Judicial Reorganization Act of 2025

The Judicial Reorganization Act of 2025 aims to restructure the federal judiciary by dividing the current Ninth Judicial Circuit into two distinct circuits and adding new judgeships. This legislation will increase the total number of federal circuits from thirteen to fourteen. Specifically, the existing Ninth Circuit will be split into a new Ninth Circuit , encompassing California, Guam, and Hawaii, and a newly created Twelfth Circuit , which will include Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. The bill mandates the appointment of two additional circuit court judges, one for each of the newly defined geographic areas, effective immediately upon enactment. Existing active circuit judges will be automatically assigned to either the new Ninth or Twelfth Circuit based on their official duty station, while senior judges may elect their preferred assignment. The Act also details the allocation of judgeships, with the new Ninth Circuit having 18 judges and the Twelfth Circuit having 13 judges, and establishes new court locations for both circuits. Provisions are included for the orderly transition of pending cases and rehearing petitions, ensuring continuity in judicial proceedings. Most of the Act's provisions, including the circuit division, will take effect one year after its enactment, with an authorization for necessary appropriations to support the reorganization.