The Chief Justice of the United States may appoint a Counselor who shall serve at the pleasure of the Chief Justice and shall perform such duties as may be assigned to him by the Chief Justice. The salary payable to the Counselor shall be fixed by the Chief Justice at a rate which shall not exceed the salary payable to the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. The Counselor may elect to bring himself within the same retirement program available to the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, as provided by section 611 of this title, by filing a written election with the Chief Justice within the time and in the manner prescribed by section 611.

The Counselor, with the approval of the Chief Justice, may appoint and fix the compensation of necessary employees. The Counselor and his employees shall be deemed employees of the Supreme Court.

The Counselor, with the approval of the Chief Justice, shall establish a retention and recruitment program that is consistent with section 908 of the Emergency Supplemental Act, 2002 (2 U.S.C. 1926) for Supreme Court Police officers and other critical employees who agree in writing to remain employed with the Supreme Court for a period of service of not less than two years.