JUDGES Act of 2025
JUDGES Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# JUDGES Act of 2025 - Plain Language Summary **What the Bill Would Do:** The JUDGES Act would create 64 new federal judge positions—63 permanent and 1 temporary—to help reduce delays in the federal court system. These judges would be added gradually over 10 years starting in 2025. The bill also requires two district courts (one in California and one in Texas) to hold court in additional locations to make courts more accessible to people in those areas. **Who It Affects and Key Details:** The new judgeships would be distributed across 14 states, with California receiving the most (20 new judges), followed by Texas (13) and Florida (9). Other states getting smaller numbers of judges include Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, and Oklahoma.
The bill aims to address understaffing problems that cause court case backlogs and delays for people seeking justice. Additionally, the Southern District of Texas would add College Station as a location where federal court can be held, making the court system more geographically accessible. **Current Status:** The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives. It was introduced by Representative Darrell Issa (R-California) in the 119th Congress.
CRS Official Summary
Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved Act of 2025 or the JUDGES Act of 2025This bill creates 64 U.S. district court judgeships—63 permanent and 1 temporary—and expands the jurisdictional coverage of two district courts.Specifically, the bill creates 63 new permanent judgeships across 14 states over a 10-year period beginning in 2025. The state and total number of judgeships added over the 10-year period are as follows:Arizona (1), California (20),Colorado (2),Delaware (2),Florida (9),Georgia (2),Idaho (1),Indiana (1),Iowa (1),Nebraska (1),New Jersey (3),New York (5),Oklahoma (2), andTexas (13).Additionally, the bill creates one temporary judgeship in the Eastern District of Oklahoma in 2025.Finally, the bill adds locations where court must be held in two district courts—one in California and one in Texas. Specifically, the bill adds College Station to the list of places where court must be held in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas. Also, the bill adds El Centro to the list of places where court must be held in the Southern District of California.The bill directs the Government Accountability Office to submit reports to Congress on judicial caseloads and detention space.The bill also directs the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to make available on its website the biennial report by the Judicial Conference of the United States on judgeship recommendations.
Latest Action
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 16 - 11.