Judicial Reorganization Act of 2025

This bill would split the current Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals into two courts: a “new Ninth Circuit” and a new “Twelfth Circuit,” increasing the total number of federal circuits from 13 to 14. It adds two appellate judges for the area that was the former Ninth Circuit and assigns current judges to one of the two new courts based on where they work. Senior judges can choose which of the two new courts they will serve. The law also sets rules for where the courts sit, how to handle ongoing appeals during the change, and gives the courts funds to carry out the transition, including for facilities .

Judges based in California, Guam, or Hawaii would serve on the new Ninth Circuit. Judges based in Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, or Washington would serve on the Twelfth Circuit. Appeals that have already been fully submitted for a decision before the change would finish in the same court; other pending appeals would be transferred to the new court that should handle them. Most of the changes take effect one year after the law is enacted, but the two new judgeships start right away. A two-year transition period allows the old Ninth Circuit’s administration to wrap up its work .

Key points:

• Who is affected: People and cases in the western states and territories that were in the former Ninth Circuit; the judges and court staff in those areas .
• What changes: The former Ninth Circuit is divided into two courts; two appellate judges are added; judges are reassigned or choose their court; case-handling rules guide transfers; funding is authorized for the changeover .
• When: Most changes take effect one year after enactment; the two new judgeships take effect on enactment; a two-year administrative wind-down follows for the old Ninth Circuit’s administration .