Washington, D.C. – The House Judiciary Committee today approved by a vote of 16-5 the Court Imbalance Restructure Concerning Updates to Impacted Tribunals (CIRCUIT) Act of 2018, H.R. 6754. This bill, authored by Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet Subcommittee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), modifies the structure of the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
The federal courts of appeal have regularly expanded in number and split in response to new states and territories being added to the Union as well as population growth. There are currently 12 regional circuits in addition to the Federal Circuit. The Ninth Circuit is the largest circuit in caseload, population, and geography.
The CIRCUIT Act would implement the 1998 White Commission’s recommendation to create three regional divisions within the Ninth Circuit in order to improve judicial efficiency.
The divisions would include a Northern Division, comprised of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington,
a Middle Division comprised of the existing Northern and Eastern Districts of California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Northern Marianas,
a Southern Division comprised of Arizona and the existing Central and Southern Districts of California,
and a Circuit Division which would hear certain cases including where two or more Divisions have reached final decisions of law that conflict.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Subcommittee Chairman Issa praised today’s approval of the CIRCUIT Act in the statements below.
Chairman Goodlatte: “For the past several decades, the size of the Ninth Circuit has continued to grow far in excess of other circuits. Twenty percent of the U.S. population now resides in this circuit with nine states and two territories, making it twice the size of any other circuit. The geographic breadth and workload of the Ninth Circuit makes it challenging for parties and their counsel to have timely court dates in their region. “The CIRCUIT Act does not include an outright split of the Ninth Circuit but instead creates regional divisions in an effort to ensure our federal judiciary is functioning in the fairest and most efficient manner for the citizens it serves. I thank Subcommittee Chairman Issa for introducing this legislation and am pleased the Committee has passed it today.”
Subcommittee Chairman Issa: “Currently, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is the largest of the 13 federal appellate courts and, on average, hears about a quarter of the nation’s cases brought before the appellate courts in a given year. For years, many have called for this court to be divided, but there remains widespread disagreement on how those divisions should be made. The CIRCUIT Act is a step toward making this needed change.
By dividing the Ninth Circuit into regional divisions that effectively function as individual appellate courts, we open the door to determining whether a circuit split would be feasible while, at the same time, preserve the current Ninth Circuit as a single appellate court.”
Enjoy
https://judiciary.house.gov/press-release/house-judiciary-committee-approves-legislation-to-improve-efficiency-of-ninth-circuit/
Ha...the proposed three divisions are OVERSEEN by the Fourth or "Circuit Diviusion"....(that can be fully staffed with Trump appointees..../be still my heart)
Washington, D.C. – The House Judiciary Committee today approved by voice vote the Judiciary Reform, Organization and Operational Modernization (ROOM) Act of 2018, H.R. 6755. This bill, authored by Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet Subcommittee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), increases the number of federal district court judges by adopting the 2017 district court judgeship recommendations of the Judicial Conference in their entirety and includes several measures designed to improve the operation of the federal court system.
The U.S. federal court system is composed of one Supreme Court, 13 Courts of Appeals, 94 District Courts, and several other smaller courts. To operate the district court system, Congress has currently authorized 663 federal judgeships plus 10 temporary judgeships. Every other year, the Judicial Conference submits its recommendations to Congress on how many additional judgeships are needed in the various judicial districts based upon caseloads. The ROOM Act includes the current recommendation of the Judicial Conference to add 52 new permanent district court judgeships and to convert 8 of the 10 existing temporary district court judgeships to permanent status.
Additionally, the ROOM Act includes several measures to increase transparency in the federal court system. The legislation addresses the outdated technology associated with the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) service run by the Judicial Branch. The ROOM Act also requires Internet video streaming of appellate arguments for circuit courts, requires same day Internet audio streaming for the Supreme Court, and requires public disclosure of the reasons for a recusal by a Justice of the Supreme Court.
Finally, the ROOM Act requires medical screening for federal judges in an effort to assist federal judges with recognizing potential medical issues.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Subcommittee Chairman Issa applauded today’s approval of the ROOM Act in the statements below.
Chairman Goodlatte: “The ROOM Act makes a number of improvements to ensure our federal courts operate in a fair and efficient manner and to ensure that the American people have access to information regarding court proceedings. Most importantly, the ROOM Act takes long overdue steps to address the ever-increasing workload faced by our federal courts by adding 52 new judgeships. This represents the most significant increase in judgeships in nearly three decades.
“I appreciate Subcommittee Chairman Issa’s hard work on this legislation and am pleased the Committee has passed it today.”
Subcommittee Chairman Issa: “The American judicial system is the bedrock of our democracy. We must ensure that it continues to be the envy of the world in its integrity and fair administration of justice. The reforms included in the Judiciary ROOM Act being marked-up today represent important reforms to court operations. In addition to adding new judges, these measures will bring more transparency to courts and make court documents more accessible.”
Enjoy this gem: "Finally, the ROOM Act requires medical screening for federal judges in an effort to assist federal judges with recognizing potential medical issues.
https://judiciary.house.gov/press-release/house-judiciary-committee-approves-legislation-to-improve-federal-court-system/
“By dividing the Ninth Circuit into regional divisions that effectively function as individual appellate courts, we open the door to determining whether a circuit split would be feasible while, at the same time, preserve the current Ninth Circuit as a single appellate court.”
This is another “half-measure” that would be subject to RAT revision at a future date with a whole lot less “work” than if they would simply make the 9th into three new Appeals Courts. As always, the Senate never really wants to do the heavy lifting necessary to fix what’s wrong with our country. I have a better idea, repeal the 17th Amendment and “fix” what’s wrong with the Senate. The direct election of Senators was not ever a good idea.
The CIRCUIT Act sounds like a good move.
Change back the 9th CIRCUS back to 9th Circuit