In a strategic move, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts announced on Tuesday the appointment of U.S. Senior District Judge Robert Conrad to spearhead the administrative arm of the federal judiciary, effective March 1. Conrad, renowned for his extensive service in North Carolina’s Western District, will take the reins from retiring Director U.S. District Judge Roslynn Mauskopf of Brooklyn.
The retirement of Mauskopf, who has led the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts since 2021, was disclosed in November and is set to take effect on January 31. During the transitional month, Deputy Director Lee Ann Bennett will act as the interim director until Conrad officially assumes his new role.
Chief Justice Roberts expressed his anticipation of Conrad’s tenure, stating, “I welcome Judge Conrad to his new position. His long-standing service to our branch in various significant capacities positions him well to lead the AO in addressing the challenges that the Judiciary confronts now and in the years ahead.”
At 65, Conrad brings a wealth of experience to the table, having served as a federal prosecutor and as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina from 2001 to 2004. Appointed to the bench by former President George W. Bush in 2005, Conrad has been an integral part of the judiciary’s decision-making body, the Judicial Conference, from 2015 to 2020. Currently, he holds memberships in key committees, including the Advisory Committees on Criminal Rules.
Conrad’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic was evident as he chaired the judiciary’s COVID-19 Task Force on Reconstituting the Jury Trial, producing a 2020 report aimed at assisting courts in developing protocols to safeguard jurors’ health and safety.
In his new role as the head of the Administrative Office, Conrad will oversee a workforce of over 1,000 employees, providing crucial administrative support to judges and federal public defenders nationwide. Additionally, he will act as the judiciary’s liaison to Congress, advocating for budget requests.
This appointment marks a significant transition in the leadership of the U.S. Judiciary’s administrative arm, with Judge Conrad poised to bring his wealth of experience to navigate the challenges ahead.
