The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on June 13 unanimously approved bipartisan legislation from U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) that aims to tackle a shortage of judges across the country.
“Too many Hoosiers and Americans are being denied access to our justice system due to an overload of cases and a shortage of judges. Our bipartisan bill will help alleviate this shortage and ensure all Americans have the opportunity to have their day in court,” Sen. Young said.
The senator introduced the Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved (JUDGES) Act of 2024, S. 2759, with lead cosponsor U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE). The bill would increase the number of federal district judges in the most overworked regions of the country in an effort to address judicial emergencies and shortages.
S. 2759 would implement the findings of the nonpartisan 2023 Judicial Conference of the United States report by creating a recommended 66 new district court judgeships during future presidential elections, Sen. Young’s office said. The bill also includes updates to the structure and timing of those new judgeships and greater transparency.
Congress has the constitutional responsibility of establishing judgeships in U.S. district courts, but it has been two decades since Congress last authorized additional district judgeships, the senator’s office said.
“Today’s unanimous vote on our amended bill is a testament to bipartisanship and common-sense legislating. I urge the full Senate to pass this important legislation as soon as possible,” Sen. Young said.
The bill will next be considered by the full U.S. Senate.