Hirono, Cruz, Lead Bipartisan Effort to Maintain Access to the Federal Courts
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Ted Cruz (D-TX), both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced the bipartisan and bicameral Federal Judiciary Stabilization Act, legislation to transition 10 temporary federal judgeships—including one in Hawaii—to permanent status in order to maintain the current level of access to the federal court for millions of Americans across the nation. Representatives Lance Gooden (R-TX) and Ted Lieu (D-CA), both members of the House Judiciary Committee, introduced the bipartisan companion bill in the House.
“By making several long-standing temporary judgeships permanent, this bill will help provide certainty and stability to federal courts in Hawaii and other states across the country,” said Senator Hirono. “I’m glad to introduce this bill with Senator Cruz to help ensure people in Hawaii, Texas, and across the country can access our justice system.”
The Federal Judiciary Stabilization Act grants permanent status to all 10 currently-existing temporary federal district court judgeships. This bill would grant permanent status to the judgeships in the following federal district courts:
- U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico
- U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
This legislation is cosponsored by Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Senators Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Thom Tillis (R-NC).
The full text of the legislation is available here.
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