WASHINGTON — In a bid to address judicial understaffing challenges that have intensified with its growing population, Idaho is on track to potentially secure a third federal district judge. U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, is spearheading legislative efforts through a newly proposed bill. This comes at a critical time for the state, which has previously held the status of having fewer federal judges compared to others across the nation.
The new legislation, known as the Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved Act of 2024, or the JUDGES Act, aims to add a significant number of federal judgeships nationwide. Simpson’s office underscored the importance of this bill in alleviating backlogs and enhancing judicial service provisions in understaffed courts. Under the proposed act, 63 permanent judgeships would be established across the country in six phases over ten years starting in 2025.
This legislative push reflects not only a local but also a national response to the increasing pressures faced by the judicial system as populations and case numbers grow. Since the approval of Idaho’s second federal district judgeship in 1954, the state’s population has surged from around 600,000 to over 1.8 million, according to the most recent census data. Simpson highlighted that the growth in population has correlated with a rise in court cases, necessitating additional judicial resources to ensure timely and reasonable handling of cases.
The urgency for this judicial expansion in Idaho reflects broader trends in many fast-growing regions of the United States where judicial resources have not kept pace with increases in legal demands. A third judge in Idaho would aim to reduce case backlogs significantly, thereby enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the judicial system.
Previously, Simpson has been an advocate for increasing Idaho’s federal judicial representation and sponsored several bills aimed at this goal. His efforts included legislation introduced earlier this year with U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher, R-Idaho, which sought to add not only an Idaho federal district judge but also two additional judges in Colorado.
In related judicial reform efforts, Simpson also sponsored a bill in 2023 focused on restructuring the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. This court, noted for its vast geographic and demographic span, includes states along the U.S. West Coast, Alaska, Hawaii, and several others, covering a significant portion of federal judicial activity in the country.
The Senate’s passage of the JUDGES Act in August marked a pivotal advancement for the bill, setting the stage for ongoing legislative discussions and potential enactment.
As the JUDGES Act moves through the legislative process, its implications reach beyond immediate judicial appointments. It addresses long-term structural challenges facing the U.S. judiciary, ensuring that as communities grow, their judicial systems grow correspondingly to meet new challenges and maintain justice promptly and effectively.