Judiciary Reform Stalls as Federal Courts Face Mounting Caseload Crisis

The bipartisan JUDGES Act, aimed at easing overloaded federal courts, faces uncertainty after House delays and a White House veto threat.

Federal district courts are overwhelmed, with judges managing over 900 cases each on average, causing significant delays and errors in the legal process.
The JUDGES Act, passed by the Senate in August and the House on December 12, proposes adding 66 federal judgeships over the next three administrations to address caseload imbalances.
The Judicial Conference of the United States identified the most overburdened districts for these new appointments based on non-political criteria.
President Biden's December 10 veto threat and partisan gridlock have raised doubts about the bill's future despite its bipartisan support in Congress.
Experts warn that continued delays in judiciary reform erode public trust in the legal system and highlight the need for long-term bipartisan solutions, such as a proposed 2032 Commission.