S. 3020 — Judicial Efficiency Improvement Act

This section defines three terms for purposes of the Act: (1) "former ninth circuit," meaning the Ninth Judicial Circuit as in existence on the day before the Act's effective date; (2) "new ninth circuit," meaning the Ninth Judicial Circuit established by the amendment made by section 3(2)(A); and (3) "twelfth circuit," meaning the Twelfth Judicial Circuit established by the amendment made by section 3(2)(B).

This section increases the number of judicial circuits from 13 to 14 and reconstitutes two circuits: (1) limits the Ninth Circuit to California, Guam, Hawaii, and the Northern Mariana Islands; and (2) establishes a new Twelfth Circuit comprising Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.

This section establishes 2 additional circuit judgeships for the new ninth circuit, with official duty stations in California.

This section revises the table of authorized circuit judgeships in 28 U.S.C. §44(a) by (1) reducing the number for the Ninth Circuit to 18 (from 28); and (2) adding a new Twelfth Circuit with 13 judgeships.

This section amends the table specifying places where courts of appeals hold regular sessions by (1) revising the Ninth Circuit places to Honolulu, Pasadena, and San Francisco; and (2) establishing a Twelfth Circuit with places at Las Vegas, Phoenix, Portland, and Seattle.

This section assigns each circuit judge of the former ninth circuit in regular active service, based on their official duty station the day before the effective date of this Act, to (1) the new ninth circuit if in California, Guam, Hawaii, or the Northern Mariana Islands; or (2) the twelfth circuit if in Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, or Washington.

This section allows each senior circuit judge of the former ninth circuit, as of the day before the effective date, to elect assignment to either the new ninth circuit or the twelfth circuit and requires notification of the election to the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts.

This section establishes transition rules for appeals or other proceedings filed in the former ninth circuit before this Act's effective date. It requires (1) matters submitted for decision to continue in the former ninth circuit as if this Act had not been enacted (except as provided in paragraph (3)); (2) unsubmitted matters to be transferred to the court that would have had jurisdiction if this Act had been in effect when filed, with proceedings continuing there as if originally filed in that court; and (3) pending or subsequent petitions for rehearing en banc to be considered by the court that would have had jurisdiction if this Act had been in effect when the appeal or proceeding was filed.

This section authorizes the chief judges of the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Ninth and Twelfth Circuits to temporarily designate and assign circuit judges from their respective circuits to serve in the other circuit upon request by the other circuit's chief judge. Specifically, (1) the Ninth Circuit chief judge may assign Ninth Circuit judges to the Twelfth Circuit; and (2) the Twelfth Circuit chief judge may assign Twelfth Circuit judges to the Ninth Circuit.

This section establishes reciprocal authority for the chief judges of the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Ninth and Twelfth Circuits to temporarily assign district judges from their respective circuits, in the public interest, to serve on the other circuit's court of appeals (upon request by the other circuit's chief judge) or in its district courts. It further requires such assignments to conform to the rules or orders of the receiving appellate court or district.

This section authorizes the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint additional district judges for specified U.S. district courts and amends the table of authorized judgeships in 28 U.S.C. § 133(a) in four phases. (1) Effective on the date of enactment, authorizes 1 additional judge each for the central, eastern, and northern districts of California; Delaware; middle district of Florida; southern district of Indiana; northern district of Iowa; New Jersey; southern district of New York; eastern and southern districts of Texas (11 judgeships total); and revises the table to California northern 15 (from 14), eastern 7 (from 6), central 28 (from 27); Delaware 5 (from 4); Florida middle 16 (from 15), southern 17 (from 16); Indiana northern 5 (from 4), southern 6 (from 5); Iowa northern 3 (from 2), southern 3 (from 2); New Jersey 18 (from 17); New York northern 5 (from 4), southern 29 (from 28), eastern 15 (from 14); Texas northern 12, southern 20 (from 19), eastern 8 (from 7), western 13 (from 12). (2) Effective January 21, 2027, authorizes 1 additional judge each for Arizona, eastern and northern districts of California, middle and southern districts of Florida, northern district of Georgia, Idaho, northern and southern districts of Texas, and 2 additional judges for central district of California (11 judgeships total); and further revises the table to Arizona 13 (from 12); California northern 16 (from 15), eastern 8 (from 7), central 30 (from 28); Florida middle 17 (from 16), southern 18 (from 17); Georgia northern 12 (from 11); Idaho 3 (from 2); Texas northern 13 (from 12), southern 21 (from 20). (3) Effective January 21, 2029, authorizes 1 additional judge each for central, eastern, and northern districts of California; Colorado; Delaware; eastern, northern, and western districts of Texas; Nebraska; and eastern district of New York (10 judgeships total); and further revises the table to California northern 17 (from 16), eastern 9 (from 8), central 31 (from 30); Colorado 8 (from 7); Delaware 6 (from 5); Nebraska 4 (from 3); New York eastern 16 (from 15); Texas southern 22 (from 21), eastern 9 (from 8), western 14 (from 13). (4) Effective January 21, 2031, authorizes 1 additional judge each for Arizona, central,

This section authorizes the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, as constituted on the day before the effective date of this Act, to take any administrative actions necessary to carry out the Act and its amendments. The section terminates that court for administrative purposes two years after the date of enactment.