Bill · S. 3020· Senate(119-S-3020)
Judicial Efficiency Improvement Act
- Introduced
- 10/21/2025
- Last activity
- 10/21/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- Dan Sullivan
- Cosponsors
- - 5 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is titled the Judicial Efficiency Improvement Act. It splits the current Ninth Judicial Circuit into two separate circuits, creating a new Ninth Circuit and a Twelfth Circuit. The bill adds new circuit judges and sets their official locations and court places. It also establishes dozens of new permanent and temporary district court judgeships across various districts from 2025 through 2035. Finally, the legislation authorizes specific funding and provides rules for handling pending court cases and transferring administrative duties during the transition.
Yes· 3 of 5
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?+3
Adding judges and splitting the Ninth Circuit helps reduce court backlogs and ensures more timely legal proceedings.
Is this likely to create jobs?+2
The bill creates new circuit and district judgeships and associated administrative positions.
Does this give the federal government more power?+1
The bill expands the federal judiciary by creating a new circuit and adding numerous district judgeships.
The opposite
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?-2
The legislation authorizes substantial new government appropriations for additional courts and judgeships.
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-2
The bill increases government expenditures by funding new judicial positions and facilities.
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?-1
Authorizing significant long-term appropriations adds to federal budgetary commitments.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Section 4 (New Judgeships) and Section 5 (Number of Circuit Judges): These sections provide additional circuit judges for the new ninth circuit and set specific numbers of circuit judges for both the ninth and twelfth circuits. This could benefit individuals by helping courts process appeals and legal cases more efficiently.
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Section 14 (Additional District Judges for the District Courts): This section authorizes the appointment of numerous additional permanent district judges across various states and districts from 2025 through 2035, as well as temporary district judges for Oklahoma in subsection (b). This might be considered positive because more judges can reduce backlogs in district courts, allowing everyday people to have their legal matters heard sooner.
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Section 12 and Section 13 (Temporary Assignment of Judges): These sections allow the chief judges of the Ninth and Twelfth Circuits, as well as district courts, to temporarily assign judges between circuits in the public interest. This could benefit the public by ensuring that courts with heavy workloads receive judicial help where it is needed most.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 14(c) (Authorization of Appropriations): This section authorizes substantial government appropriations, increasing every two years from fiscal years 2025 through 2035, with automatic increases tied to the Consumer Price Index. This could be viewed as a negative burden on taxpayers because it requires significant public spending to fund the new judgeships and courts.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Due Process+3Increases Federal Power+1
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+2Reduces Government Spending-2Reduces National Debt-2Improves Fiscal Responsibility-1
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Rural Residents+1Good For Urban Residents+1
- 10/21/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
Mike CrapoRepublican · Idaho
Steve DainesRepublican · Montana
Lisa MurkowskiRepublican · Alaska
James RischRepublican · Idaho
Tim SheehyRepublican · Montana