Biden delivers on threat to veto bill to expand US judiciary

24/12/2024 18:28

U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday

vetoed legislation to add 66 new judges to understaffed federal

courts nationally, a once widely bipartisan measure that would

have been the first major expansion of the federal judiciary

since 1990.



The JUDGES Act, initially supported by many members of both

parties, would have increased the number of trial court judges

in 25 federal district courts in 13 states including California,

Florida and Texas, in six waves every two years through 2035.



Hundreds of judges appointed by presidents of both parties

took the rare step of publicly advocating for the bill, saying

federal caseloads have increased by more than 30% since Congress

last passed legislation to comprehensively expand the judiciary.



But the outgoing Democratic president made good on a veto

threat issued two days before the bill passed the Republican-led

House of Representatives on Dec. 12.