Senate Passes Bipartisan Hirono, Cruz Legislation to Maintain Access to the Federal Courts

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Senate passed bipartisan and bicameral legislation led by U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, that would transition 10 temporary federal judgeships-including one in Hawaii-to permanent status in order to maintain the current level of access to the federal court for millions of Americans across the nation. The Federal Judiciary Stabilization Act passed by unanimous consent. U.S. Representatives Lance Gooden (R-TX) and Ted Lieu (D-CA), both members of the House Judiciary Committee, introduced companion legislation in the House.

"I'm glad to see the Senate unanimously pass this bipartisan bill to help ensure people in Hawaii, Texas, and across the country can access our justice system," Senator Hirono said. "By making several long-standing temporary judgeships permanent, this bill will help to stabilize the federal judiciary, providing certainty to federal courts in Hawaii and other states across the country."

The Federal Judiciary Stabilization Act would grant permanent status to all 10 currently-existing temporary federal district court judgeships in the following federal district courts:

• U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
• U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
• U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico
• U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
• U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina

This legislation is cosponsored by Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Senators Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Thom Tillis (R-NC).

The full text of the legislation is available here.

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