For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 9, 2003
Executive Order: Facilitating the Administration of Justice in the Federal Courts
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States of America, and in order to promote the
prompt appointment of judges to the Federal courts, it is hereby
ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. The Federal courts play a central role in the
American justice system. For the Federal courts to function
effectively, judicial vacancies in those courts must be filled in a
timely manner with well-qualified candidates.
Sec. 2. Plan. The presidential plan announced on October 30,
2002, calls for timely consideration of judicial nominees, with the
President submitting a nomination to fill a vacancy in United States
courts of appeals and district courts within 180 days after the
President receives notice of a vacancy or intended retirement, absent
extraordinary circumstances.
Sec. 3. Responsibilities. The Counsel to the President shall take
all appropriate steps to ensure that the President is in a position to
make timely nominations for judicial vacancies consistent with this
plan. All Federal departments and agencies shall assist, as requested
and permitted by law, in the implementation of this order.
Sec. 4. Reservation of Authority. Nothing in this order shall be
construed to affect the authority of the President to fill vacancies
under clause 3 of section 2 of article II of the Constitution.
Sec. 5. Judicial Review. This order is intended only to improve
the internal management of the Federal Government and is not intended
to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or
procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by a party against the
United States, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities or
entities, its officers or employees, or any other person.
GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
May 9, 2003.
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