In a recent step to address the growing strain on the federal court system, the U.S. Senate has passed the Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved (JUDGES) Act of 2024.
Federal courts nationwide are experiencing significant strain due to a lack of judges. As of March 31, 2023, there were 686,797 unresolved cases in federal district courts, an average of 491 cases per judge over a 12-month period, according to a statement from the office of Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX). Federal court filings increased by 30% from 2022 to 2023, as The Texan reported.
To address this issue, the Judicial Conference of the United States, a nonpartisan organization responsible for setting policies for the federal judiciary, proposed in March 2023 that Congress create 66 new district court judgeships.
Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) introduced just such a bill in March 2024. The bipartisan legislation sailed through the Senate without opposition, passing on August 1. The bill now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.
If passed by both houses, the Judges Act of 2024 would add 66 judgeships nationwide, with Texas gaining a total of 13 judgeships across all four of its districts over the next 12 years. In addition, it would allow federal judges to hear cases in College Station, Texas.
No new federal judicial positions have been created since 2003, The Texan reported.
The bill’s proponents argue that expanding the judiciary is crucial to managing this burgeoning caseload and improving the efficiency of the federal courts. Cruz, a key supporter of the legislation and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, praised the bill’s passage.
“Congress has failed in its responsibility to authorize sufficient judgeships and resources for the judicial branch, particularly in America’s fastest-growing communities like Texas. As a result, federal judges in Texas have been disproportionately burdened with crushing caseloads and excessive backlogs, hindering the efficiency and effectiveness of our judicial system,” Cruz said.
In addition to the JUDGES Act, another piece of legislation aimed at improving access to federal courts in Texas has also gained momentum.
U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) announced last month the passage of the Improving Access to Our Courts Act, which will allow federal judges to hear cases in Alpine, Texas. This measure will provide residents in the Big Bend region with more accessible judicial services, eliminating the need to travel to Pecos for federal court matters.
“In the coming days, this bill will be signed into law. I am proud to help deliver this win for the Big Bend area and will keep fighting to ensure our district has the resources it needs,” Gonzales said.
Senators Cruz and John Cornyn (R-Texas) led the companion version of the bill in the Senate, which President Biden signed into law on July 30.