House Approves Bill to Add 66 Federal Judgeships Despite Biden's Veto Threat

The JUDGES Act, passed by Congress, aims to address court backlogs but faces criticism over timing and political motivations.

The House passed the JUDGES Act in a 236-173 vote, following the Senate's unanimous approval in August, marking the first major expansion of the federal judiciary since 1990.
The legislation proposes adding 66 federal district court judgeships over the next decade to alleviate growing case backlogs, particularly in high-volume states like California and Texas.
President Biden has vowed to veto the bill, citing concerns about its timing after President-elect Donald Trump's victory and questioning the motivations behind the legislation.
The bill's staggered timeline would allow Trump to appoint 25 of the new judges, which has led to accusations of political maneuvering, with Democrats withdrawing support after initially backing the measure.
Supporters argue the judiciary urgently needs additional judges to address nearly 750,000 pending cases, while opponents claim the bill's passage was deliberately delayed for partisan advantage.