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H.R. 4885: JUDGES Act

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H.R. 4885: JUDGES Act

117th Congress · introduced 2021-07-30 · Law · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2021-07-30 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Issa, Darrell E. [R-CA-50] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

JUDGES Act

Plain summary

Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved Act or the JUDGES Act This bill requires the appointment of additional U.S. district court judges, converts certain temporary district court judgeships into permanent judgeships, and requires the Government Accountability Office to report on vacant or underused federal courthouses. Specifically, the bill requires the appointment of 39 district court judges on or after January 21, 2025, in specified judicial districts in Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Texas. Further, 38 district court judges must be appointed on or after January 21, 2029, in specified judicial districts in Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, and Texas. Additionally, the bill converts certain temporary district court judgeships to permanent judgeships in specified judicial districts in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Texas.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

JUDGES Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Issa, Darrell E. [R-CA-50] · 6 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Juan Vargas (D-CA), Victoria Spartz (R-IN), Scott H. Peters (D-CA), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), J. Luis Correa (D-CA)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Issa, Darrell E. [R-CA-50] reported raising $2.2 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong117-hr4885 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117