JUDGES Act of 2024

Veto message received in Senate. Ordered held at the desk.

Jan 3, 2025

The JUDGES Act of 2024 creates 63 new permanent U.S. district court judgeships distributed across 13 states over a 10-year period from 2025 through 2035, with the largest allocations to California (21), Texas (13), and Florida (9). It also establishes 3 temporary district court judgeships in Oklahoma in 2025, subject to presidential appointment with Senate confirmation. The bill designates new locations where district courts must hold sessions in California (El Centro), Texas (College Station), and Utah (Moab and Monticello). Additionally, it requires the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on judicial caseloads and detention space, and directs the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to publish and submit biennial reports to Congress on judgeship recommendations.

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Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved Act of 2024 or the JUDGES Act of 2024 This bill creates 63 new permanent U.S. district court judgeships over a 10-year period and 3 temporary U.S. district court judgeships in 2025. The President must appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, additional judges for specified judicial districts. Specifically, the bill creates 63 additional permanent judgeships, which are added every two years from 2025 through 2035. The state and the total number of judgeships added over the 10-year period for the state are as follows: Arizona (2), California (21), Colorado (2), Delaware (2), Florida (9), Georgia (2), Idaho (1), Indiana (1), Iowa (1), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (3), New York (5), and Texas (13). Additionally, in 2025, the bill creates three temporary judgeships in Oklahoma. The bill adds locations for where district courts must be held in certain states. Specifically, the bill requires the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California to be additionally held in El Centro, California; the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas (Houston Division) to be additionally held in College Station, Texas; and the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah (Central Division) to be additionally held in Moab and Monticello, Utah. The Government Accountability Office must submit reports to Congress on judicial caseloads and detention space. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts must make publicly accessible, and submit to Congress, a specified biennial report on judgeship recommendations.