Indy Standard

On June 13, 2024, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) celebrated the passage of their Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved (JUDGES) Act of 2024 by the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. The bipartisan bill, as amended, unanimously passed the committee and now moves to the full Senate for a vote.

The JUDGES Act of 2024 aims to address judicial emergencies and shortages across the country by increasing the number of federal district judges in overworked regions, including the Southern District of Indiana. "Too many Hoosiers and Americans are being denied access to our justice system due to an overload of cases and a shortage of judges. Our bipartisan bill will help alleviate this shortage and ensure all Americans have the opportunity to have their day in court," said Senator Young.

Senator Coons added, "For too long, Congress has failed to add new federal judgeships to keep pace with rising caseloads around the country, and our nation’s federal courts – especially in Delaware, where there are only four active judgeships – have paid the price."

Young first introduced similar legislation in 2020 and reintroduced it in subsequent years. The JUDGES Act of 2024 is based on findings from a nonpartisan report by the Judicial Conference of the United States recommending new judgeships during future presidential elections. The bill includes updates on structure and timing for these positions along with additional transparency requirements.

As of March 31, 2023, there were nearly 687,000 pending cases in federal district courts nationwide. In March 2023, the Judicial Conference recommended creating 66 new district court judgeships to alleviate this burden.

The last comprehensive authorization for new judgeships occurred in 1990 when Congress established additional circuit and district court positions. Since then, targeted legislation between 1999 and 2003 created some additional district court judgeships; however, it has been two decades since any substantial increase was authorized.

In addition to Senators Young and Coons, other cosponsors include Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.).