Biden Plans Veto Of Bill Adding New Judges After Trump Victory

President Biden is expected to veto a bill passed by the Republican-controlled House that would add four new judgeships to the federal bench, a move that has drawn criticism from both Democrats and Republicans.

The Bill

The bill, H.R. 3263, was introduced by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and passed the House on a 222-201 vote on February 2, 2023. The bill would create four new district court judgeships in the following locations:

• One in the Northern District of Alabama
• One in the Middle District of Florida
• One in the Southern District of Texas
• One in the Eastern District of Texas

Biden's Veto

In a statement released on February 3, 2023, the White House announced that President Biden would veto the bill. The statement said that the bill was "unnecessary" and that it would "undermine the independence of the judiciary." The statement also said that the Biden administration was "committed to filling existing judicial vacancies in a timely and fair manner."

Republican Criticism

Republicans have criticized Biden's decision to veto the bill. Jordan called the veto a "partisan move" and said that it was "out of touch with the needs of the American people." Other Republicans have said that the veto will lead to longer wait times for justice and that it will make it more difficult to fill judicial vacancies in the future.

Democratic Support

Democrats have largely supported Biden's decision to veto the bill. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said that the bill was "unnecessary" and that it would "politicize the judiciary." Other Democrats have said that the bill was a waste of time and that it would not have solved the problem of judicial vacancies.

Judicial Vacancies

There are currently 88 vacancies on the federal bench, including 13 vacancies on the circuit courts of appeals. The number of vacancies has increased in recent years, due to a combination of factors, including the increasing number of judges who are retiring and the slow pace of the confirmation process. The Biden administration has made filling judicial vacancies a priority, but it has been slow to nominate judges to fill the vacancies.

Implications

Biden's veto of the bill is likely to have a number of implications. First, it will likely lead to longer wait times for justice for those who are involved in federal court cases. Second, it will make it more difficult for the Biden administration to fill judicial vacancies in the future. Third, it will further divide the two parties on the issue of judicial reform.

Conclusion

President Biden's decision to veto the bill adding four new judgeships to the federal bench is a significant development. The veto is likely to have a number of implications, including longer wait times for justice, increased difficulty in filling judicial vacancies, and further division between the two parties on the issue of judicial reform.

It remains to be seen whether the Biden administration will be able to make significant progress in filling judicial vacancies. The administration has said that it is committed to filling vacancies in a timely and fair manner, but it has been slow to nominate judges to fill the vacancies. If the administration is unable to make progress in filling vacancies, it will likely face continued criticism from Republicans.