President Joe Biden and key Democrats have recently voiced their opposition to a bipartisan bill aimed at creating 63 new permanent judgeships. This shift in stance comes as President-elect Donald Trump would have the opportunity to fill 22 of these new positions. The bill, which had previously passed unanimously in the Senate and was set for a House vote, aimed to address the severe backlog of cases in the most overburdened federal courthouses across the country.
Judges from various ideological backgrounds have raised concerns about the staffing shortages leading to delays in the judicial system. The current political climate surrounding the judiciary has become highly polarized, with Democrats viewing any measures that could further Trump's influence on the courts as unfavorable.
House Democrats, who had initially supported the bill, are now citing the failure of House GOP leadership to bring the bill to a vote before the election as a reason for their change in position. New York Rep. Jerry Nadler emphasized the need for the bill to be passed before Election Day to ensure fairness for future administrations.
On the other hand, House Republicans have stated their willingness to consider the bill regardless of the election outcome. They explained that the bill was not voted on before the election due to other legislative priorities and necessary preparations.
Judges have highlighted the urgent need for additional staffing in the judiciary to uphold litigants' right to timely justice. The bill, known as the 'Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved Act' or JUDGES Act, was based on recommendations from the Judicial Conference, the judiciary's policymaking body, to determine which courthouses require additional judges.
