I am proud to announce the passage of the Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved (JUDGES) Act of 2024, a critical piece of legislation I co-sponsored to address the shortage of federal judges. This historic measure will bring much-needed relief to overburdened courts, including the addition of four new judgeships in the Southern District of Texas over the next 12 years, beginning on January 21, 2025.
For too long, Texans—and Americans across the country—have faced significant delays in accessing justice due to overloaded courts and a shortage of judges. Shockingly, Congress has not authorized new judgeships in over two decades, and comprehensive judgeship legislation hasn’t been enacted since 1990. During this time, the U.S. population has grown by nearly 100 million people, leading to a 40% increase in federal case filings.
This crisis has overwhelmed our existing judges with crushing caseloads, delaying justice and denying many Americans their day in court. The JUDGES Act addresses this pressing issue by creating 66 new federal judgeships in districts most affected by these delays, ensuring our justice system operates efficiently and effectively for all Americans.
House Republicans are delivering solutions to make the justice system more accessible, fair, and capable of serving the people. As your representative, I am honored to champion this legislation to ensure Texans and all Americans can access timely justice without overburdening our courts.
Together, we are building a more efficient and just system that upholds the rights of every citizen.
