[1] As of September 12, 2024[update]: Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court.

The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first.

[5] Support of the courts included serving subpoenas, summonses, writs, and warrants, making arrests, and handling prisoners.

[6] In the country's early years, Marshals rented courtroom and jail space, and hired and supervised bailiffs, criers, and janitors.

[5] They also handled the day-to-day activities of court proceedings, including ensuring that defendants were present, jurors were available, and witnesses appeared as required.

[7] Marshals also filled a gap in the federal government as it was originally designed, executing numerous tasks because no other agency was available to do them.

[5] These duties included taking the national census every 10 years until 1870, distributing Presidential proclamations, collecting statistical data for use by federal agencies, and supplying data on federal employees for including in a national register, deporting foreigners who entered the country illegally, and capturing fugitive slaves.

[5] Over time, the duties of Marshals grew to include activities such as enforcement of the Eighteenth Amendment, the prohibition of the sale and transport of alcoholic beverages.