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3 Third Branch 1 (1970-1971)

handle is hein.journals/thirdbran3 and id is 1 raw text is: The Third Branch
1520 H Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20W5b
A Bulletin of the Federal Courts
Vol. 3, No. 1   Published by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts and the Federal Judicial Center  November 1o70

A Message from the Chief Justice
It is gratifying to see that the Federal
Judicial Center and the Administrative
Office have combined their efforts in
one publication for the Judicial
Branch and will use the caption The
Third Branch. I am sure that this coop-
eration will lead to a more meaningful
publication. I hope all persons in the
Judicial Branch will regard this as their
publication and feel free to contribute
to it. It is my intention to use it as a
vehicle of communication with you
and I shall look forward to each issue
*Chid Justile BU!e5 for the messages you send through the
columns of The Third Branch
District Clerks
Stress Efficiency
In the first week of December, the Federal Judicial
Center will finish the 1970 program of District Court Clerks
Seminars. The seminars, which have been organized by and for
clerks, have marked a milestone in the Center's efforts to
provide education and training to court administrative person-
nel.
The major emphasis of the seminars is on the clerk's role
as a manager and the skills and techniques he requires to fulfill
this role. Special sessions are devoted to the organizational
structure and functions of a clerk's office, personnel manage-
ment and training, and the clerk's office role in calendar man-
agement under the individual assignment system.
All of the faculty members are court clerks. Judge
Murrah commented, after the first two seminars, that Both in
the substance of the material and the spirit of the participants
and the faculty, these are the most outstanding seminars I have
seen . . . In addition to the special emphasis on manage-
ment, a number of technique sessions are included in the
seminars. Techniques for scheduling, monitoring and control-
ling cases and case records are covered both in narrative and
graphic presentations. Clerks are challenged to take charge of
the administrative apparatus of the court and provide a
smooth running, modem, efficient office which will increase
support to judges and reduce the amount of time judges have
*Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution

to spend on administrative tasks. Clerks are urged not to be
hesitant to present problems to judges, but when they do they
should also propose a solution. In effect, they should adopt
the doctrine of completed staff work.
Mr. Ebersole of the Center, who has been in charge of
the seminars, stated that he has Bieen impressed with the high
level of competence and enthusiasm of all the clerks who have
attended the seminars. Most of them know the answers, he
said. The Center and the Administrative Office should work
toward providing the maximum support to clerks so they will
have the resources and tools for making the improvements
they know need to be made. Mr. Ebersole further noted that
although provocateurs have usually been assigned for Center
seminars in the past, this has not been necessary for clerks.
They know their business, they know the problems and they
are not shy about jumping into a discussioft and posing and
probing issues. However, he noted, the seminars have not
been complaint sessions; rather they have consisted of con-
structive discussions on the subjects presented by the faculty.
(Continued on p.2)
Rowland F. Kirks Honored at
Special Retirement Review
Rowland F. Kirks, Director of the Administrative Office
of the United States Courts, retired July 31 as commanding
general of the 97th U.S. Army Reserve Command, Ft. Meade,
Md., after 39 years of enlisted and commissioned service in the
Active Army and U.S. Army Reserve. He was honored October
3 by the Department of Army with a special review on the
occasion of his retirement and in recognition of his distin-
guished service to the Army and the Nation. Accompanying
General Kirks in the reviewing party was Lieutenant General
Jonathan 0. Seaman, Commanding General of the First Uiited
States Army.
President Nixon awarded the Distinguished Service
Medal, the Nation's highest noncombat decoration, to General
Kirks for exceptionally meritorious service in a position of
(Continued on p.5)
Seminars for New District Court Judges
I .  Febuary 28 - March 6, 1971
2.   March 28 - April 3, 1971

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