Judicial Administration and Improvement Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Biggs (AZ)
Introduced
Summary
Splits the Ninth Circuit into two separate circuits. This bill would create a new Twelfth Circuit and redraw which states each circuit covers while reallocating judges and court locations.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Funding to carry out the split
If enacted, Congress would be allowed to appropriate whatever money is needed to implement the split. This could include space and facilities for new judgeships. This is only permission to fund; later spending bills would still be needed.
Split Ninth Circuit into Two Circuits
If enacted, the Ninth Circuit would be split into two. The new Ninth Circuit would cover CA, HI, OR, WA, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The new Twelfth Circuit would cover AK, AZ, ID, MT, and NV. The Ninth would have 21 judges; the Twelfth would have 8. Twelfth Circuit court locations would be in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Anchorage, and Missoula. These changes would start 1 year after enactment.
Timeline to roll out the split
If enacted, all changes would take effect 1 year after enactment. Before that date, the existing Ninth Circuit could take administrative steps to prepare. Two years after the effective date, the former Ninth Circuit would cease to exist for administrative purposes. This sets a staged rollout and a fixed wind-down.
Rules for pending Ninth Circuit cases
If enacted, special rules would guide appeals already filed when the split takes effect. Cases already submitted for a decision would stay put, with limited exceptions for rehearing requests. Cases not yet submitted would move to the court that would have heard them under the new map. Petitions for rehearing en banc would go to the court that would have handled the appeal under the new map. These rules would start 1 year after enactment.
Judge assignments and new Twelfth seats
If enacted, active judges would follow their duty station. Judges based in CA, OR, WA, HI, Guam, or the Northern Mariana Islands would join the new Ninth. Judges based in AK, AZ, ID, MT, or NV would join the Twelfth. Some judges could elect to stay with the new Ninth by notifying the court’s administrator. Senior judges in those states could choose either circuit. If judges elect to the Ninth, the President would appoint extra Twelfth judges in those duty stations, and later vacancies in those Twelfth seats would not be refilled. Judges who switch would keep their original seniority; new Twelfth appointees would start seniority on appointment. These rules would begin 1 year after enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Biggs (AZ)
AZ • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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