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HR634119th Congress

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judgeship and Reorganization Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Simpson, Michael K. [R-ID-2]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would split the oversized Ninth Circuit and create a new Twelfth Circuit, reshaping where federal appeals from western states are heard. It would add new judges, set rules for moving sitting and senior judges between circuits, and create new court locations for the split.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 5 mixed.

Share judges and court administration

If enacted, the Ninth and Twelfth could temporarily assign judges to each other when it serves the public interest. Circuit and district judges could be cross‑designated, following the receiving court’s rules. Any two neighboring circuits could also choose to share administrative tasks if their councils agree. This could help balance workloads and speed cases.

Funding to carry out split

The bill would authorize Congress to approve whatever money is needed to make the split work, including new court space. It would not set dollar amounts. Actual spending would need later appropriations bills.

More judges now, later limits

The bill would let the President, with Senate approval, appoint two extra permanent and two extra temporary judges for the former Ninth. These judges would have duty stations in Arizona, California, or Nevada. It would also allow three judges for the new Ninth, but they could not be appointed before January 21, 2025. Later, the first two vacancies on the new Ninth that occur 10 or more years after the initial temporary judges are confirmed would not be filled.

Ninth Circuit split; new Twelfth Court

The bill would split western appeals into two circuits. The new Ninth would cover California, Guam, Hawaii, and the Northern Mariana Islands. A new Twelfth would cover Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. It would set 25 judges for the Ninth and 9 for the Twelfth. Court sitting locations would list Honolulu, San Francisco, and Pasadena for the Ninth, and Phoenix and Seattle for the Twelfth.

When the changes would start

Most changes would start on the first day of the next fiscal year after five new judges are confirmed and nine months pass. One part, allowing new judge appointments in section 4(c), would start on the date of enactment. Appeals already submitted before the effective date would finish under the old rules. Other pending appeals would move to the right court under the new map. The current Ninth could take needed admin steps, but that administrative role would end two years after the effective date.

Where current Ninth judges go

If enacted, active judges would be reassigned by duty station. Judges based in California, Guam, Hawaii, or the Northern Mariana Islands would join the new Ninth. Judges based in Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, or Washington would join the Twelfth. Senior judges could choose either circuit and must give notice. If a circuit would have too many judges, the least‑senior would move. Seniority would count from the judge’s original commission date.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Simpson, Michael K. [R-ID-2]

ID • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1]

    ID • R

    Sponsored 1/22/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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