WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-22) voted in support of S. 4199, the Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved Act of 2024 (JUDGES Act). The JUDGES Act is the Senate passed version of a bill introduced by Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) and co-sponsored by Congressman Valadao earlier this year. The legislation addresses the current backlog and understaffing of courts by creating 63 new permanent court judgeships throughout the country over the next decade. This includes four judgeships in the Eastern District Court of California, which serves the Central Valley. The JUDGES Act now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

“For years I’ve seen the significant strain and burden put on our legal system due to the longstanding shortage of judges in California’s Eastern District Court,” said Congressman Valadao. “The JUDGES Act would add four judgeships to the Central Valley region, helping to ease the unstainable workload currently overwhelming our justice system. I have no doubt this bill will bring much-needed relief to countless residents in our community who have been trapped in the legal system for far too long due to delays. I’m proud that my colleagues in the House of Representatives and Senate came together to pass this crucial, bipartisan effort.”

Background:

California’s Eastern District Court, which encompasses the entire Central Valley, would receive an additional four judgeships if the JUDGES Act became law. As of June 30, 2024, America’s federal district courts currently have 724,209 pending cases, 554 weighted filings per judgeship. Congress last authorized new district court judgeships more than two decades ago, despite the increase in our country’s population and a corresponding rise in federal case filings. In 2023, the Judicial Conference of the United States, a nonpartisan policy-making body for federal courts headed by Chief Justice John Roberts, recommended that Congress create 66 new district court judgeships. The JUDGES Act of 2024 seeks to implement these recommendations during multiple future presidential administrations while adding new transparency and best practice requirements.

The JUDGES Act will: 

• Create 63 permanent judgeships in six phases from 2025-2035
• Add three temporary district court judgeships in Oklahoma
• Task GAO with evaluating the efficiency of federal courts and assessing detention space needs
• Require the Judicial Conference to publicly release its judicial seat recommendations and methodology
• Authorize additional federal case locations in Utah, Texas, and California to improve access for larger districts

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