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To authorize additional district judges for the district court for the eastern district of California.
Summary
This bill authorizes the creation of five additional federal district judge positions for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California over a six-year period. The bill notes that the Eastern District currently serves a population of approximately 8.4 million people across 34 counties with only six permanent judgeships, resulting in significantly higher caseloads than other federal districts. Under the bill, the President would appoint two additional judges in 2027, one additional judge in 2029, and two additional judges in 2031, all subject to Senate confirmation. The bill authorizes appropriations for facilities and space needed to accommodate the new judicial positions.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21] (D-CA)
1 cosponsor
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Jim Costa’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- NULL $25,300
- CALIFORNIA STRATEGIES $13,900
- FORHAN COMPANY $13,200
- SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY COLLEGE $11,300
- CDM $7,300
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Jim Costa → · Outside spending →
Actions (2)
- Mar 5, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. · house
- Mar 5, 2025 Introduced in House
More bills on these subjects (8)
Other bills that carry the most legislative subjects in common with this one (topical discovery — distinct from the procedural related bills above).
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 5, 2025
Mr. Costa (for himself and Mr. Obernolte) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To authorize additional district judges for the district court for the eastern district of California.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Creating Additional Seats to Ease Legally Overburdened Adjudicators’ Dockets Act of 2025” or the “CASE LOAD Act of 2025”.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The Federal district court for the eastern district of California is the Federal trial court for 34 counties, including five of the fastest-growing cities in the State of California, serving a population of approximately 8,400,000.
(2) The Federal district court for the eastern district of California is one of the largest judicial districts in the country, with approximately 8,400,000 residents and over 87,000 square miles of land. Yet, there are only six permanent judgeships, with one upcoming vacancy pending a nomination elevating a sitting district judge.
(3) Based on the 2019 U.S. census data, the ratio of authorized district judgeships to population was 1:1,362,552. The central district of California has the next highest ratio in the State, nearly half the size, with 1:694,323.
(4) As of June 2022, the total pending cases per judgeship in the Federal district court for the eastern district of California was 1,308, over 2.6 times larger than the average for all districts within the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Pending caseloads remain high, and if a new vacancy opens upon the elevation of the district judge, caseloads will once again reach this unsustainable level.
SEC. 3. ADDITIONAL DISTRICT JUDGES FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA.
(a) 2027.—
(1) Additional judgeships.—On or after January 21, 2027, the President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, 2 additional district judges for the eastern district of California.
(2) Clerical amendment.—The table contained in section 133(a) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking the items relating to California and inserting the following:
“California: Northern............................. 14 Eastern.............................. 8 Central.............................. 27 Southern............................. 13”.
(3) Effective date.—The amendment made by paragraph (2) shall take effect on January 20, 2027.
(b) 2029.—
(1) Additional judgeships.—On or after January 5, 2029, the President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, 1 additional district judge for the eastern district of California.
(2) Clerical amendment.—The table contained in section 133(a) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking the items relating to California and inserting the following:
“California: Northern............................. 14 Eastern.............................. 9 Central.............................. 27 Southern............................. 13”.
(3) Effective date.—The amendment made by paragraph (2) shall take effect on January 4, 2029.
(c) 2031.—
(1) Additional judgeships.—On or after January 21, 2031, the President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, 2 additional district judges for the eastern district of California.
(2) Clerical amendment.—The table contained in section 133(a) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking the items relating to California and inserting the following:
“California: Northern............................. 14 Eastern.............................. 11 Central.............................. 27 Southern............................. 13”.
(3) Effective date.—The amendment made by paragraph (2) shall take effect on January 20, 2031.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act, including such sums as may be necessary to provide appropriate space and facilities for the judicial positions created by this Act or an amendment made by this Act. <all>
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