Legis Daily

JUDGES Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-1702| House 
| Updated: 3/5/2025
Darrell Issa

Darrell Issa

Republican Representative

California

Cosponsors (16)
Tom Cole (Republican)Jeff Crank (Republican)Juan Vargas (Democratic)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)Scott H. Peters (Democratic)Ken Calvert (Republican)Gus M. Bilirakis (Republican)Mike Flood (Republican)Jefferson Shreve (Republican)Troy E. Nehls (Republican)Laurel M. Lee (Republican)Wesley Bell (Democratic)Michael K. Simpson (Republican)Adam Gray (Democratic)Kevin Kiley (Republican)Monica De La Cruz (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved Act of 2025," or the JUDGES Act of 2025, seeks to address the growing caseload crisis in federal district courts by authorizing a substantial increase in the number of district judges. Congressional findings highlight that no new district court judgeships have been created since 2003, marking the longest such period since 1789, despite a 30 percent increase in filings since the last comprehensive judgeship legislation in 1990. As of March 2023, there were nearly 687,000 pending cases, with an average of 491 weighted case filings per judgeship. The core of the bill establishes a phased approach for appointing new permanent district judges. It authorizes the President to appoint additional judges in specific districts across the country, with appointments scheduled to take effect in 2025, 2027, 2029, 2031, 2033, and 2035. For example, 11 new judgeships are authorized for 2025, followed by 10 in 2027, 11 in 2029, 10 in 2031, 10 in 2033, and 8 in 2035, significantly expanding the judicial workforce. Additionally, the bill converts one temporary district judgeship in the Eastern District of Oklahoma into a permanent position. To support these new positions, the bill authorizes appropriations starting at over $12.9 million for fiscal years 2025 and 2026, incrementally increasing to over $61.1 million for fiscal year 2035 and beyond, with all amounts subject to inflation adjustment. Furthermore, it mandates the Comptroller General of the United States to submit reports evaluating the accuracy of judicial caseload measures, the impact of non-case-related activities on caseloads, and the effectiveness of policies regarding senior judges. The bill also requires the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to make the Judicial Conference's biennial "Article III Judgeship Recommendations" publicly available online, including detailed information on the process, methodology, and specific court recommendations.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-4885
JUDGES Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-9625
JUDGES Act of 2024
Feb 27, 2025
Introduced in House
Feb 27, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Mar 5, 2025
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 16 - 11.
Mar 5, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-4885
    JUDGES Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-9625
    JUDGES Act of 2024


  • February 27, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • February 27, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.


  • March 5, 2025
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 16 - 11.


  • March 5, 2025
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Law

Related Bills

  • S 119-32: LACA
  • HR 119-625: LACA
  • HR 119-1929: JUDGES Act of 2025
ArizonaCaliforniaColoradoCongressional oversightDelawareFederal district courtsFloridaGeorgiaGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsIdahoIndianaIowaJudgesNebraskaNew JerseyNew York StateOklahomaTexasUtah

JUDGES Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-1702| House 
| Updated: 3/5/2025
The "Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved Act of 2025," or the JUDGES Act of 2025, seeks to address the growing caseload crisis in federal district courts by authorizing a substantial increase in the number of district judges. Congressional findings highlight that no new district court judgeships have been created since 2003, marking the longest such period since 1789, despite a 30 percent increase in filings since the last comprehensive judgeship legislation in 1990. As of March 2023, there were nearly 687,000 pending cases, with an average of 491 weighted case filings per judgeship. The core of the bill establishes a phased approach for appointing new permanent district judges. It authorizes the President to appoint additional judges in specific districts across the country, with appointments scheduled to take effect in 2025, 2027, 2029, 2031, 2033, and 2035. For example, 11 new judgeships are authorized for 2025, followed by 10 in 2027, 11 in 2029, 10 in 2031, 10 in 2033, and 8 in 2035, significantly expanding the judicial workforce. Additionally, the bill converts one temporary district judgeship in the Eastern District of Oklahoma into a permanent position. To support these new positions, the bill authorizes appropriations starting at over $12.9 million for fiscal years 2025 and 2026, incrementally increasing to over $61.1 million for fiscal year 2035 and beyond, with all amounts subject to inflation adjustment. Furthermore, it mandates the Comptroller General of the United States to submit reports evaluating the accuracy of judicial caseload measures, the impact of non-case-related activities on caseloads, and the effectiveness of policies regarding senior judges. The bill also requires the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to make the Judicial Conference's biennial "Article III Judgeship Recommendations" publicly available online, including detailed information on the process, methodology, and specific court recommendations.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-4885
JUDGES Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-9625
JUDGES Act of 2024
Feb 27, 2025
Introduced in House
Feb 27, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Mar 5, 2025
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 16 - 11.
Mar 5, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-4885
    JUDGES Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-9625
    JUDGES Act of 2024


  • February 27, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • February 27, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.


  • March 5, 2025
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 16 - 11.


  • March 5, 2025
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Darrell Issa

Darrell Issa

Republican Representative

California

Cosponsors (16)
Tom Cole (Republican)Jeff Crank (Republican)Juan Vargas (Democratic)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)Scott H. Peters (Democratic)Ken Calvert (Republican)Gus M. Bilirakis (Republican)Mike Flood (Republican)Jefferson Shreve (Republican)Troy E. Nehls (Republican)Laurel M. Lee (Republican)Wesley Bell (Democratic)Michael K. Simpson (Republican)Adam Gray (Democratic)Kevin Kiley (Republican)Monica De La Cruz (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

Law

Related Bills

  • S 119-32: LACA
  • HR 119-625: LACA
  • HR 119-1929: JUDGES Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
ArizonaCaliforniaColoradoCongressional oversightDelawareFederal district courtsFloridaGeorgiaGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsIdahoIndianaIowaJudgesNebraskaNew JerseyNew York StateOklahomaTexasUtah