Brooklyn’s Chief District Judge Mauskopf appointed as director of Administrative Office of U.S. Courts

January 6, 2021 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

Eastern District of N.Y. Chief Judge Roslynn R. Mauskopf. Eagle file photo by Rob Abruzzese

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U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. on Tuesday announced the appointment of Chief District Judge Roslynn R. Mauskopf, who has sat on the Eastern District of New York bench in Brooklyn since 2007, as the director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, effective Feb. 1.

Chief Judge Mauskopf will be the 11th director since the administrative office was established in 1939 and the first woman to hold the position. She succeeds James C. Duff, who will retire from the position on Jan. 31.

The director is the chief administrative officer of the federal courts and serves under the direction of the Judicial Conference of the United States, the principal policymaking body for the federal court system.

Before Chief Judge Mauskopf was appointed to the bench, she served as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, the New York State Inspector General and as an assistant district attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

The director serves under the direction of the Judicial Conference of the United States, the principal policymaking body for the federal court system. The conference is composed of the chief judges of the 13 Courts of Appeals, a district judge from each of the 12 geographic circuits and the chief judge of the Court of International Trade. The U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice selects the director.

Justice Roberts said, “On behalf of the Judiciary, I thank Jim for his leadership. I am delighted to welcome Chief Judge Mauskopf to succeed Director Duff. She brings a wealth of talent and experience to the position, and her experience as a district judge will give her a valuable perspective in addressing the issues that the judiciary faces now and in the years ahead.”

On the subject of Director Duff, Justice Roberts said, “Among his many accomplishments, he has resolved budgetary challenges, implemented workplace conduct reforms, introduced new technology, strengthened and improved the auditing and oversight of the Judicial Branch’s financial management, and —most recently — ensured that the courts continue to operate effectively in the face of the nationwide pandemic. As much as I appreciate his many contributions, I understand his desire to begin a new phase of his life.”