Top Biden ally ‘disappointed’ by president’s veto on bill to increase number of US judges

Senator Chris Coons expressed deep disappointment after President Biden vetoed a bill that aimed to increase the number of federal judges currently serving. Coons, a top ally of President Biden and a campaign co-chair for both of Biden’s recent presidential campaigns, worked closely with Republican Senator Todd Young to craft the bill with bipartisanship in mind.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Coons lamented the outcome, stating, “I am disappointed by this outcome, for my own state and for the federal judges throughout the country struggling under the burden of ever-higher caseloads. I’ve worked on this bill for years, and thanks to tireless bipartisan effort with Senator Young, it made it to the president’s desk. It’s highly unfortunate that it will not become law.”

Coons placed the blame on House Republicans for the bill’s failure, accusing them of waiting for election results before moving the bill forward, resulting in the White House vetoing the bill.

Republicans, on the other hand, accused President Biden of vetoing the bill to avoid giving President-elect Trump new roles to fill. Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized the bipartisan support the bill received when it unanimously passed the Senate in August, pointing out that Democrats initially supported the bill, believing Vice President Kamala Harris would win the presidency.

The bill sought to add 66 federal district judicial roles over more than 10 years to prevent an overload of new appointments for any one administration. It passed the Senate with unanimous consent, indicating that no Republicans objected to its advancement.

The back-and-forth between Democrats and Republicans highlights the contentious nature of judicial appointments and the impact of partisan politics on the legislative process. Despite efforts to work across party lines, the bill ultimately fell victim to political maneuvering, leaving federal judges with increased caseloads and a strained judicial system.

Elizabeth Elkind, a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, covers the House of Representatives and provides insights into the dynamics of legislative decision-making. Follow her on Twitter at @liz_elkind for the latest updates and tips on political developments.