I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 250 
To amend title 28, United States Code, to divide the ninth judicial circuit 
of the United States into 2 circuits, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 4, 2017 
Mr. BIGGS (for himself, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. SCHWEIKERT, Mr. 
GOSAR, and Ms. MCSALLY) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To amend title 28, United States Code, to divide the ninth 
judicial circuit of the United States into 2 circuits, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Judicial Administra-
tion and Improvement Act of 2016’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) 
FORMER
NINTH
CIRCUIT.—The 
term 
‘‘former ninth circuit’’ means the ninth judicial cir-
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cuit of the United States as in existence on the day 
before the effective date of this Act. 
(2) NEW
NINTH
CIRCUIT.—The term ‘‘new 
ninth circuit’’ means the ninth judicial circuit of the 
United States established by the amendment made 
by section 3. 
(3) TWELFTH CIRCUIT.—The term ‘‘twelfth cir-
cuit’’ means the twelfth judicial circuit of the United 
States established by the amendment made by sec-
tion 3. 
SEC. 3. NUMBER AND COMPOSITION OF CIRCUITS. 
Section 41 of title 28, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) in the matter preceding the table, by strik-
ing ‘‘thirteen’’ and inserting ‘‘fourteen’’; and 
(2) in the table— 
(A) by striking the item relating to the 
ninth circuit and inserting the following: 
‘‘Ninth ...........................................
California, Hawaii, Oregon, Wash-
ington, Guam, Northern Mariana 
Islands.’’; 
and 
(B) by inserting after the item relating to 
the eleventh circuit the following: 
‘‘Twelfth ........................................
Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Ne-
vada.’’. 
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SEC. 4. NUMBER OF CIRCUIT JUDGES. 
The table contained in section 44(a) of title 28, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking the item relating to the ninth 
circuit and inserting the following: 
‘‘Ninth ......................................................................................................
21’’; 
and 
(2) by inserting after the item relating to the 
eleventh circuit the following: 
‘‘Twelfth ...................................................................................................
8’’. 
SEC. 5. PLACES OF CIRCUIT COURT. 
The table contained in section 48(a) of title 28, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to the eleventh circuit the following: 
‘‘Twelfth ........................................
Las Vegas, Phoenix, Anchorage, Mis-
soula.’’. 
SEC. 6. ELECTION OF ASSIGNMENT OF CIRCUIT JUDGES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Each circuit judge of the former 
ninth circuit who is in regular active service and whose 
official duty station on the day before the effective date 
of this Act— 
(1) is in California, Oregon, Washington, 
Guam, Hawaii, or the Northern Mariana Islands 
shall be a circuit judge of the new ninth circuit as 
of such effective date; and 
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(2) subject to subsection (b), is in Alaska, Ari-
zona, Idaho, Montana, or Nevada, shall be a circuit 
judge of the twelfth circuit as of such effective date. 
(b) ELECTION BY CERTAIN CIRCUIT JUDGES.—A cir-
cuit judge in regular active service as described in sub-
section (a)(2) may elect to be permanently assigned to the 
new ninth circuit as of such effective date by notifying 
the Director of the Administrative Office of the United 
States Courts of such election. 
(c) VACANCIES.—For each individual serving in the 
position of circuit judge of the former ninth circuit whose 
official duty station on the day before the effective date 
of this Act is in Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, or Ne-
vada, after the date on which such individual ceases to 
serve as a circuit judge, the President shall appoint, by 
and with the advice and consent of the Senate, 1 addi-
tional circuit judge for the twelfth circuit, without regard 
to whether such individual makes an election described in 
subsection (b). 
SEC. 7. ELECTION OF ASSIGNMENT BY SENIOR JUDGES. 
Each judge who is a senior circuit judge of the former 
ninth circuit, whose official duty station on the day before 
the effective date of this Act is in Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, 
Montana, or Nevada, may elect to be assigned to the new 
ninth circuit or the twelfth circuit as of such effective date 
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