It is becoming increasingly challenging for Congress to fill vacant judgeships, let alone create new positions for the expanding federal judiciary. This results in federal judges shouldering heavier caseloads, ultimately prolonging the wait times for civil trials in some districts to span years.
The latest episode of the podcast On The Merits dives into this issue. Reporters Suzanne Monyak and Tiana Headley discuss the factors contributing to this backlog. They elaborate on how a dispute over a North Carolina judicial nominee has the potential to exacerbate the situation further. You can listen to the episode here, and also subscribe via platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Megaphone, and Audible.
In a move that could potentially alleviate this overburden, the Senate has passed a bipartisan bill aimed at creating over 60 new judgeships across the nation. However, this proposed increase in judicial capacity comes with a caveat: the appointments to these new positions would be reserved for future presidents.
The full article detailing these developments can be accessed here.