This bill splits the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals into two separate courts. Right now, the Ninth Circuit covers a huge area including California, Hawaii, Guam, Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. The bill would divide this into a new, smaller Ninth Circuit (covering California, Hawaii, and Guam) and create a brand new Twelfth Circuit (covering Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington).

The bill adds four new federal judges total—two for the new Ninth Circuit and two for the Twelfth Circuit. The new Ninth Circuit would have 18 judges, while the Twelfth Circuit would have 13 judges. Each circuit would have its own courthouses in different cities: the Ninth Circuit in Honolulu, San Francisco, and Pasadena; the Twelfth Circuit in Phoenix, Seattle, and Portland.

Existing judges from the old Ninth Circuit would automatically move to whichever new circuit covers their current location, though senior judges (semi-retired judges) can choose which circuit they want to join. All pending cases would be handled smoothly during the transition, with cases that haven't been decided yet going to whichever new circuit they belong in. The changes would take effect one year after the bill becomes law, giving the courts time to prepare for the split.