In a move that has raised eyebrows across the political spectrum, President Joe Biden vetoed the JUDGES Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at expanding the federal judiciary by 66 judgeships over the next decade. This decision comes at a critical juncture, with the nation poised to address significant judicial backlogs.
The JUDGES Act proposed:
Incremental Addition of Judgeships: Introducing new judgeships in phases through 2035 to manage increasing caseloads. Broad Bipartisan Support: Passed unanimously in the Senate and with a significant majority in the House. Alleviating Judicial Strain: Addressing a more than 30% increase in federal caseloads since 1990. Despite these provisions, President Biden cited concerns over the bill's expedited passage and unresolved questions regarding the allocation of new judgeships. He stated, "The House of Representatives' hurried action fails to resolve key questions in the legislation, especially regarding how the new judgeships are allocated."