Press Releases

Rep. Celeste Maloy (UT-02) and colleagues introduced the Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved Act of 2024 (JUDGES Act), which included Rep. Maloy’s bill – HR 8666 – to authorize additional federal case locations in Utah. 

“Utahns raised concerns with me about the distance they have to travel to get to court or participate on a jury. That’s why I worked to ensure the Judges Act includes a provision allowing court to be held in Moab and Monticello, Utah. This is representative government in action,” said Rep. Maloy.

The Judicial Conference of the United States wrote in support of HR 8666 here.

The Judges Act will also add critically needed federal judgeships to resolve currently understaffed and backlogged courts.

“A severe shortage of judges eventually delivers an array of complications to our courts – and over time, the problem only grows worse until justice is routinely delayed and therefore denied,” said Rep. Issa, Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. “The JUDGES Act will deliver immediate relief, a longer-term solution, and a sustainable plan that will prevent this crisis from happening again.”

“To ensure the orderly administration of justice, Congress must pass the bipartisan JUDGES Act,” said Congressman Nehls. “Our federal district courts are experiencing severe judicial shortages, causing many Americans, including Texans, to be denied access to our nation’s justice system due to an increase in population and a rise in federal case filings. This is unacceptable. As of March 2023, the Texas federal district court system has a backlog of 14,501 civil cases and 16,436 criminal cases. The bipartisan JUDGES Act would authorize additional federal courtroom locations and judgeships in several states across the country, including Texas, to address this inefficiency.”

This legislation is co-led by Representatives Nehls, Nadler, and Johnson. Additional original cosponsors include Representatives Lee, Bacon, Van Drew, Valadao, Maloy, Hinson, Kim, LaLota, Owens, and Weber.

The JUDGES Act will:

• Authorize additional federal case locations in Utah, Texas, and California.
• 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

The Senate companion of the JUDGES Act (S. 4199), introduced by Senators Young and Coons, passed the Senate on August 1, 2024. Read the text of the bill here.