[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 678 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 678

   To provide for the appointment of additional Federal circuit and 
                district judges, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 1, 1997

   Mr. Leahy introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
               referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To provide for the appointment of additional Federal circuit and 
                district judges, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Judgeship Act of 1997''.

SEC. 2. CIRCUIT JUDGES FOR THE CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS.

    (a) In General.--The President shall appoint, by and with the 
advice and consent of the Senate--
            (1) 1 additional circuit judge for the first circuit court 
        of appeals;
            (2) 2 additional circuit judges for the second circuit 
        court of appeals;
            (3) 1 additional circuit judge for the fifth circuit court 
        of appeals;
            (4) 2 additional circuit judges for the sixth circuit court 
        of appeals; and
            (5) 6 additional circuit judges for the ninth circuit court 
        of appeals.
    (b) Temporary Judgeships.--The President shall appoint, by and with 
the advice and consent of the Senate--
            (1) 2 additional circuit judges for the sixth circuit court 
        of appeals; and
            (2) 3 additional circuit judges for the ninth circuit court 
        of appeals.
The first vacancy in the office of circuit judge in each of the 
circuits named in this section, occurring 7 years or more after the 
confirmation date of the judge named to fill a temporary judgeship 
created by this subsection, shall not be filled.
    (c) Tables.--In order that the table contained in section 44 of 
title 28, United States Code, will, with respect to each judicial 
circuit, reflect the changes in the total number of permanent circuit 
judgeships authorized as a result of subsection (a) of this section, 
such table is amended to read as follows:

``Circuits                                             Number of Judges
    District of Columbia..........................                  12 
    First.........................................                   7 
    Second........................................                  15 
    Third.........................................                  14 
    Fourth........................................                  15 
    Fifth.........................................                  18 
    Sixth.........................................                  18 
    Seventh.......................................                  11 
    Eighth........................................                  11 
    Ninth.........................................                  34 
    Tenth.........................................                  12 
    Eleventh......................................                  12 
    Federal.......................................               12.''.

SEC. 3. DISTRICT JUDGES FOR THE DISTRICT COURTS.

    (a) In General.--The President shall appoint, by and with the 
advice and consent of the Senate--
            (1) 1 additional district judge for the middle district of 
        Alabama;
            (2) 2 additional district judges for the district of 
        Arizona;
            (3) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district of 
        California;
            (4) 2 additional district judges for the southern district 
        of California;
            (5) 1 additional district judge for the district of 
        Colorado;
            (6) 3 additional district judges for the middle district of 
        Florida;
            (7) 2 additional district judges for the southern district 
        of Florida;
            (8) 2 additional district judges for the district of 
        Nevada;
            (9) 1 additional district judge for the district of New 
        Mexico;
            (10) 3 additional district judges for the eastern district 
        of New York;
            (11) 2 additional district judges for the western district 
        of North Carolina;
            (12) 1 additional district judge for the district of 
        Oregon;
            (13) 1 additional district judge for the northern district 
        of Texas;
            (14) 1 additional district judge for the southern district 
        of Texas; and
            (15) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district 
        of Virginia.
    (b) Temporary Judgeships.--The President shall appoint, by and with 
the advice and consent of the Senate--
            (1) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district of 
        California;
            (2) 1 additional district judge for the district of 
        Colorado;
            (3) 1 additional district judge for the middle district of 
        Florida;
            (4) 1 additional district judge for the southern district 
        of Indiana;
            (5) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district of 
        Kentucky;
            (6) 1 additional district judge for the middle district of 
        Louisiana;
            (7) 1 additional district judge for the district of New 
        Mexico;
            (8) 1 additional district judge for the northern district 
        of New York;
            (9) 1 additional district judge for the western district of 
        New York;
            (10) 1 additional district judge for the district of South 
        Carolina;
            (11) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district 
        of Tennessee; and
            (12) 1 additional district judge for the western district 
        of Washington.
The first vacancy in the office of district judge in each of the 
judicial districts named in this subsection, occurring 7 years or more 
after the confirmation date of the judge named to fill a temporary 
judgeship created by this subsection, shall not be filled.
    (c) Tables.--In order that the table contained in section 133 of 
title 28, United States Code, will, with respect to each judicial 
district, reflect the changes in the total number of permanent district 
judgeships authorized as a result of subsection (a) of this section, 
such table is amended to read as follows:

