On March 26, 2014, Sixth Circuit Judge Julia A. Gibbons testified before the House Subcommittee for Financial Services and General Government, which is one of the subcommittees associated with the House Appropriations Committee. In her testimony she discussed future funding for our federal courts, their various associated agencies, the federal defender program, and Criminal Justice Act panel lawyers. One of the items requested is a modest increase in panel rates for the upcoming fiscal year starting on October 1, 2014. Judge Gibbons serves as chair of the Judicial Conference's Committee on the Budget. You can find Judge Gibbons's written testimony -- click here.