House Passes JUDGES Act 236-173 to Add 66 Judgeships Despite Biden Veto Threat After Trump’s Re-election

Dec 12, 2024, 07:15 PM

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan JUDGES Act on Thursday, which aims to create 66 new federal district court judgeships over the next decade in high-volume jurisdictions like California and Texas. The legislation had previously passed the Senate with unanimous support and was initially backed by both parties. However, following Donald Trump's re-election, many Democrats withdrew their support, citing concerns over the potential for the new judgeships to expand presidential power under a Trump administration. The bill passed the House with a 236-173 vote, including support from 29 Democrats. Despite bipartisan backing and support from the federal judiciary, President Joe Biden has vowed to veto the bill, arguing it is unnecessary for the effective administration of justice. House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized the need for the legislation, citing nearly 750,000 pending cases in federal courts. The bill would be the first major expansion of federal judgeships since 1990. If vetoed, it is unlikely that Congress will secure the two-thirds majority needed to override the veto. Were it to become law, Trump would gain 11 judgeship slots in 2025 and another 11 in 2027. During his first term, Trump successfully confirmed 234 federal judges, while Biden has confirmed 233 judges as of this week.