This bill splits up one of the largest federal court systems in the country. Right now, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit handles cases from a huge region covering the West Coast and Pacific territories. The bill would divide this into two separate courts: the Ninth Circuit would keep California, Hawaii, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands, while a brand new Twelfth Circuit would take over Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, and Nevada.

Why does this matter? Federal appeals courts are where important legal decisions get made that affect millions of people. When one court covers too large an area, cases can take longer to resolve and the workload becomes overwhelming. By splitting the Ninth Circuit in two, each court would have fewer cases to handle, potentially speeding up the legal process for people and businesses in these western states. It also means judges in the new Twelfth Circuit would focus specifically on cases from their region, which could lead to decisions that better reflect local needs and circumstances.

Judicial Administration and Improvement Act of 2025

Biggs, Andy

Judicial Administration and Improvement Act of 2025&nbsp;This bill divides the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit into two judicial circuits: (1) the Ninth Circuit, and (2) a new Twelfth Circuit.The Ninth Circuit is composed of California, Guam, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, and Northern Mariana Islands. The new Twelfth Circuit is composed of Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, and Nevada.