Hoosier State Today

U.S. Senator Todd Young has expressed his disapproval following President Joe Biden's veto of the Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved (JUDGES) Act of 2024. The legislation, introduced by Young, aimed to address judicial emergencies and shortages across the United States.

"This misguided decision is just another example of why Americans are counting down the days until President Biden leaves the White House," stated Senator Young. He described the veto as "partisan politics at its worst" and emphasized that the JUDGES Act was a "fair bill with strong bipartisan support." According to Young, the bill would have created 66 judgeships over three presidential terms to tackle judicial backlogs.

Young criticized President Biden for being more focused on providing relief to his family members than addressing the needs of millions of Americans awaiting due process. He remarked, "Biden’s legacy will be ‘pardons for me, no justice for thee.’"

The JUDGES Act proposed increasing federal district judges in heavily burdened regions, such as Indiana's Southern District. It passed Congress with significant bipartisan support in both chambers. The legislation sought to implement recommendations from a 2023 report by the nonpartisan Judicial Conference of the United States by establishing new judgeships during future presidential administrations.

Additionally, it included provisions for greater transparency and improved access to justice in high-need areas. Despite Congress's constitutional responsibility to establish district court judgeships, comprehensive authorization last occurred in 1990 when then-Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Joe Biden sponsored legislation creating 85 new judgeships under President George H.W. Bush.

Senator Young initially introduced this legislation in 2020 and reintroduced it in subsequent years, including an op-ed urging President Biden to sign it into law.