Extended Tenure for Some Temporary Federal Judges By Kathleen Hunter, CQ Staff
Legislation that would extend some temporary district court judgeships passed the Senate on Tuesday.
The bill (S 1327), which passed by voice vote, would add at least 10 years to temporary judgeships in Hawaii, Kansas and the northern district of Ohio.
It also would temporarily add, for at least a decade, an additional district judge in Nebraska and one in the eastern district of California.
The Judiciary Committee approved the legislation, sponsored by Chairman Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vt., by voice vote May 24.
During the committee markup, Arizona Republican Jon Kyl considered offering an amendment to add judgeships in additional states where they are needed.
But Leahy persuaded him to hold off, proposing that lawmakers write separate legislation expanding judgeships that would take effect the day after Inauguration Day in 2009.