Judicial Administration and Improvement Act of 2025
This bill, titled the Judicial Administration and Improvement Act of 2025, would wholly reorganize the appellate structure by splitting the Ninth Judicial Circuit into two separate circuits: a “new ninth circuit” and a “twelfth circuit.” The new ninth would consist of California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands, while the twelfth would cover Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, and Nevada. The legislation also reconfigures the number of circuit judges, creates new staff and temporary judgeships to support the split, and provides transition rules for cases and judges. It orders the administrative separation of the former ninth circuit within two years and sets an effective date one year after enactment, with appropriations authorized to fund the changes. In short, the bill would move to a two-circuit system in the western United States, realign judges based on their current duty stations (with some election rights for judges), adjust circuit locations and staffing, and manage case transfers and governance during the transition.
Key Points
- 1Division and realignment of circuits: The Ninth Circuit is split into a new ninth circuit (CA, HI, OR, WA, Guam, CNMI) and a twelfth circuit (AK, AZ, ID, MT, NV), expanding total circuits to 14 and redefining each circuit’s composition and geographic scope.
- 2Judge reassignment and elections: Sitting circuit judges would be reassigned by default to the new ninth or to the twelfth, based on their current duty stations, with options for certain judges to elect to join the new ninth. Senior judges also may elect assignments. Vacancies created by reassignment trigger additional temporary or permanent appointments.
- 3Staffing and temporary judgeships: For every judge who elects to be assigned to the new ninth, the President must appoint an additional twelfth-circuit judge (temporary), with corresponding vacancies created in the twelfth circuit to be managed as part of the transition.
- 4Administrative structure and sunset: The existing Ninth Circuit would retain administrative functions for up to two years after the effective date to carry out the transition, after which it would cease to exist for administrative purposes. Funding and facilities would be appropriated to support the new structure.
- 5Case handling during transition: Procedures are laid out to handle appeals and other proceedings filed before the effective date, including transfer of cases and papers to the appropriate new or redefined court, and handling of petitions for rehearing en banc in light of the reorganization.
- 6Effective date and funding: The act would take effect one year after enactment and authorizes necessary appropriations to implement the changes, including space and facilities for newly created positions.