Bill Summary
This legislation, known as the "Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved Act" or the "JUDGES Act," aims to address the shortage of judges in the United States district courts. It authorizes the creation of new district judgeships and the conversion of temporary judgeships into permanent ones. The need for additional judges is supported by findings from the Judicial Conference of the United States, which has identified a significant number of vacancies and judicial emergencies. The Act specifies the number of additional judges to be appointed in various districts, with the first appointments taking place in 2025 and the second in 2029. The existing temporary judgeships in certain districts will also be converted to permanent ones. The Act also requires a report on vacant and underutilized courthouses to be made publicly available, and authorizes the appropriation of funds for the implementation of this Act.
Possible Impacts
1. This legislation could affect people by potentially impacting the speed and efficiency of resolving legal disputes. If there are not enough district judges to handle the caseload, it could result in delays and backlogs in the court system, causing frustration and potentially hindering individuals' access to justice.
2. The specific districts mentioned in the bill could also see changes in the number of judges they have, potentially affecting the workload and distribution of cases in those areas. This could have an impact on the local legal community and the individuals who rely on the courts in those districts.
3. The authorization of additional judges and conversion of temporary judgeships could also have financial implications for taxpayers. The bill mentions the need for appropriate space and facilities to accommodate the new judges, which could require additional funding from the government. This could potentially impact people's taxes and how their money is being allocated.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4885 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4885
To authorize additional district judges for the district courts and
convert temporary judgeships.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 30, 2021
Mr. Issa (for himself, Mr. Vargas, Mrs. Spartz, and Mr. Peters)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize additional district judges for the district courts and
convert temporary judgeships.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Judicial Understaffing Delays
Getting Emergencies Solved Act'' or the ``JUDGES Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The Judicial Conference of the United States requested
the creation of 77 new district judges in its 2021 report.
(2) The Judicial Conference of the United States has named
37 vacancies as judicial emergencies.
(3) As of March 31, 2021, there were 696,789 pending cases,
averaging 803 filings per judgeship.
SEC. 3. ADDITIONAL DISTRICT JUDGES FOR THE DISTRICT COURTS.
(a) Additional Judgeships.--
(1) 2025.--On or after January 21, 2025, the President
shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate--
(A) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Arizona;
(B) 7 additional district judges for the central
district of California;
(C) 2 additional district judges for the eastern
district of California;
(D) 3 additional district judges for the northern
district of California;
(E) 3 additional district judges for the southern
district of California;
(F) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Colorado;
(G) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Delaware;
(H) 3 additional district judges for the middle
district of Florida;
(I) 1 additional district judge for the northern
district of Florida;
(J) 1 additional district judge for the southern
district of Florida;
(K) 1 additional district judge for the northern
district of Georgia;
(L) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Idaho;
(M) 1 additional district judge for the southern
district of Indiana;
(N) 1 additional district judge for the northern
district of Iowa;
(O) 2 additional district judges for the district
of New Jersey;
(P) 1 additional district judge for the district of
New Mexico;
(Q) 1 additional district judge for the eastern
district of New York;
(R) 1 additional district judge for the southern
district of New York;
(S) 1 additional district judge for the western
district of New York;
(T) 1 additional district judge for the eastern
district of Texas;
(U) 2 additional district judges for the southern
district of Texas; and
(V) 3 additional district judges for the western
district of Texas.
(2) 2029.--On or after January 21, 2029, the President
shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate--
(A) 3 additional district judges for the district
of Arizona;
(B) 8 additional district judges for the central
district of California;
(C) 2 additional district judges for the eastern
district of California;
(D) 2 additional district judges for the northern
district of California;
(E) 3 additional district judges for the southern
district of California;
(F) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Colorado;
(G) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Delaware;
(H) 4 additional district judges for the middle
district of Florida;
(I) 2 additional district judges for the southern
district of Florida;
(J) 1 additional district judge for the northern
district of Georgia;
(K) 1 additional district judge for the southern
district of Indiana;
(L) 3 additional district judges for the district
of New Jersey;
(M) 1 additional district judge for the eastern
district of New York;
(N) 1 additional district judge for the eastern
district of Texas;
(O) 2 additional district judges for the southern
district of Texas; and
(P) 3 additional district judges for the western
district of Texas.
(b) Conversion of Temporary Judgeships.--The existing judgeships
for the district of Kansas, and the eastern district of Missouri
authorized by section 203(c) of the Judicial Improvements Act of 1990
(Public Law 101-650; 28 U.S.C. 133 note) and the existing judgeships
for the northern district of Alabama, the district of Arizona, the
central district of California, the southern district of Florida, the
district of New Mexico, the western district of North Carolina, and the
eastern district of Texas authorized by section 312(c) of the 21st
Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act (Public
Law 107-273, 28 U.S.C. 133 note), as of the date of enactment of this
Act, shall be authorized under section 133 of title 28, United States
Code, and the incumbents in those offices shall hold the office under
section 133 of title 28, United States Code, as amended by this Act.
(c) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--The table contained in
section 133(a) of title 28, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking the items relating to Alabama and inserting
the following:
``Alabama:
Northern............................. 8
Middle............................... 3
Southern............................. 3'';
(2) by striking the item relating to Arizona and inserting
the following:
``Arizona............................ 17'';
(3) by striking the items relating to California and
inserting the following:
``California:
Northern............................. 19
Eastern.............................. 10
Central.............................. 43
Southern............................. 19'';
(4) by striking the item relating to Colorado and inserting
the following:
``Colorado........................... 9'';
(5) by striking the item relating to Delaware and inserting
the following:
``Delaware........................... 6'';
(6) by striking the items relating to Florida and inserting
the following:
``Florida:
Northern............................. 5
Middle............................... 22
Southern............................. 21'';
(7) by striking the items relating to Georgia and inserting
the following:
``Georgia:
Northern............................. 13
Middle............................... 4
Southern............................. 3'';
(8) by striking the item relating to Idaho and inserting
the following:
``Idaho.............................. 3'';
(9) by striking the items relating to Indiana and inserting
the following:
``Indiana:
Northern............................. 5
Southern............................. 7'';
(10) by striking the items relating to Iowa and inserting
the following:
``Iowa:
Northern............................. 3
Southern............................. 3'';
(11) by striking the item relating to Kansas and inserting
the following:
``Kansas............................. 6'';
(12) by striking the items relating to Missouri and
inserting the following:
``Missouri:
Eastern.............................. 7
Western.............................. 5
Eastern and Western.................. 2'';
(13) by striking the item relating to New Jersey and
inserting the following:
``New Jersey......................... 22'';
(14) by striking the item relating to New Mexico and
inserting the following:
``New Mexico......................... 8'';
(15) by striking the items relating to New York and
inserting the following:
``New York:
Northern............................. 5
Southern............................. 29
Eastern.............................. 17
Western.............................. 5'';
(16) by striking the items relating to North Carolina and
inserting the following:
``North Carolina:
Eastern.............................. 4
Middle............................... 4
Western.............................. 5'';
and
(17) by striking the items relating to Texas and inserting
the following:
``Texas:
Northern............................. 12
Southern............................. 23
Eastern.............................. 10
Western.............................. 19''.
SEC. 4. GAO REPORT ON VACANT AND UNDERUTILIZED COURTHOUSES.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall make publicly available
a report identifying Federal courthouses that are vacant or underused.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act,
including such sums as may be necessary to provide appropriate space
and facilities for the judicial positions created by this Act or an
amendment made by this Act.
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