IOP § I(B): Circuit Judicial Administration
Rules of Appellate Procedure and Internal Operating Procedures of the Eighth Circuit — Internal Operating Procedures: I. Organization of the Court
1. Judicial Council
The Judicial Council of the Eighth Circuit “make[s] all necessary and appropriate orders for the effective and expeditious administration of justice within [the] circuit.” 28 U.S.C. § 332(d)(1). The council consists of ten judges of the court of appeals and ten district court judges. Consistent with policies of the Judicial Conference of the United States and statutes, the council sets the circuit’s judicial policy. The chief judge of the court of appeals presides over the council. See 28 U.S.C. § 332(a)(1).
Several committees assist in the administration of the circuit. Practicing attorneys are appointed to some of the committees, including the Federal Practice Committees established for each district in the circuit and the Federal Advisory Committee.
2. Circuit Executive
The circuit executive performs administrative work for the Eighth Circuit Judicial Council and carries out administrative duties assigned by the chief judge or committees of the Eighth Circuit Judicial Council. The circuit executive’s office is located in the Thomas F. Eagleton U.S. Courthouse, 111 South Tenth Street, Room 26.325, St. Louis, Missouri 63102. The telephone number is 314-244-2600.
3. Judicial Conference
The chief judge of each circuit may summon biennially, and may summon annually, the active circuit, district, and bankruptcy judges of the circuit to a Judicial Conference at a designated time and place. See 28 U.S.C. § 333. The conference considers the business of the courts and means of improving the administration of justice. The circuit’s annual conferences alternate between conferences for judges and conferences open to the bar. Announcements for the attorney conferences, which are usually held in the summer months, are made well in advance of the conference dates. Registration for the attorney conferences is conducted by mail, email, and through the court’s website.
4. Discipline of Judicial Officers
Complaints against circuit, district, bankruptcy, or magistrate judges are processed according to 28 U.S.C. §§ 351 - 364. Copies of the Rules for Judicial-Conduct and Judicial- Disability Proceedings and complaint forms are available from the clerk's office and may also be obtained from the court's website at <www.ca8.uscourts.gov>. A judicial complaint must be verified and must allege misconduct not directly related to the merits of a decision or procedural ruling.