The Senate unanimously passed legislation Thursday to create dozens of additional judgeships on federal district courts across the US, in a rare moment of bipartisanship over an issue once mired in political gridlock.
The legislation (S. 4199) would authorize the creation of 63 permanent judgeships on federal trial courts, as well as three temporary judgeships, to alleviate pressure on courts where populations and workloads have outgrown the size of the active bench.
If enacted, it would represent the first time Congress has added judges in over two decades.
The additional court seats would be distributed in six rounds through 2035, ...