Rep. Laurel Lee Applauds the Passage of JUDGES ACT
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Laurel Lee (R-FL) released the following statement after the Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved Act of 2024 (JUDGES Act) passed the House.
"As a former judge, I understand the importance of citizens having access to the courts and receiving a resolution for their cases in a quick and timely matter. Ensuring we have an appropriate number of judges will allow that,” said Rep. Laurel Lee. “The JUDGES Act represents a commitment to supporting the judicial branch and will pave the way for a federal court that can meet the needs of the public. I am happy to see this bill pass the House, and I thank Congressman Darrell Issa for his leadership on this issue.”
District courts nationwide are facing more than 700,000 pending cases due to a shortage of judgeship. The United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, which includes Florida’s 15th District, has more than 10 million people residing there, with the active caseloads per judge 20% above the national average.
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
Read the bill text here.
###