In 1999, at the direction of the Judicial Officers Resources Working Group appointed by the Chief Justice, the Center conducted studies of the use of visiting judges in the district courts. Interviews showed that many borrowing courts have created successful visiting judge procedures that minimize administrative burdens and maximize benefits to the court and to the visitors. By incorporating the collective wisdom of judges and clerks from borrowing courts and judges who have visited, the Center developed this guide to help courts create visiting judge programs that meet their specific needs and to provide practical suggestions to judges who wish to visit. Initially published in 2001, this guide has been updated to reflect Judicial Conference policies on visiting judges as of 2006. This 2006 update was not published in hard copy. Subsequent updates have been published by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.