Across the country, federal courts are buckling under an ever-increasing caseload in the absence of long-awaited congressional action that would add judges to match a significant growth in litigation over the last several decades.
It’s been 34 years since lawmakers last passed a comprehensive bill increasing the number of judges on lower courts. In that period, the American population has grown by 80 million. The number of filings in US district courts increased by more than 30%. In the past year, there were more than 724,000 pending cases being handled by a federal trial bench made up of 677 judgeships (including roughly 40-50 vacancies) – a 72% increase in pending cases over the last decade, during which, no new district seats have been created.
We’re letting the design of buildings determine the design of our government. House and SCOTUS, in varying ways.
We can say it’s more politics and… That’s fair, but it’s time to build bigger. 13 SCOTUS justices and enough room for many, many more representatives and room to grow.
It’s too bad no one has figured out how to hold a meeting without everyone needing to be in the same place.