H.R. 1929

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1929 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1929

To authorize additional district judges for the district courts and 
convert temporary judgeships.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 6, 2025

Mr. Johnson of Georgia (for himself, Mr. Raskin, and Mr. Nadler) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

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 2025'' or the ``JUDGES Act of 2025''.

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) 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 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, 2029.
(2) 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) 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, 2031.
(3) 2033.--
(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 
northern district of Oklahoma;
(ix) 1 additional district judge for the 
eastern district of Texas;
(x) 1 additional district judge for the 
southern district of Texas; and
(xi) 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'';

(vi) by striking the items relating to 
Oklahoma and inserting the following:

``Oklahoma:
Northern............................. 4
Eastern.............................. 1
Western.............................. 6
Northern, Eastern, and Western....... 1''; and

(vii) 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, 2033.
(4) 2035.--
(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, 2035.
(5) 2037.--
(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 
eastern district of Oklahoma;
(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 (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'';

(vi) by striking the items relating to 
Oklahoma and inserting the following:

``Oklahoma:
Northern............................. 4
Eastern.............................. 2
Western.............................. 6
Northern, Eastern, and Western....... 1''; and

(vii) 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, 2037.
(6) 2039.--
(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; and
(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, 2039.
(b) Temporary Judgeships.--
(1) In general.--The President shall appoint, by and with 
the advice and consent of the Senate, 1 additional district 
judge for the eastern 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 5 years or more after 
the confirmation date of the judge named to fill the temporary 
district judgeship created in the applicable district by this 
subsection, shall not be filled.
(3) Effective date.--This subsection shall take effect on 
January 21, 2029.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
carry out this section and the amendments made by this 
section--
(A) for each of fiscal years 2029 and 2030, 
$12,965,330;
(B) for each of fiscal years 2031 and 2032, 
$23,152,375;
(C) for each of fiscal years 2033 and 2034, 
$32,413,325;
(D) for each of fiscal years 2035 and 2036, 
$42,600,370;
(E) for each of fiscal years 2037 and 2038, 
$51,861,320; and
(F) for fiscal year 2039 and each fiscal year 
thereafter, $61,122,270.
(2) Inflation adjustment.--For each fiscal year described 
in paragraph (1), the amount authorized to be appropriated for 
such fiscal year shall be increased by the percentage by 
which--
(A) the Consumer Price Index for the previous 
fiscal year, exceeds
(B) the Consumer Price Index for the fiscal year 
preceding the fiscal year described in subparagraph 
(A).
(3) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``Consumer 
Price Index'' means the Consumer Price Index for All Urban 
Consumers (all items, United States city average), published by 
the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor.

SEC. 4. ORGANIZATION OF TEXAS DISTRICT COURTS.

Section 124(b)(2) of title 28, United States Code, is amended, in 
the matter preceding paragraph (3), by inserting ``and College 
Station'' before the period at the end.

SEC. 5. ORGANIZATION OF CALIFORNIA DISTRICT COURTS.

Section 84(d) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting ``and El Centro'' after ``at San Diego''.

SEC. 6. GAO REPORTS.

(a) Judicial Caseloads.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the 
Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and make 
publicly available reports--
(1) evaluating--
(A) the accuracy and objectiveness of case-related 
workload measures and methodologies used by the 
Administrative Office of the United States Courts for 
district courts of the United States and courts of 
appeals of the United States;
(B) the impact of non-case-related activities of 
judges of the district courts of the United States and 
courts of appeals of the United States on judicial 
caseloads; and
(C) the effectiveness and efficiency of the 
policies of the Administrative Office of the United 
States Courts regarding senior judges; and
(2) providing any recommendations of the Comptroller 
General with respect to the matters described in paragraph (1).
(b) Detention Space.--The Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the 
Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives a report on 
an assessment of--
(1) a determination of the needs of Federal agencies for 
detention space;
(2) efforts by Federal agencies to acquire detention space; 
and
(3) any challenges in determining and acquiring detention 
space.

SEC. 7. PUBLIC ACCESSIBILITY OF THE ARTICLE III JUDGESHIP 
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE JUDICIAL CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED 
STATES REPORT.

(a) In General.--The Administrative Office of the United States 
Courts, in consultation with the Judicial Conference of the United 
States, shall make publicly available on their website, free of charge, 
the biennial report entitled ``Article III Judgeship Recommendations of 
the Judicial Conference of the United States''.
(b) Contents.--The report described in subsection (a) should be 
released not less frequently than biennially and contain the summaries 
and all related appendixes supporting the judgeship recommendations of 
the Judicial Conference of the United States, including--
(1) the process used by the Judicial Conference in 
developing the recommendations;
(2) any caseload and methodology changes;
(3) judgeship surveys with recommendations; and
(4) specific information about each court for which the 
Judicial Conference recommends additional judgeships.
(c) Submission to Congress.--The Administrative Office of the 
United States Courts shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of 
the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
Representatives copies of the report described in subsection (a).
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