S. 4199 · 118th Congress · Senate

JUDGES Act of 2024

Enacted· Veto message received in Senate. Ordered held at the desk.
Introduced
Apr 19, 24
Passed Senate
Aug 1, 24
Passed House
Dec 12, 24
Sent to President
Dec 20, 24
Signed into Law
Dec 23, 24

Executive Summary

Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved Act of 2024 or the JUDGES Act of 2024

This bill creates 63 new permanent U.S. district court judgeships over a 10-year period and 3 temporary U.S. district court judgeships in 2025.  The President must appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, additional judges for specified judicial districts.

Specifically, the bill creates 63 additional permanent judgeships, which are added every two years from 2025 through 2035. The state and the total number of judgeships added over the 10-year period for the state are as follows:

  • Arizona (2), 
  • California (21),
  • Colorado (2),
  • Delaware (2), 
  • Florida (9), 
  • Georgia (2), 
  • Idaho (1), 
  • Indiana (1), 
  • Iowa (1), 
  • Nebraska (1),
  • New Jersey (3), 
  • New York (5), and 
  • Texas (13).

Additionally, in 2025, the bill creates three temporary judgeships in Oklahoma.

The bill adds locations for where district courts must be held in certain states. Specifically, the bill requires the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California to be additionally held in El Centro, California; the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas (Houston Division) to be additionally held in College Station, Texas; and the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah (Central Division) to be additionally held in Moab and Monticello, Utah.

The Government Accountability Office must submit reports to Congress on judicial caseloads and detention space.

The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts must make publicly accessible, and submit to Congress, a specified biennial report on judgeship recommendations.

Action Timeline

25
  1. JAN 03, 2025Veto

    Veto message received in Senate

    Ordered held at the desk.

  2. DEC 23, 2024President

    Vetoed by President.

  3. DEC 23, 2024President

    Vetoed by President.

  4. DEC 20, 2024President

    Presented to President.

  5. DEC 20, 2024Floor

    Presented to President.

  6. DEC 12, 2024Floor

    Considered under the provisions of rule H

    Res. 1612. (consideration: CR H7116-7124)

    7116Yea
    7124Nay
    0NV
  7. DEC 12, 2024Floor

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R

    7673 and S. 4199. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 7673 and S. 4199 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate on each bill and one motion to recommit on H.R. 7673 and one motion to commit on S. 4199. The resolution also provides for consideration of the Senate amendment to H.R. 5009 with one hour of general debate.

  8. DEC 12, 2024Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on S. 4199.

  9. DEC 12, 2024Floor

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

  10. DEC 12, 2024Floor

    Passed/agreed to in House

    Roll Call #501

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 236 - 173 (Roll no. 501). (text: CR H7116-7119)

    236Yea
    173Nay
    0NV
  11. DEC 12, 2024Floor

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays

    Roll Call #501

    236 - 173 (Roll no. 501). (text: CR H7116-7119)

    236Yea
    173Nay
    0NV
  12. DEC 12, 2024Floor

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  13. DEC 10, 2024Floor

    Rules Committee Resolution H

    Res. 1612 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 7673 and S. 4199. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 7673 and S. 4199 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate on each bill and one motion to recommit on H.R. 7673 and one motion to commit on S. 4199. The resolution also provides for consideration of the Senate amendment to H.R. 5009 with one hour of general debate.

  14. DEC 10, 2024Floor

    Rule H

    Res. 1612 passed House.

  15. AUG 06, 2024Floor

    Received in the House.

  16. AUG 06, 2024Floor

    Held at the desk.

  17. AUG 02, 2024Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  18. AUG 01, 2024Floor

    Passed/agreed to in Senate

    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5750-5753; text: CR S5750-5752)

    5750Yea
    5753Nay
    0NV
  19. AUG 01, 2024Floor

    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration

    CR S5750-5753; text: CR S5750-5752)

    5750Yea
    5753Nay
    0NV
  20. JUN 18, 2024Committee

    Committee on the Judiciary

    Reported by Senator Coons for Senator Durbin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

  21. JUN 18, 2024Committee

    Committee on the Judiciary

    Reported by Senator Coons for Senator Durbin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

  22. JUN 18, 2024Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 430.

  23. JUN 13, 2024Committee

    Committee on the Judiciary

    Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

  24. APR 19, 2024IntroReferral

    Introduced in Senate

  25. APR 19, 2024IntroReferral

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Committees

3

Judiciary Committee

ssju00

Referred: Jun 18, 2024

Active

Judiciary Committee

ssju00

Referred: Jun 13, 2024

Active

Judiciary Committee

ssju00

Referred: Apr 19, 2024

Active