(Sec. 102) Authorizes the Judicial Conference of the United States to require the debtor in a chapter 11 bankruptcy case in a district that is not part of a United States trustee region to pay fees equal to those imposed in districts that are part of such a region. Increases fees: (1) in chapter nine bankruptcy filings; and (2) for converting a chapter seven or chapter 13 bankruptcy case to a chapter 11 bankruptcy case.
Title II: Judicial Process Improvements - Provides authority for the appointment of magistrate judges in the district courts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Amends: (1) the Federal Magistrates Act to grant U.S. magistrate judges the power to exercise contempt authority within his or her territorial jurisdiction, including summary criminal contempt authority and criminal and civil contempt authority in civil consent and misdemeanor cases; and (2) the Federal criminal and judicial codes to remove certain limitations on the authority of magistrate judges to try petty offense cases involving juveniles..
(Sec. 205) Authorizes judges retired from regular active service to serve as members of the judicial council of the circuit. Provides for the sunset of provisions requiring a civil justice expense and delay reduction plan. Repeals a U.S. Court of Federal Claims fee for the filing of any petition.
(Sec. 210) Amends the Criminal Justice Act to: (1) increase the maximum amounts of compensation permitted for attorneys; and (2) authorize reimbursement of expenses in defense of certain malpractice actions.
Title III: Judicial Personnel Administration, Benefits, and Protections - Amends the judicial code to include within the definition of "service" for purposes of retirement provisions applicable to the Directors of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, the Federal Judicial Center, and the Administrative Assistant to the Chief Justice, service as a congressional employee in the capacity of primary administrative assistant to a Member of Congress or in the capacity of staff director or chief counsel for the majority or the minority of a House or Senate committee or subcommittee.
(Sec. 302) Makes applicable to employees of the United States Sentencing Commission provisions regarding incentive awards, leave, compensation for work injuries, retirement, unemployment compensation, life and health insurance, and payment for accumulated and accrued leave. Permits continued payment from retired or retainer pay into a military survivors' benefits plan with respect to a regular, reserve, or former member of a uniformed service receiving such pay who becomes employed as a U.S. justice or judge. Authorizes the Director of the Administrative Office to designate judicial branch officers and employees as disbursing and certifying officers.
(Sec. 306) Authorizes: (1) the clerk under the supervision of the court, if the jury selection plan so authorizes, to determine qualification for jury service; and (2) the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to appoint a circuit executive.
(Sec. 307) Exempts retired judges of the Court of Federal Claims (CFC) from restrictions as to residence and considers the place where a retired judge maintains the actual abode in which such judge customarily lives to be the judge's official duty station. Provides for the recall of any CFC judge on disability status who, in the estimation of the chief judge, has recovered sufficiently to render judicial service. Deems a CFC judge to be an "officer" for purposes of Federal application and insurance programs (Sec. 310) Includes: (1) for purposes of entitlement to lump-sum payment for accumulated and accrued leave on separation, an officer in the legislative or judicial branch who is transferred to a position appointed by the President; and (2) an office, agency, or other establishment in the judicial branch within the scope of provisions regarding the employment of personal assistants for handicapped employees.
(Sec. 312) Repeals a requirement for mandatory retirement at age 70 for the Director of the Federal Judicial Center.
(Sec. 313) Reauthorizes Supreme Court police authority.
Title IV: Federal Public Defenders - Exempts Federal public defenders from the Tort Claims Act for claims related to representational services.
Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends: (1) the Bankruptcy Judges, United States Trustees, and Family Farmer Bankruptcy Act of 1986 to delete an October 1, 2002, deadline under the bankruptcy administrator program with respect to judicial districts for Alabama and North Carolina; and (2) the Federal judicial code to provide for an additional place of holding court in Oregon at Springfield.