Biden will veto bill that would give Trump more federal judges to appoint
President Biden and key Democrats are now opposing a once bipartisan bill that would have authorized 63 new permanent district judgeships, now that President-elect Trump would be the one to fill 21 of those slots once he takes office. The bill, known as the “Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved Act” or the “JUDGES Act of 2024,” was passed by the Senate in August, aiming to stagger the appointment of these new judges over the next 10 years.
The bill outlines a plan for the president to appoint 11 permanent judgeships in 2025, another 11 in 2027, 10 in 2029, 11 in 2031, 10 in 2033, and 10 more in 2035. The goal of the bill was to address the heavy caseloads burdening the courts and ensure the efficient administration of justice. However, Democrats are now criticizing the bill for not coming to a vote in the House before the election, when the control of the presidency was still undecided.
The White House released a statement indicating that President Biden would veto the bill if it reaches his desk. The statement cited concerns that the bill would create new judgeships in states where existing vacancies were being held open by Senators, suggesting that the true motivation behind the bill was not judicial efficiency but rather political maneuvering. Additionally, the statement pointed out that the House and Senate had not fully explored the impact of senior status judges and magistrate judges on the need for new judgeships.
During a House Rules Committee hearing, Republican lawmakers argued that there was a significant need for more judgeships in many districts, regardless of their political affiliation, to address the backlog of cases. However, Democrats raised concerns about the politicization of the appointment process, particularly in light of President Trump’s previous appointments to the judiciary.
The bill text highlighted the growing backlog of cases in district courts across the country, emphasizing the need for additional judgeships to ensure timely trials and thorough consideration of cases. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell praised the bipartisan support for the bill and criticized the White House’s opposition, suggesting that a veto would be driven by partisan motives rather than a commitment to improving the judiciary.
It remains to be seen how the House will proceed with the JUDGES Act and whether President Biden will follow through on his threat to veto the bill. The debate over judicial appointments underscores the ongoing challenges of balancing judicial efficiency with political considerations in the appointment process.
