JUDGES Act of 2024
Also known as Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved Act of 2024
Where it stands
- Introduced4/19/24
- Passed SenatePassed 8/1/24
- HousePassed 12/12/24
- PresidentVetoed 12/23/24
- Law
Passed the Senate with an amendment by unanimous consent on August 1, 2024. Passed the House 236–173 on December 12, 2024 (Roll Call 501 →). Vetoed by the President on December 23, 2024.
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Roll calls on this bill
- Democratic29 Yea · 171 Nay · 11 Not voting
- Republican207 Yea · 2 Nay · 11 Not voting
- Independent / Other0 Yea · 0 Nay · 0 Not voting
Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved Act of 2024 or the JUDGES Act of 2024
This bill creates 63 new permanent U.S. district court judgeships over a 10-year period and 3 temporary U.S. district court judgeships in 2025. The President must appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, additional judges for specified judicial districts.
Specifically, the bill creates 63 additional permanent judgeships, which are added every two years from 2025 through 2035. The state and the total number of judgeships added over the 10-year period for the state are as follows:
Arizona (2),
California (21),
Colorado (2),
Delaware (2),
Florida (9),
Georgia (2),
Idaho (1),
Indiana (1),
Iowa (1),
Nebraska (1),
New Jersey (3),
New York (5), and
Texas (13).
Additionally, in 2025, the bill creates three temporary judgeships in Oklahoma.
The bill adds locations for where district courts must be held in certain states. Specifically, the bill requires the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California to be additionally held in El Centro, California; the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas (Houston Division) to be additionally held in College Station, Texas; and the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah (Central Division) to be additionally held in Moab and Monticello, Utah.
The Government Accountability Office must submit reports to Congress on judicial caseloads and detention space.
The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts must make publicly accessible, and submit to Congress, a specified biennial report on judgeship recommendations.
What happens next
Overriding the veto takes a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate.
If it isn't enacted by Jan 3, 2025, it expires when the 118th Congress ends.
All actions (22)
- 4/19/24Introduced in Senate
- 4/19/24Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 6/13/24Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 6/18/24Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Coons for Senator Durbin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- 6/18/24Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 430.
- 8/1/24Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5750-5753; text: CR S5750-5752)
- 8/1/24Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5750-5753; text: CR S5750-5752)
- 8/2/24Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 8/6/24Received in the House.
- 8/6/24Held at the desk.
- 12/10/24Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1612 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 7673 and S. 4199. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 7673 and S. 4199 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate on each bill and one motion to recommit on H.R. 7673 and one motion to commit on S. 4199. The resolution also provides for consideration of the Senate amendment to H.R. 5009 with one hour of general debate.
- 12/10/24Rule H. Res. 1612 passed House.
- 12/12/24Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1612. (consideration: CR H7116-7124)
- 12/12/24Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 7673 and S. 4199. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 7673 and S. 4199 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate on each bill and one motion to recommit on H.R. 7673 and one motion to commit on S. 4199. The resolution also provides for consideration of the Senate amendment to H.R. 5009 with one hour of general debate.
- 12/12/24DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on S. 4199.
- 12/12/24The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
- 12/12/24Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 236 - 173 (Roll no. 501). (text: CR H7116-7119)
- 12/12/24On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 236 - 173 (Roll no. 501). (text: CR H7116-7119)
- 12/12/24Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 12/20/24Presented to President.
- 12/23/24Vetoed by President.
- 1/3/25Veto message received in Senate. Ordered held at the desk.