Arizona would gain two new federal judgeships under a bill passed unanimously by the Senate today. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) is one of the 17 co-sponsors. However, if a companion bill passed earlier this year is not signed into law, Arizona could LOSE a judge in 2025.
If the bill passes the House and is signed by President Biden, Arizona would gain a judge - to be appointed by the President elected in November - in 2027, and a second judgeship in 2031. The bill would create 66 judges nationally, in five stages, beginning next year.
Additionally, another Senate-passed bill that would convert one of Arizona's other judgeships from being "temporary" to permanent is also pending in the House. Without this bill (that also impacts nine other "temporary judgeships"), U.S. District Court Judge Michael Liburdi's "seat" might be taken away next July. (Liburdi was nominated by former President Donald Trump.)
The "temporary judgeships" were passed back in 2002 because Congress could not agree on permanent expansions. As Reuters reports, an increasingly partisan Congress has feared creating openings that would be filled by a President of the opposing party. (That would also explain why today's bill is staged out over multiple Presidential terms.)
This article was reported by AZ Law founder Paul Weich.
"AZ Law" includes articles, commentaries and updates about opinions from the Arizona Supreme Court, U.S. Supreme Court, as well as trial and appellate courts, etc. AZ Law is founded by Phoenix attorney Paul Weich, and joins Arizona's Politics on the internet.
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