Packed court: Judiciary presses Congress for major expansion of court system

The federal judiciaryThe policymaking division of the CIA is seeking additional permanent judges. CongressThey cite a lack in comprehensive expansion over the past 30 year.

The Judicial Conference convenes twice a years to address administrative and policy concerns affecting the court system. They approved a request to Congress for 68 permanent judgeships to be added and seven temporary district court positions to be converted into permanent ones. Two appeals court judgeships are also included in the total request.

JUSTICE DELAYED – FEDERAL CASE LOG PROMPTS CALLS FOR EXPANDING THE COURTS

“There’s a need to have additional judgeships … so the weighted average of cases that they’re hearing remains manageable and provides the best access to efficient justice for people all across the country,” During a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Chief Circuit Judge Lavenski R. Smith was the chairman of the conference’s executive committee.

The Judicial Conference released a press release stating that the Judicial Improvements Act was passed in 1990, which marked the end of the last expansion of the judiciary.

It mentions that in 17 of the 30 court systems where the conference recommends additional judgeships, on average, over 500 cases were assigned to each judgeship.

“In eight of these courts, weighted filings exceeded 600 per judgeship, and were greater than 700 per judgeship in three,” The Judicial Conference Press Release Says.

Notably, Tuesday’s request for judgeships was less than the 2021 request, which required 79 permanent judgeships. Congress ultimately refused to fulfill that request.

Smith answered a reporter’s question about why the number has decreased over years. “diminished” Case filings in particular parts of the country

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Evan Walker, who is the owner of a law firm in La Jolla (California), previously spoke to The Washington Examiner Temporary court closures triggered by the COVID-19 epidemic had resulted in an influx of cases filings at lower courts.

However, Report The Judicial Conference reported that the number and type of federal lawsuits has declined for the second straight year in fiscal 2022. It fell 20% because the court system continues its recovery from interruptions due to the pandemic.