S. 2360: Judicial Reorganization Act of 2025

This bill, known as the Judicial Reorganization Act of 2025, proposes significant changes to the structure and composition of the U.S. federal court system, particularly affecting the Ninth Judicial Circuit. Here is a summary of the key components of the bill:

1. Creation of a New Judicial Circuit

The bill proposes to divide the existing Ninth Circuit into two separate judicial circuits:

• New Ninth Circuit: This circuit will consist of California, Guam, and Hawaii.
• Twelfth Circuit: This new circuit will cover Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.

2. Increase in Judgeships

The bill allows for the appointment of additional judges in response to the division of the Ninth Circuit:

• One additional circuit court judge will be appointed for the new Ninth Circuit.
• Another judge will be assigned to the Twelfth Circuit.

This change will increase the total number of circuit court judges from thirteen to fourteen.

3. Assignment of Current Judges

Judges currently serving in the Ninth Circuit will be reassigned based on their location:

• Judges stationed in California, Guam, or Hawaii will now belong to the new Ninth Circuit.
• Judges in Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, or Washington will transfer to the Twelfth Circuit.

Additionally, senior judges can choose which circuit they prefer to be assigned to.

4. Seniority Provisions

The bill maintains the seniority of judges who transition to the new circuits, ensuring that their years of service in the former Ninth Circuit are recognized in the new structure.

5. Transition of Pending Cases

For cases that were pending in the former Ninth Circuit on the day before the bill's enactment:

• If a case has already been submitted for decision, it will continue to be processed as if the new bill was not in effect.
• If a case is pending but has not yet been submitted for decision, it will be transferred to the appropriate new circuit where it would have been submitted had the bill been in effect.

Requests for rehearings regarding cases decided before the bill’s enactment will also be handled as if the division had not occurred.

6. Administrative Transition

The current Ninth Circuit will continue to function to wrap up administrative tasks related to the transition to the new circuits for up to two years after the bill becomes effective.

7. Funding and Implementation

The bill authorizes necessary appropriations to implement amendments made by this act, including funding for court facilities needed due to the expansion.

8. Effective Date

The provisions of the bill will take effect one year after the date of enactment, except for certain immediate appointments of new judges, which will take effect upon enactment.

Relevant Companies

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