JUDGES Act of 2025

This bill adds many new federal district judges to help courts handle growing caseloads. Court filings have climbed about 30% since the last major update, and more than 686,000 cases were pending as of spring 2023. New judges would be placed across many states, including California, Texas, Florida, Arizona, New Jersey, and New York, and rolled out in steps from 2029 through 2039.

It also makes several support changes. One temporary judgeship is created in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, with a rule that the first vacancy five or more years after the judge is confirmed will not be refilled. The bill updates how Texas and California district courts are organized. It directs the Government Accountability Office to review how courts measure workload and to assess federal detention space needs, and it requires the judiciary to post the Judicial Conference’s judgeship recommendations online for the public to see. Funding is authorized starting in 2029, rising over time and adjusted for inflation.

• Who is affected: federal district courts in many states; the judiciary; federal agencies that need detention space; the public, who will have online access to judgeship recommendations.
• What changes: more judgeships; one temporary judgeship; updates to court organization in Texas and California; GAO studies on caseloads and detention space; public release of judgeship recommendation reports.
• When: judgeships are phased in from 2029 through 2039; the temporary judgeship provision takes effect in 2029; GAO must report within two years of enactment; the public report is to be released at least every two years.