House Passes JUDGES Act for 66 New Judgeships, Faces Biden Veto Threat

Dec 12, 2024, 09:35 PM

The House of Representatives passed the Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved (JUDGES) Act of 2024, which aims to add 66 new federal district court judgeships across the U.S. over the next decade. The legislation, which passed with a vote of 236-173, was initially supported by both parties but has encountered opposition from President Joe Biden, who has threatened to veto the bill. The staggered approach to adding judgeships was intended to prevent any single administration from gaining an advantage, but the timing of the bill's passage, following President-elect Donald Trump's victory, has led to concerns about partisan motivations. The bill would allow Trump to appoint 25 new judges in his upcoming term, prompting criticism from Democrats who argue that the legislation's fairness has been compromised. Despite the Judicial Conference of the United States, the Federal Bar Association, and the Federal Judges Association advocating for the bill due to the increasing caseloads in federal courts, the White House contends that the bill's passage is politically motivated rather than driven by judicial necessity.