In a decisive move, President Joe Biden vetoed a bill aimed at adding 66 federal judgeships, halting what would have been the first major expansion of the judiciary in over three decades. The legislation, dubbed the JUDGES Act, initially garnered bipartisan support and was designed to stagger the creation of judgeships over three presidential terms, addressing the growing burden on federal courts.
Advocates, including hundreds of judges from across the political spectrum, argued that ballooning caseloads—up more than 30% since the judiciary’s last expansion in 1990—necessitated the measure. Despite this, Biden dismissed the bill as a rushed effort lacking clarity on how the new judgeships would be allocated, following through on a veto threat he made just days before its passage in the Republican-controlled House.
Republican Senator Todd Young, a chief proponent of the bill, condemned the veto, calling it “partisan politics at its worst.” Meanwhile, Democrats who initially supported the legislation began to withdraw their backing after its timing raised suspicions. The bill was put to a vote in the House only after Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in November, setting the stage for him to appoint the first wave of judges.
The timing drew sharp criticism from top House Democrats, who accused Republicans of breaking a central tenet of the bill: ensuring neutrality in judicial appointments. Had the bill been enacted, Trump would have gained the authority to fill 25 judgeships early in his term, adding to the significant judicial appointments he is already poised to make.
This veto, which underscores Biden’s skepticism of the bill’s framework, also highlights the contentious and deeply politicized battle over the federal judiciary’s future. While Biden closes out his presidency with a record 235 judicial appointments, surpassing Trump’s tally, the standoff over this legislation signals that judicial appointments will remain a fiercely debated topic in the years to come.
