Kyl Cosponsores Bill To Create 11 New Judgeships

In a continuing effort to ease the backlog of cases in federal courts, U.S. Senator Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) cosponsored a bill that creates 11 new judgeships for U.S. District Courts where at least 50% of the criminal cases are immigration related. Arizona would get 5 of the new judgeships.

“Federal courts along the southwest border, especially in Arizona, are overwhelmed & experiencing a tremendous backlog of immigration-related cases,” Kyl said. “There just aren’t enough judges to handle all the cases in a timely manner. Adding these new judgeships is overdue & will go a long way to ease the backlog.”

Under the bill introduced Senator Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), 11 new permanent & temporary judgeships would be created for districts in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, & California - all in districts that are experiencing immigration caseloads that total at least 50% of their total criminal filings.

The District of Arizona would get the largest allotment of judges, with 4 permanent positions & 1 temporary. The Western District of Texas would gain 3 permanent judgeships & New Mexico would gain 1 permanent & 1 temporary position. The Southern District of California would get 1 permanent judgeship.

In fiscal year 2006 (Oct. 1st, 2005 - Sept. 30th, 2006), the District of Arizona had 3,265 criminal felony filings, of which 59% (1,924 cases) were immigration related. The Western District of Texas had 4,687 criminal felony filings, & 50% were immigration related. The Southern District of California had 2,706 criminal felony filings, & 54% were immigration related. The District of New Mexico had 2,750 criminal felony filings, & 71% were immigration related cases.

The bill's also cosponsored by Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) & John Cornyn (R-Texas).