office of the Courts of the United States with their reports and related material.

(d)Continuing education and training programs

The Federal Judicial Center, in carrying out section 620(b)(3) of title 28, shall include in the educational programs it prepares, including the training programs for newly appointed judges, information on the aspects of the topics listed in section 12372 of this title that pertain to issues within the jurisdiction of the Federal courts, and shall prepare materials necessary to implement this subsection.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 14001 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Amendments

2000—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 106–386 amended heading and text of subsec. (d) generally, substituting provisions relating to continuing education and training programs for provisions relating to model programs.