HR 101 · 119th CongressIn Committee

Judicial Administration and Improvement Act of 2025

Latest updateJan 3, 2025

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Law

Sponsor

Andy Biggs

Introduced

January 3, 2025

Latest action

January 3, 2025

Legislative Progress

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Introduced

Bill filed in chamber

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Reviewed & reported

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House or Senate vote

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Sent to White House

Enacted

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Introduced

Bill filed in chamber

Committee

Reviewed & reported

Passed Chamber

House or Senate vote

Passed Both

House & Senate agree

President

Sent to White House

Enacted

Signed into law

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Plain-Language Summary

AI Generated

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals currently covers a vast geographic territory spanning nine western states and Pacific territories: California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Arizona, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. This makes it the largest federal appellate circuit by both geography and caseload. Under current law codified in title 28 of the United States Code, the circuit has 29 authorized judgeships and maintains courthouses in San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Pasadena, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Honolulu. The circuit's size has long raised concerns about administrative efficiency and case management across such disparate regions.

This bill amends title 28 to divide the Ninth Circuit into two separate circuits, effective one year after enactment. The new Ninth Circuit will comprise California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands, with 21 authorized judgeships. A new Twelfth Circuit will be established covering Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, and Nevada, with 8 authorized judgeships. The bill requires existing Ninth Circuit judges whose duty stations are in the five-state region to be automatically assigned to the Twelfth Circuit, though they may elect to remain with the new Ninth Circuit. Judges in the Pacific region remain with the new Ninth Circuit. Senior judges in the five-state region may choose their circuit assignment.

Implementation occurs over a two-year transition period, with the old Ninth Circuit maintaining administrative functions for two years post-enactment. The Twelfth Circuit will establish courthouses in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Anchorage, and Missoula. When judges from the five-state region retire, the President shall appoint additional Twelfth Circuit judges to fill those vacancies. Judges who elect to stay with the new Ninth Circuit trigger appointments of temporary Twelfth Circuit judges to offset the loss. Congress authorizes appropriations for facilities, space, and staffing needed to support the new circuit structure. Pending cases filed before the effective date transfer to whichever circuit would have heard them under the new structure, ensuring continuity of litigation.

Key Provisions

1Divide the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals into two circuits by establishing a new Twelfth Circuit comprising Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, and Nevada, while the new Ninth Circuit retains California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
2Authorize 21 judgeships for the new Ninth Circuit and 8 judgeships for the Twelfth Circuit, with existing judges automatically assigned based on their duty stations unless they elect otherwise.
3Establish Twelfth Circuit courthouses in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Anchorage, and Missoula to serve the new circuit's geographic territory.
4Require the President to appoint additional Twelfth Circuit judges to fill vacancies created when judges from the five-state region retire or when judges elect to remain with the new Ninth Circuit.
5Transfer all pending cases filed before the effective date to the appropriate circuit under the new structure, with cases already submitted for decision remaining in their original circuit.

★ Why this matters

Dividing the Ninth Circuit reduces the caseload and geographic span of the largest federal appellate court, potentially accelerating case resolution and reducing administrative burden. The new structure creates a more manageable appellate court for the five-state region while maintaining a cohesive Pacific-focused circuit. Litigants in both circuits may experience faster decisions and more localized judicial administration.

● Who this affects

Federal judges in Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, and Nevada face reassignment to a new circuit unless they elect otherwise. Attorneys and litigants with cases pending in the Ninth Circuit will have their appeals transferred to one of the two new circuits based on geography. Law firms and businesses operating across the five-state region will navigate a new appellate court structure. The Administrative Office of the United States Courts must manage the transition and allocate resources between two circuits. Citizens in the Pacific region and five-state region will have different appellate courts reviewing federal cases affecting their rights.

Bill Text

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<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 101

  To amend title 28, United States Code, to divide the ninth judicial 
 circuit of the United States into 2 circuits, and for other purposes.

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 3, 2025

Mr. Biggs of Arizona introduced the following bill; which was referred 
                   to the Committee on the Judiciary

                                 A BILL

 
  To amend title 28, United States Code, to divide the ninth judicial 
 circuit of the United States into 2 circuits, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Judicial Administration and 
Improvement Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Former ninth circuit.--The term ``former ninth 
        circuit'' means the ninth judicial circuit of the United States 
        as in existence on the day before the effective date of this 
        Act.
            (2) New ninth circuit.--The term ``new ninth circuit'' 
        means the ninth judicial circuit of the United States 
        established by the amendment made by section 3.
            (3) Twelfth circuit.--The term ``twelfth circuit'' means 
        the twelfth judicial circuit of the United States established 
        by the amendment made by section 3.

SEC. 3. NUMBER AND COMPOSITION OF CIRCUITS.

    Section 41 of title 28, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding the table, by striking 
        ``thirteen'' and inserting ``fourteen''; and
            (2) in the table--
                    (A) by striking the item relating to the ninth 
                circuit and inserting the following:

    ``Ninth........................
                                        California, Hawaii, Oregon, 
                                                Washington, Guam, 
                                                Northern Mariana 
                                                Islands.'';

                and
                    (B) by inserting after the item relating to the 
                eleventh circuit the following:

    ``Twelfth......................
                                        Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, 
                                                Montana, Nevada.''.

SEC. 4. NUMBER OF CIRCUIT JUDGES.

    The table contained in section 44(a) of title 28, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking the item relating to the ninth circuit and 
        inserting the following:

``Ninth.........................................................   21'';
 

        and
            (2) by inserting after the item relating to the eleventh 
        circuit the following:

``Twelfth.......................................................    8''.
 

SEC. 5. PLACES OF CIRCU…

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