I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1856 
To authorize additional district judges for the district court for the eastern 
district of California. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 5, 2025 
Mr. COSTA (for himself and Mr. OBERNOLTE) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To authorize additional district judges for the district court 
for the eastern district of California. 
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 ‘‘Creating Additional 
Seats to Ease Legally Overburdened Adjudicators’ Dock-
ets Act of 2025’’ or the ‘‘CASE LOAD Act of 2025’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The Federal district court for the eastern 
district of California is the Federal trial court for 34 
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counties, including five of the fastest-growing cities 
in the State of California, serving a population of 
approximately 8,400,000. 
(2) The Federal district court for the eastern 
district of California is one of the largest judicial 
districts 
in 
the 
country, 
with 
approximately 
8,400,000 residents and over 87,000 square miles of 
land. Yet, there are only six permanent judgeships, 
with one upcoming vacancy pending a nomination 
elevating a sitting district judge. 
(3) Based on the 2019 U.S. census data, the 
ratio of authorized district judgeships to population 
was 1:1,362,552. The central district of California 
has the next highest ratio in the State, nearly half 
the size, with 1:694,323. 
(4) As of June 2022, the total pending cases 
per judgeship in the Federal district court for the 
eastern district of California was 1,308, over 2.6 
times larger than the average for all districts within 
the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth 
Circuit. Pending caseloads remain high, and if a new 
vacancy opens upon the elevation of the district 
judge, 
caseloads 
will 
once 
again 
reach 
this 
unsustainable level. 
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SEC. 3. ADDITIONAL DISTRICT JUDGES FOR THE EASTERN 
DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA. 
(a) 2027.— 
(1) ADDITIONAL
JUDGESHIPS.—On or after 
January 21, 2027, the President shall appoint, by 
and with the advice and consent of the Senate, 2 ad-
ditional district judges for the eastern district of 
California. 
(2) CLERICAL
AMENDMENT.—The table con-
tained in section 133(a) of title 28, United States 
Code, is amended by striking the items relating to 
California and inserting the following: 
‘‘California: 
Northern .................................................................
Eastern ...................................................................
Central ....................................................................
Southern .................................................................
13’’. 
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made 
by paragraph (2) shall take effect on January 20, 
2027. 
(b) 2029.— 
(1) ADDITIONAL
JUDGESHIPS.—On or after 
January 5, 2029, the President shall appoint, by 
and with the advice and consent of the Senate, 1 ad-
ditional district judge for the eastern district of Cali-
fornia. 
(2) CLERICAL
AMENDMENT.—The table con-
tained in section 133(a) of title 28, United States 
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Code, is amended by striking the items relating to 
California and inserting the following: 
‘‘California: 
Northern .................................................................
Eastern ...................................................................
Central ....................................................................
Southern .................................................................
13’’. 
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made 
by paragraph (2) shall take effect on January 4, 
2029. 
(c) 2031.— 
(1) ADDITIONAL
JUDGESHIPS.—On or after 
January 21, 2031, the President shall appoint, by 
and with the advice and consent of the Senate, 2 ad-
ditional district judges for the eastern district of 
California. 
(2) CLERICAL
AMENDMENT.—The table con-
tained in section 133(a) of title 28, United States 
Code, is amended by striking the items relating to 
California and inserting the following: 
‘‘California: 
Northern .................................................................
Eastern ...................................................................
Central ....................................................................
Southern .................................................................
13’’. 
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made 
by paragraph (2) shall take effect on January 20, 
2031. 
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SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as may be necessary to carry out this Act and the amend-
ments 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. 
Æ 
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