JUDGES Act of 2025
JUDGES Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Summary of the JUDGES Act of 2025 **What the bill would do:** The JUDGES Act proposes creating 64 new federal judge positions—63 permanent and 1 temporary—to address what supporters describe as understaffing in the federal court system. These judgeships would be distributed across 14 states, with California receiving the most (20 new judges) and several states receiving one each. The bill also requires two district courts (one in California and one in Texas) to hold court proceedings in additional locations to improve access. **Who it affects and key provisions:** This bill would impact the federal judiciary, court efficiency, and potentially the legal cases of millions of Americans who use the federal court system. The new judgeships would be created gradually over a 10-year period beginning in 2029, rather than all at once.
The largest allocations go to high-population states like California, Texas, Florida, and New York, which tend to have higher caseloads. The bill also adds College Station as a new court location in Texas. **Current status:** The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by Congress. It was introduced by Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA) 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 2029. 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 2029.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
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.