Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judgeship and Reorganization Act of 2025

Summary

Splits the existing Ninth Circuit into two successor circuits (a reorganized "new Ninth" and a newly established Twelfth), creates additional permanent and temporary circuit judgeships, and reallocates sitting and senior judges between the two circuits based mainly on each judge’s official duty station. It preserves handling of pending appeals and petitions near the effective date, authorizes temporary cross-designations and reciprocal assignments between the Ninth and Twelfth Circuits (including district judges sitting by designation), and permits two contiguous circuits to coordinate or consolidate administrative functions. The bill amends federal statutes that list circuits, judgeships, and places of holding court, authorizes unspecified funding to implement the plan (including court facilities), requires administrative steps for implementation with a two-year administrative window, and ties the Act’s effective date to Senate confirmations of certain judgeships (triggering a fiscal-year start timing). Senior judges must elect which successor circuit to join, and rules on seniority for reassigned or elected judges are addressed.

• Splits the current Ninth Circuit into two circuits (a new Ninth and a Twelfth) and updates statutory circuit tables accordingly.
• Creates additional permanent and temporary circuit judgeships with appointments by the President and Senate confirmation.
• Reassigns active judges based primarily on their duty station the day before the Act’s effective date; excess judges by seniority are reassigned to balance totals.
• Requires senior judges of the former Ninth Circuit to elect which successor circuit to join as of the effective date.
• Preserves handling of pending appeals and rehearing petitions filed or decided around the effective date and directs transfers of unsubmitted matters.
• Authorizes temporary reciprocal cross-designations of judges (including district judges sitting by designation) between the Ninth and Twelfth Circuits.
• Allows two contiguous circuits to jointly perform administrative functions if their judicial councils agree.
• Authorizes unspecified funding to implement the reorganization, including court facilities, but provides no dollar amounts or caps.
• Gives the pre-existing Ninth Circuit a two-year administrative window to take actions needed for implementation.
• Effective date is tied to Senate confirmations: starts the first day of the first fiscal year after a 9-month period beginning when five authorized judges have been confirmed.