Employees

(a) Clerk of the court The chief judge of the United States Immigration Courts may appoint, and prescribe the duties for, a clerk of the court without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service. (b) Chambers staff Immigration judges appointed pursuant to title VI of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by section 492(a), may appoint law clerks and secretaries, in such numbers as the appellate division approves, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service. (c) Other court staff The clerk of the court appointed pursuant to subsection (a) and the chief administrative officer of the administrative division of the United States Immigration Courts may appoint deputies and employees, in such numbers as the appellate division approves, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service. (d) Staff salaries The appellate division of the United States Immigration Courts may fix and adjust the rates of basic pay for the clerk, the chief administrative officer, and other employees of the Immigration Courts without regard to the provisions of chapter 51, subchapter III of chapter 53, or section 5373 of title 5, United States Code. To the maximum extent feasible, such employees shall be compensated at rates consistent with those for employees holding comparable positions in the judicial branch. (e) Preference eligibles In making appointments pursuant to subsections (a) through (c), preference shall be given, among equally qualified persons, to persons who are preference eligible (as defined in section 2108(3) of title 5, United States Code). (f) Experts and consultants The United States Immigration Courts may procure the services of experts and consultants as provided under section 3109 of title 5, United States Code.