Sponsor
Sean Casten
Representative · D-IL
Representative · D-IL
The bill trades greater national uniformity and legislative stability by centralizing and formalizing appellate review in the D.C. Circuit for concentrated judicial power, reduced Supreme Court primacy, possible delays and higher litigation costs, and risks to prompt access to relief for some parties.
State and local governments, and taxpayers will face fewer conflicting nationwide injunctions and greater legal predictability because many federal constitutional and statutory challenges will be funneled into a single D.C. Circuit appellate forum.
Taxpayers and the public will see greater legislative stability because a 70% supermajority on the multi-circuit panel is required to invalidate an Act of Congress, making constitutional nullification less likely.
Parties and the public (including nonprofits) will get clearer reasoning for major appellate reversals because courts must provide written explanations, increasing transparency of important decisions.
Taxpayers and all litigants will see the Supreme Court's final-review role diminished as many appeals are shifted to the D.C. Circuit, altering the long‑standing judicial hierarchy and concentrating final authority below the Supreme Court.
State and local governments, nonprofits, and taxpayers could face slower case resolution and higher litigation costs because centralizing final appeals and injunctions in the D.C. Circuit will increase its workload and may delay relief.
Individuals, state and local governments may lose ready access to prompt relief when federal actions are challenged because limiting district courts' ability to issue nationwide injunctions can leave some parties without an accessible forum for immediate protection.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Concentrates many federal appellate reviews in the D.C. Circuit, creates a 13-judge rotating panel with a 70% supermajority to invalidate statutes, and mandates transfer of injunctions restraining federal enforcement.
Official title: To reform the Supreme Court of the United States, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 25, 2025 by Sean Casten · Last progress June 25, 2025
Reassigns appellate review of many federal cases to the D.C. Circuit and creates a new multi-circuit D.C. Circuit panel with special assignment rules and a 70% supermajority requirement to invalidate Acts of Congress. Requires certain injunction-seeking cases that would restrain enforcement of federal laws, regulations, or orders to be transferred to the D.C. Circuit on timely motion and introduces procedural changes to appellate publication of written explanations for reversals. The bill changes several provisions of Title 28 U.S.C.: it redirects direct appeals and certiorari review to the D.C. Circuit, adds a 13-judge rotating multi-circuit D.C. Circuit panel serving one-year terms, imposes a 70% supermajority for panel decisions that invalidate statutes, and requires transfer and possible consolidation of injunction cases that restrain federal enforcement. Some provisions take effect on enactment; most new appellate assignments begin the first Monday in October following enactment.