[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4199 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
S.4199
One Hundred Eighteenth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
the third day of January, two thousand and twenty four
An Act
To authorize additional district judges for the district courts and
convert temporary judgeships.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Judicial Understaffing Delays
Getting Emergencies Solved Act of 2024'' or the ``JUDGES Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Article III of the Constitution of the United States gives
Congress the power to establish judgeships in the district courts
of the United States.
(2) Congress has not created a new district court judgeship
since 2003 and has not enacted comprehensive judgeship legislation
since 1990.
(3) This represents the longest period of time since district
courts of the United States were established in 1789 that Congress
has not authorized any new permanent district court judgeships.
(4) By the end of fiscal year 2022, filings in the district
courts of the United States had increased by 30 percent since the
last comprehensive judgeship legislation.
(5) As of March 31, 2023, there were 686,797 pending cases in
the district courts of the United States, with an average of 491
weighted case filings per judgeship over a 12-month period.
(6) To deal with increased filings in the district courts of
the United States, the Judicial Conference of the United States
requested the creation of 66 new district court judgeships in its
2023 report.
SEC. 3. ADDITIONAL DISTRICT JUDGES FOR THE DISTRICT COURTS.
(a) Additional Judgeships.--
(1) 2025.--
(A) In general.--The President shall appoint, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate--
(i) 1 additional district judge for the central
district of California;
(ii) 1 additional district judge for the eastern
district of California;
(iii) 1 additional district judge for the northern
district of California;
(iv) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Delaware;
(v) 1 additional district judge for the middle district
of Florida;
(vi) 1 additional district judge for the southern
district of Indiana;
(vii) 1 additional district judge for the northern
district of Iowa;
(viii) 1 additional district judge for the district of
New Jersey;
(ix) 1 additional district judge for the southern
district of New York;
(x) 1 additional district judge for the eastern
district of Texas; and
(xi) 1 additional district judge for the southern
district of Texas.
(B) Tables.--The table contained in section 133(a) of title
28, United States Code, is amended--
(i) by striking the items relating to California and
inserting the following:
``California:
Northern............................. 15
Eastern.............................. 7
Central.............................. 28
Southern............................. 13'';
(ii) by striking the item relating to Delaware and
inserting the following:
``Delaware........................... 5'';
(iii) by striking the items relating to Florida and
inserting the following:
``Florida:
Northern............................. 4
Middle............................... 16
Southern............................. 17'';
(iv) by striking the items relating to Indiana and
inserting the following:
``Indiana:
Northern............................. 5
Southern............................. 6'';
(v) by striking the items relating to Iowa and
inserting the following:
``Iowa:
Northern............................. 3
Southern............................. 3'';
(vi) by striking the item relating to New Jersey and
inserting the following:
``New Jersey......................... 18'';
(vii) by striking the items relating to New York and
inserting the following:
``New York:
Northern............................. 5
Southern............................. 29
Eastern.............................. 15
Western.............................. 4''; and
(viii) by striking the items relating to Texas and
inserting the following:
``Texas:
Northern............................. 12
Southern............................. 20
Eastern.............................. 8
Western.............................. 13''.
(C) Effective date.--This paragraph shall take effect on
January 21, 2025.
(2) 2027.--
(A) In general.--The President shall appoint, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate--
(i) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Arizona;
(ii) 2 additional district judges for the central
district of California;
(iii) 1 additional district judge for the eastern
district of California;
(iv) 1 additional district judge for the northern
district of California;
(v) 1 additional district judge for the middle district
of Florida;
(vi) 1 additional district judge for the southern
district of Florida;
(vii) 1 additional district judge for the northern
district of Georgia;
(viii) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Idaho;
(ix) 1 additional district judge for the northern
district of Texas; and
(x) 1 additional district judge for the southern
district of Texas.
(B) Tables.--The table contained in section 133(a) of title
28, United States Code, as amended by paragraph (1) of this
subsection, is amended--
(i) by striking the item relating to Arizona and
inserting the following:
``Arizona............................ 13'';
(ii) by striking the items relating to California and
inserting the following:
``California:
Northern............................. 16
Eastern.............................. 8
Central.............................. 30
Southern............................. 13'';
(iii) by striking the items relating to Florida and
inserting the following:
``Florida:
Northern............................. 4
Middle............................... 17
Southern............................. 18'';
(iv) by striking the items relating to Georgia and
inserting the following:
``Georgia:
Northern............................. 12
Middle............................... 4
Southern............................. 3'';
(v) by striking the item relating to Idaho and
inserting the following:
``Idaho.............................. 3''; and
(vi) by striking the items relating to Texas and
inserting the following:
``Texas:
Northern............................. 13
Southern............................. 21
Eastern.............................. 8
Western.............................. 13''.
(C) Effective date.--This paragraph shall take effect on
January 21, 2027.
(3) 2029.--
(A) In general.--The President shall appoint, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate--
(i) 1 additional district judge for the central
district of California;
(ii) 1 additional district judge for the eastern
district of California;
(iii) 1 additional district judge for the northern
district of California;
(iv) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Colorado;
(v) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Delaware;
(vi) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Nebraska;
(vii) 1 additional district judge for the eastern
district of New York;
(viii) 1 additional district judge for the eastern
district of Texas;
(ix) 1 additional district judge for the southern
district of Texas; and
(x) 1 additional district judge for the western
district of Texas.
