East Idaho Times

U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) have expressed approval of the Senate’s unanimous passage of the Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved (JUDGES) Act of 2024. The senators, who co-sponsored and introduced similar legislation, S. 7, aim to establish an additional federal district judgeship in Idaho.

The JUDGES Act of 2024 seeks to address judicial emergencies and shortages nationwide by increasing the number of federal district judges in the most overworked regions, including Idaho. Currently, Idaho is one of only three states, along with North Dakota and Vermont, that has just two authorized judgeships.

“It is past time an additional judgeship was added in Idaho to meet the needs of an ever-growing population and legal caseload,” said Crapo. “A third district judge addresses a deficiency in the legal system that has been looming since the last federal judgeship in Idaho was established 70 years ago.”

“With Idaho’s growing population, our overworked legal system is in desperate need of an additional district judge,” stated Risch. “I am pleased to see the Senate pass commonsense legislation to authorize new judgeships to help administer efficient and effective justice in our state.”

The legislation is also co-sponsored by Senators Todd Young (R-Indiana), Chris Coons (D-Delaware), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Alex Padilla (D-California), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), Jon Ossoff (D-Georgia), Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), Rick Scott (R-Florida) and Laphonza Butler (D-California).

The bipartisan legislation will now proceed to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.