JUDGES Act

The JUDGES Act authorizes 66 new permanent federal district court judgeships across 16 states, primarily in high-filing districts like California, Texas, Florida, and New York, to address case backlogs. It schedules appointments for 2025 and 2029, including 2 temporary judgeships in Oklahoma (with vacancies not filled after 5 years) and converts existing temporary judgeships in Missouri, Arizona, and other districts to permanent status. The bill also requires a GAO report identifying underused federal courthouses within one year. These changes directly affect the judicial capacity of specific districts, aiming to reduce pending case loads by increasing judicial staffing.