•^**i#'^' PUBLIC LAW 101-650 —DEC. 1, 1990 104 STAT. 5105 SEC. 303. EFFECT OF APPOINTMENT OF JUDGE AS DIRECTOR OF CERTAIN JUDICIAL BRANCH AGENCIES. Section 133 of title 28, United States Code, is amended— (1) by inserting "(a)" before "The President"; and (2) by adding at the end thereof the following: "(b)(1) In any case in which a judge of the United States (other President, than a senior judge) assumes the duties of a full-time office of Federal judicial administration, the President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, an additional judge for the court on which such judge serves. If the judge who assumes the duties of such full-time office leaves that office and resumes the duties as an active judge of the court, then the President shall not appoint a judge to fill the first vacancy which occurs thereafter in that court. "(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the term 'office of Federal judicial administration' means a position as Director of the Federal Judicial Center, Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, or administrative assistant to the Chief Justice.". SEC. 304. EXTENSION OF TERMS OF OFFICE OF BANKRUPTCY JUDGES. Section 152(a)(l) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the third sentence the following: "However, upon the expiration of the term, a bankruptcy judge may, with the approval of the judicial council of the circuit, continue to perform the duties of the office until the earlier of the date which is 180 days after the expiration of the term or the date of the appointment of a successor.". SEC. 305. APPEALS OF JUDGMENTS, ORDERS, AND DECREES OF BANK- RUPTCY COURTS. Section 158(b) of title 28, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively, and (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: "(2) If authorized by the Judicial Conference of the United States, the judicial councils of 2 or more circuits may establish a joint bankruptcy appellate panel comprised of bankruptcy judges from the districts within the circuits for which such panel is established, to hear and determine, upon the consent of all the parties, appeals under subsection (a) of this section.". SEC. 306. RETIREMENT SYSTEM FOR CLAIMS COURT JUDGES. (a) NEW RETIREMENT SYSTEM. —(1) Chapter 7 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new section: "§ 178. Retirement of judges of the Claims Court "(a) A judge of the United States Claims Court who retires from office after attaining the age and meeting the service requirements, whether continuously or otherwise, of this subsection shall, subject to subsection (f), be entitled to receive, during the remainder of the judge's lifetime, an annuity equal to the salary payable to Claims Court judges in regular active service. The age and service requirements for retirement under this subsection are as follows:
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