Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO) | Definition

Doc's CJ Glossary by Adam J. McKee
Course: General Term

The Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO) is the federal agency responsible for collecting court statistics, administering the federal courts’ budget, and performing many other administrative and programmatic functions under the direction and supervision of the Judicial Conference of the United States.


Importantly for students, the AO operates the U. S. Courts Website 


The Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO) is a federal agency that provides critical support services to the United States federal court system. The AO is responsible for collecting court statistics, administering the federal courts’ budget, and performing many other administrative and programmatic functions under the direction and supervision of the Judicial Conference of the United States.

The AO was established in 1939 as a part of the federal court system to provide support to the federal judiciary. The agency is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and is responsible for a wide range of functions that are essential to the efficient and effective operation of the federal court system.

One of the primary functions of the AO is to collect court statistics. The agency collects data on a wide range of topics, including the number of cases filed, the number of cases disposed of, the length of time it takes to process cases, and the workload of federal judges and court personnel. This information is used to inform policy decisions, allocate resources, and identify trends in the federal court system.

The AO is also responsible for administering the federal courts’ budget. The agency prepares and submits budget requests to Congress, monitors spending, and provides financial support to the federal courts. The AO works closely with the Judicial Conference of the United States, the policy-making body for the federal court system, to ensure that the federal courts have the resources they need to carry out their responsibilities.


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Last Modified: 04/29/2023

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