In 1971 Congress authorized each circuit judicial council to appoint a circuit executive to “exercise such administrative powers and perform such duties as may be delegated” by the council. The Circuit Executive Act was part of an effort to address what was perceived to be a caseload crisis in the federal courts and a lack of administrative expertise in the courts. The statute stated that the duties of the circuit executive might include the exercise of administrative control of all nonjudicial activities of the courts of appeals in the respective circuits.

See also:

Court Officers and Staff: Circuit Executives