Issa Bill to Solve Backlogged Courts Overwhelmingly Passes House

WASHINGTON – Today, Senate-companion legislation authored by Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) to add critically needed federal judgeships to resolve backlogged courts passed the House of Representatives by a bipartisan majority vote of 236-173. 29 Democrats crossed the aisle to support the bill.

“The JUDGES Act represents the diligent work and hard-won agreement of national stakeholders that ultimately earned the support of a unanimous Senate and a strong bipartisan majority in the House. This is the durable solution our nation needs to solve a national judge shortage that is widely acknowledged, causing a backlog in our courts, and only getting worse,” said Rep. Issa. “As I noted during my floor speech, I ask the President to place country above party and establish as law a consensus idea whose time has come.”

Specifically, the JUDGES Act will:

• Create 63 permanent judgeships in six phases from 2025-2035

• Add three temporary district court judgeships in Oklahoma

• Task GAO with evaluating the efficiency of federal courts and assessing detention space needs

• Require the Judicial Conference to publicly release its judicial seat recommendations and methodology

• Authorize additional locations for holding court in Utah, Texas, and California to improve access to courthouses in rural areas

The text of the bill can be found here.