America’s federal courts face a crushing backlog as the Judicial Conference urges Congress to create 71 new judgeships amid a 30% surge in caseloads since 1990 with virtually no increase in judicial manpower.
Key Takeaways
- The Judicial Conference has called for 69 new district court judgeships and 2 appellate court positions to address overwhelming caseloads in federal courts.
- District court filings have increased by 30% since 1990, while the number of authorized judgeships has only grown by 4% since 1991.
- The number of civil cases pending for more than three years has skyrocketed by an alarming 346% over the past two decades.
- In fiscal year 2024, weighted filings exceeded 500 per judgeship in 20 of the 25 district courts recommended for additional judges – far above the 430 threshold typically required.
- A bipartisan bill to address judgeship needs was passed by Congress in 2024 but was vetoed by Biden amid concerns about seat distribution and confirmation politics.
Critical Shortage Threatens Justice System
The Judicial Conference of the United States has issued an urgent proposal to Congress calling for the creation of 71 new judgeships across federal courts. This request comes as the federal judiciary struggles with an overwhelming caseload that threatens to undermine the efficient administration of justice. The recommendation includes 69 new positions for district courts and 2 for appellate courts, reflecting the dire need for additional judges to manage a workload that has grown exponentially over the past three decades. Despite district court filings increasing by 30% since 1990, the number of authorized judgeships has grown by a mere 4% since 1991.
The consequences of this judicial shortage are far-reaching and severe. Court delays have skyrocketed, with the number of civil cases pending for more than three years increasing by an alarming 346% over the past two decades. These delays not only strain the court system but also impose substantial costs on litigants and create serious access to justice concerns for Americans seeking their day in court. With judges overworked and courtrooms backed up, the fundamental right to timely justice is increasingly under threat for ordinary citizens.
Today, the Judicial Conference of the United States approved a recommendation to Congress for the creation of 71 new judgeships to meet high workload demands in courts across the country. https://t.co/JqM7vDP7QE
— United States Courts (@uscourts) March 11, 2025
Data-Driven Analysis Reveals Critical Need
The Judicial Conference employs a rigorous, data-driven approach to evaluate judgeship needs. Through a formal biannual survey process, the Conference analyzes workload factors and applies empirical standards to ensure recommendations are based on objective metrics rather than political considerations. This systematic assessment revealed that in fiscal year 2024, weighted filings exceeded 500 per judgeship in 20 of the 25 district courts recommended for additional judgeships – substantially above the 430 threshold typically required to justify new positions. Even more concerning, weighted filings exceeded 600 per judgeship in 12 courts and soared above 700 in five particularly overburdened districts.
“The Judicial Conference of the United States has again asked Congress to create additional judgeships to address burgeoning caseloads in many courts,” stated the Judicial Conference of the United States.
These statistics aren’t merely abstract numbers – they represent real obstacles to justice for American citizens. Each overloaded judge means longer waits for case resolution, higher legal costs, and potential denial of timely justice. The Conference’s recommendations attempt to address these urgent needs by targeting resources where they’re most desperately required. Rather than being a bureaucratic expansion, these new judgeships represent an essential response to the growing demands on our federal court system.
Political Hurdles and Delayed Justice
Despite the compelling data supporting the need for additional judgeships, political considerations have hampered progress on this critical issue. In 2024, Congress approved a bipartisan bill to address the judgeship shortage, but President Biden vetoed the legislation. The veto reportedly stemmed from concerns about creating seats in districts where confirmations had been blocked, as well as worries about potentially creating too many judicial vacancies for a future president to fill. This political gamesmanship has further delayed necessary reforms to our overburdened court system.
“District court filings have grown by 30 percent since 1990, when the last comprehensive judgeship bill was enacted. Since 1991, the overall number of authorized district court judgeships increased by only four percent,” reported the Judicial Conference of the United States.
President Trump now has an opportunity to advance this crucial judicial reform while minimizing partisan concerns. The Judicial Conference’s recommendation wisely suggests staggering the creation of new seats over eight years to minimize any partisan advantage in appointments. This approach would allow for a measured expansion of judicial resources while ensuring that no single administration would control all appointments. With proper implementation, these additional judgeships would strengthen our judiciary and restore Americans’ access to timely justice in federal courts across the nation.
