JUDGES Act

To authorize additional district judges for the district courts and convert temporary judgeships. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved Act JUDGES Act 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) The Judicial Conference of the United States requested the creation of 65 new district judges in its 2019 report. (2) The Judicial Conference of the United States has named 42 vacancies as judicial emergencies. (3) In fiscal year 2019, there were 456,827 pending cases, averaging 674 per judgeship, of which 15.8 percent were over 3 years old. 3. Additional district judges for the district courts (a) Additional judgeships (1) 2021 On or after January 21, 2021, the President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate— (A) 2 additional district judges for the district of Arizona; (B) 4 additional district judges for the central district of California; (C) 3 additional district judges for the eastern district of California; (D) 2 additional district judges for the northern district of California; (E) 2 additional district judges for the southern district of California; (F) 1 additional district judge for the district of Colorado; (G) 1 additional district judge for the district of Delaware; (H) 3 additional district judges for the middle district of Florida; (I) 2 additional district judges for the southern district of Florida; (J) 1 additional district judge for the district of Idaho; (K) 1 additional district judge for the southern district of Indiana; (L) 1 additional district judge for the northern district of Iowa; (M) 1 additional district judge for the district of Nevada; (N) 2 additional district judges for the district of New Jersey; (O) 1 additional district judge for the district of New Mexico; (P) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district of New York; (Q) 1 additional district judge for the southern district of New York; (R) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district of Texas; (S) 1 additional district judge for the southern district of Texas; and (T) 3 additional district judges for the western district of Texas. (2) 2025 On or after January 21, 2025, the President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate— (A) 2 additional district judges for the district of Arizona; (B) 5 additional district judges for the central district of California; (C) 2 additional district judges for the eastern district of California; (D) 2 additional district judges for the northern district of California; (E) 2 additional district judges for the southern district of California; (F) 1 additional district judge for the district of Colorado; (G) 3 additional district judges for the middle district of Florida; (H) 1 additional district judge for the northern district of Florida; (I) 1 additional district judge for the southern district of Florida; (J) 1 additional district judge for the northern district of Georgia; (K) 1 additional district judge for the southern district of Indiana; (L) 2 additional district judges for the district of New Jersey; (M) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district of New York; (N) 1 additional district judge for the western district of New York; (O) 1 additional district judge for the district of Puerto Rico; (P) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district of Texas; (Q) 1 additional district judge for the southern district of Texas; and (R) 3 additional district judges for the western district of Texas. (b) Conversion of temporary judgeships The existing judgeships for the district of Hawaii, the district of Kansas, and the eastern district of Missouri authorized by section 203(c) of the Judicial Improvements Act of 1990 ( Public Law 101–650 28 U.S.C. 133 Public Law 107–273 28 U.S.C. 133 (c) Technical and conforming amendments The table contained in section 133(a) of title 28, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking the items relating to Alabama and inserting the following: Alabama: Northern 8 Middle 3 Southern 3 ; (2) by striking the item relating to Arizona and inserting the following: Arizona 17 ; (3) by striking the items relating to California and inserting the following: California: Northern 18 Eastern 11 Central 37 Southern 17 ; (4) by striking the item relating to Colorado and inserting the following: Colorado 9 ; (5) by striking the item relating to Delaware and inserting the following: Delaware 5 ; (6) by striking the items relating to Florida and inserting the following: Florida: Northern 5 Middle 21 Southern 21 ; (7) by striking the items relating to Georgia and inserting the following: Georgia: Northern 12 Middle 4 Southern 3 ; (8) by striking the item relating to Hawaii and inserting the following: Hawaii 4 ; (9) by striking the item relating to Idaho and inserting the following: Idaho 3 ; (10) by striking the items relating to Indiana and inserting the following: Indiana: Northern 5 Southern 7 ; (11) by striking the items relating to Iowa and inserting the following: Iowa: Northern 3 Southern 3 ; (12) by striking the item relating to Kansas and inserting the following: Kansas 6 ; (13) by striking the items relating to Missouri and inserting the following: Missouri: Eastern 7 Western 5 Eastern and Western 2 ; (14) by striking the item relating to Nevada and inserting the following: Nevada 8 ; (15) by striking the item relating to New Jersey and inserting the following: New Jersey 21 ; (16) by striking the item relating to New Mexico and inserting the following: New Mexico 8 ; (17) by striking the items relating to New York and inserting the following: New York: Northern 5 Southern 29 Eastern 17 Western 5 ; (18) by striking the items relating to North Carolina and inserting the following: North Carolina: Eastern 4 Middle 4 Western 5 ; (19) by striking the item relating to Puerto Rico and inserting the following: Puerto Rico 8 ; and (20) by striking the items relating to Texas and inserting the following: Texas: Northern 12 Southern 21 Eastern 10 Western 19 . 4. GAO report on vacant and underutilized courthouses Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall make publicly available a report identifying Federal courthouses that are vacant or underused. 5. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act, including such sums as may be necessary to provide appropriate space and facilities for the judicial positions created by this Act or an amendment made by this Act.

Summary: Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved Act or the JUDGES Act This bill requires the appointment of additional U.S. district court judges, converts certain temporary district court judgeships into permanent judgeships, and requires the Government Accountability Office to report on vacant or underused federal courthouses. Specifically, the bill requires the appointment of 34 district court judges on or after January 21, 2021, in specified judicial districts in Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Texas. Further, 31 district court judges must be appointed on or after January 21, 2025, in specified judicial districts in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and Texas. Additionally, the bill converts certain temporary district court judgeships to permanent judgeships in specified judicial districts in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Texas.