Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Creating Additional Seats to Ease Legally Overburdened Adjudicators’ Dockets Act of 2023” or the “CASE LOAD Act of 2023”.
Creating Additional Seats to Ease Legally Overburdened Adjudicators’ Dockets Act of 2023
A BILL
To authorize additional district judges for the district court for the eastern district of California.
Sec. 2 Findings
Congress finds the following:
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of California is the Federal trial court for 34 counties, including 5 of the fastest-growing cities in California, serving a population of approximately 8,400,000.
The United States 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 6 permanent judgeships, with 1 upcoming vacancy pending a nomination elevating a sitting district judge.
Based on the 2019 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 ½ the size, with 1:694,323.
As of June 2022, the total pending cases per judgeship in the United States 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
2025—
Additional judgeships— On or after January 21, 2025, the President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, 2 additional district judges for the eastern district of California.
Technical and conforming amendment— The table in section 133(a) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking the items relating to California and inserting the following:
Effective date— The amendment made by paragraph (2) shall take effect on January 20, 2025.
2027—
Additional judgeships— On or after January 5, 2027, the President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, 1 additional district judge for the eastern district of California.
Technical and conforming amendment— The table in section 133(a) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking the items relating to California and inserting the following:
Effective date— The amendment made by paragraph (2) shall take effect on January 4, 2027.
2029—
Additional judgeships— On or after January 21, 2029, the President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, 2 additional district judges for the eastern district of California.
Technical and conforming amendment— The table in section 133(a) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking the items relating to California and inserting the following:
Effective date— The amendment made by paragraph (2) shall take effect on January 20, 2029.
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 and the amendments made by this Act.