To meet the rise in federal case filings, U.S. Reps. Young Kim (R-CA), Don Bacon (R-NE), David Valadao (R-CA), and Ashley Hinson (R-IA) on Sept. 17 cosponsored bipartisan legislation to address the nation’s shortages of judges.
“Our federal courts have an unsustainable, multi-year case backlog because of judicial staffing shortages, which has become a huge source of frustration for law enforcement throughout the Central Valley,” Rep. Valadao said. “It’s past time for Congress to act on this issue and I’m proud to support this bipartisan effort.”
The Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved (JUDGES) Act of 2024, H.R. 9625, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (D-CA), would create 63 permanent district court judgeships over the next decade, according to a summary of the bill.
“Delays in court cases due to understaffing have led to serious public concerns and distrust of our justice system,” Rep. Kim said. “I’m proud to join Rep. Issa to introduce the JUDGES Act to add more judges, avoid delays, and ensure a transparent, effective U.S. justice system that works as intended.”
“Our federal district courts are burdened by overwhelming caseloads so we must add new judges to fix it,” said Rep. Bacon. “It is unfair for people with a case in federal district court to have it delayed because we don’t have enough judges.”
If enacted, H.R. 9625 also would require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to evaluate and provide recommendations on the efficiency and effectiveness of federal court activities and federal agencies’ need for detention space and any challenges in acquiring sufficient detention space, the summary says, and would require the Judicial Conference of the United States to make its biennial judicial seat recommendations publicly available.
“Iowans and all Americans have a fundamental right to swift and efficient court proceedings,” said Rep. Hinson. “By adding new federal judgeships across the country, including Iowa, we can help deliver justice and transparency for Iowans, particularly in our rural communities.”
Other original cosponsors of H.R. 9625 include U.S. Reps. Laurel Lee (R-FL), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), and Jay Obernolte (R-CA). The bill is companion legislation to the same-named S. 4199, introduced on April 19 by U.S. Sens. Todd Young (R-IN) and Chris Coons (D-DE), which passed the U.S. Senate on Aug. 1.