(B) Tables.--The table contained in section 133(a) of title
28, United States Code, as amended by paragraph (2) of this
subsection, is amended--
(i) by striking the items relating to California and
inserting the following:
``California:
Northern............................. 17
Eastern.............................. 9
Central.............................. 31
Southern............................. 13'';
(ii) by striking the item relating to Colorado and
inserting the following:
``Colorado........................... 8'';
(iii) by striking the item relating to Delaware and
inserting the following:
``Delaware........................... 6'';
(iv) by striking the item relating to Nebraska and
inserting the following:
``Nebraska........................... 4'';
(v) by striking the items relating to New York and
inserting the following:
``New York:
Northern............................. 5
Southern............................. 29
Eastern.............................. 16
Western.............................. 4''; and
(vi) by striking the items relating to Texas and
inserting the following:
``Texas:
Northern............................. 13
Southern............................. 22
Eastern.............................. 9
Western.............................. 14''.
(C) Effective date.--This paragraph shall take effect on
January 21, 2029.
(4) 2031.--
(A) In general.--The President shall appoint, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate--
(i) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Arizona;
(ii) 1 additional district judge for the central
district of California;
(iii) 1 additional district judge for the eastern
district of California;
(iv) 1 additional district judge for the northern
district of California;
(v) 1 additional district judge for the southern
district of California;
(vi) 1 additional district judge for the middle
district of Florida;
(vii) 1 additional district judge for the southern
district of Florida;
(viii) 1 additional district judge for the district of
New Jersey;
(ix) 1 additional district judge for the western
district of New York; and
(x) 2 additional district judges for the western
district of Texas.
(B) Tables.--The table contained in section 133(a) of title
28, United States Code, as amended by paragraph (3) of this
subsection, is amended--
(i) by striking the item relating to Arizona and
inserting the following:
``Arizona............................ 14'';
(ii) by striking the items relating to California and
inserting the following:
``California:
Northern............................. 18
Eastern.............................. 10
Central.............................. 32
Southern............................. 14'';
(iii) by striking the items relating to Florida and
inserting the following:
``Florida:
Northern............................. 4
Middle............................... 18
Southern............................. 19'';
(iv) by striking the item relating to New Jersey and
inserting the following:
``New Jersey......................... 19'';
(v) by striking the items relating to New York and
inserting the following:
``New York:
Northern............................. 5
Southern............................. 29
Eastern.............................. 16
Western.............................. 5''; and
(vi) by striking the items relating to Texas and
inserting the following:
``Texas:
Northern............................. 13
Southern............................. 22
Eastern.............................. 9
Western.............................. 16''.
(C) Effective date.--This paragraph shall take effect on
January 21, 2031.
(5) 2033.--
(A) In general.--The President shall appoint, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate--
(i) 2 additional district judges for the central
district of California;
(ii) 1 additional district judge for the northern
district of California;
(iii) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Colorado;
(iv) 1 additional district judge for the middle
district of Florida;
(v) 1 additional district judge for the northern
district of Florida;
(vi) 1 additional district judge for the northern
district of Georgia;
(vii) 1 additional district judge for the southern
district of New York;
(viii) 1 additional district judge for the southern
district of Texas; and
(ix) 1 additional district judge for the western
district of Texas.
(B) Tables.--The table contained in section 133(a) of title
28, United States Code, as amended by paragraph (4) of this
subsection, is amended--
(i) by striking the items relating to California and
inserting the following:
``California:
Northern............................. 19
Eastern.............................. 10
Central.............................. 34
Southern............................. 14'';
(ii) by striking the item relating to Colorado and
inserting the following:
``Colorado........................... 9'';
(iii) by striking the items relating to Florida and
inserting the following:
``Florida:
Northern............................. 5
Middle............................... 19
Southern............................. 19'';
(iv) by striking the items relating to Georgia and
inserting the following:
``Georgia:
Northern............................. 13
Middle............................... 4
Southern............................. 3'';
(v) by striking the items relating to New York and
inserting the following:
``New York:
Northern............................. 5
Southern............................. 30
Eastern.............................. 16
Western.............................. 5''; and
(vi) by striking the items relating to Texas and
inserting the following:
``Texas:
Northern............................. 13
Southern............................. 23
Eastern.............................. 9
Western.............................. 17''.
(C) Effective date.--This paragraph shall take effect on
January 21, 2033.
(6) 2035.--
(A) In general.--The President shall appoint, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate--
(i) 2 additional district judges for the central
district of California;
(ii) 1 additional district judge for the northern
district of California;
(iii) 1 additional district judge for the southern
district of California;
(iv) 1 additional district judge for the middle
district of Florida;
(v) 1 additional district judge for the southern
district of Florida;
(vi) 1 additional district judge for the district of
New Jersey;
(vii) 1 additional district judge for the eastern
district of New York;
(viii) 2 additional district judges for the western
district of Texas.
(B) Tables.--The table contained in section 133(a) of title
28, United States Code, as amended by paragraph (5) of this
subsection, is amended--
(i) by striking the items relating to California and
inserting the following:
``California:
Northern............................. 20
Eastern.............................. 10
Central.............................. 36
Southern............................. 15'';
(ii) by striking the items relating to Florida and
inserting the following:
``Florida:
Northern............................. 5
Middle............................... 20
Southern............................. 20'';
(iii) by striking the item relating to New Jersey and
inserting the following:
``New Jersey......................... 20'';
(iv) by striking the items relating to New York and
inserting the following:
``New York:
Northern............................. 5
Southern............................. 30
Eastern.............................. 17
Western.............................. 5''; and
(v) by striking the items relating to Texas and
inserting the following:
``Texas:
Northern............................. 13
Southern............................. 23
Eastern.............................. 9
Western.............................. 19''.
(C) Effective date.--This paragraph shall take effect on
January 21, 2035.
(b) Temporary Judgeships.--
(1) In general.--The President shall appoint, by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate--
(A) 2 additional district judges for the eastern district
of Oklahoma; and
(B) 1 additional district judge for the northern district
of Oklahoma.
(2) Vacancies not filled.--The first vacancy in the office of
district judge in each of the offices of district judge authorized
by this subsection, occurring