A top ally of President Biden expressed disappointment after the president vetoed a bill that aimed to increase the number of federal judges currently serving. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., who played a significant role in Biden's recent presidential campaigns, emphasized the bipartisan effort put into crafting the bill alongside Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind.
Coons stated, 'I am disappointed by this outcome, for my own state and for the federal judges throughout the country struggling under the burden of ever-higher caseloads. It’s highly unfortunate that it will not become law.' He attributed the bill's failure to House Republicans who delayed voting on it until after the 2024 election.
The bill, known as the JUDGES Act, aimed to add 66 federal district judicial roles over a span of more than 10 years to address case backlogs in federal courts and enhance the efficiency of the judicial system. Despite passing the Senate unanimously in August, the bill faced opposition from the Biden administration, leading to its veto.
Republicans accused Biden of vetoing the bill to prevent President-elect Trump from filling new judicial roles. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., highlighted the bipartisan support the bill initially received and criticized Democrats for obstructing progress due to partisan politics.
At the time of its Senate passage, Democrats were optimistic after Biden withdrew from the 2024 race, and Vice President Kamala Harris took his place. The bill's unanimous approval in the Senate reflected bipartisan consensus on the need to address the challenges faced by federal judges.
In conclusion, the veto of the bill to increase federal judges underscores the ongoing political tensions surrounding judicial appointments and the complexities of bipartisan cooperation in legislative efforts.