``Districts                                                      Judges
Alabama:
    Northern................................................         7 
    Middle..................................................         4 
    Southern................................................         3 
Alaska......................................................         3 
Arizona.....................................................        10 
Arkansas:
    Eastern.................................................         5 
    Western.................................................         3 
California:
    Northern................................................        14 
    Eastern.................................................         7 
    Central.................................................        27 
    Southern................................................        10 
Colorado....................................................         8 
Connecticut.................................................         8 
Delaware....................................................         4 
District of Columbia........................................        15 
Florida:
    Northern................................................         4 
    Middle..................................................        14 
    Southern................................................        18 
Georgia:
    Northern................................................        11 
    Middle..................................................         4 
    Southern................................................         3 
Hawaii......................................................         3 
Idaho.......................................................         2 
Illinois:
    Northern................................................        22 
    Central.................................................         3 
    Southern................................................         3 
Indiana:
    Northern................................................         5 
    Southern................................................         5 
Iowa:
    Northern................................................         2 
    Southern................................................         3 
Kansas......................................................         5 
Kentucky:
    Eastern.................................................         4 
    Western.................................................         4 
    Eastern and Western.....................................         1 
Louisiana:
    Eastern.................................................        13 
    Middle..................................................         2 
    Western.................................................         7 
Maine.......................................................         3 
Maryland....................................................        10 
Massachusetts...............................................        13 
Michigan:
    Eastern.................................................        15 
    Western.................................................         4 
Minnesota...................................................         7 
Mississippi:
    Northern................................................         3 
    Southern................................................         6 
Missouri:
    Eastern.................................................         6 
    Western.................................................         5 
    Eastern and Western.....................................         2 
Montana.....................................................         3 
Nebraska....................................................         3 
Nevada......................................................         6 
New Hampshire...............................................         3 
New Jersey..................................................        17 
New Mexico..................................................         6 
New York:
    Northern................................................         4 
    Southern................................................        28 
    Eastern.................................................        18 
    Western.................................................         4 
North Carolina:
    Eastern.................................................         4 
    Middle..................................................         4 
    Western.................................................         5 
North Dakota................................................         2 
Ohio:
    Northern................................................        11 
    Southern................................................         8 
Oklahoma:
    Northern................................................         3 
    Eastern.................................................         1 
    Western.................................................         6 
    Northern, Eastern, and Western..........................         1 
Oregon......................................................         7 
Pennsylvania:
    Eastern.................................................        22 
    Middle..................................................         6 
    Western.................................................        10 
Puerto Rico.................................................         7 
Rhode Island................................................         3 
South Carolina..............................................         9 
South Dakota................................................         3 
Tennessee:
    Eastern.................................................         5 
    Middle..................................................         4 
    Western.................................................         5 
Texas:
    Northern................................................        13 
    Southern................................................        19 
    Eastern.................................................         7 
    Western.................................................        10 
Utah........................................................         5 
Vermont.....................................................         2 
Virginia:
    Eastern.................................................        10 
    Western.................................................         4 
Washington:
    Eastern.................................................         4 
    Western.................................................         7 
West Virginia:
    Northern................................................         3 
    Southern................................................         5 
Wisconsin:
    Eastern.................................................         4 
    Western.................................................         2 
Wyoming.....................................................      3.''.

SEC. 4. ARTICLE III STATUS FOR THE JUDGESHIP AUTHORIZED FOR THE 
              COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS.

    (a) Composition of Ninth Circuit.--Section 41 of title 28, United 
States Code, is amended in the matter relating to the ninth circuit by 
inserting ``, Northern Mariana Islands'' after ``Hawaii''.
    (b) Establishment of Judicial District.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 5 of title 28, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting after section 114 the following new section:
``Sec. 114A. Northern Mariana Islands
    ``The Northern Mariana Islands constitute 1 judicial district. 
Court shall be held at Saipan.''.
            (2) Technical and conforming amendment.--The table of 
        sections for chapter 5 of title 28, United States Code, is 
        amended by inserting after the item relating to section 114 the 
        following:

``114A. Northern Mariana Islands.''.
    (c) District Judge.--Section 133(a) of title 28, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to North Dakota 
the following:

``Northern Mariana Islands..................................       1''.
    (d) Bankruptcy Judge.--Section 152(a) of title 28, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2) by inserting after the item relating 
        to North Dakota the following:

``Northern Mariana Islands..................................       0'';
        and
            (2) in paragraph (4) in the first sentence by inserting 
        ``and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands'' after 
        ``territories''.
    (e) Assignment of Judges.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 13 of title 28, United States 
        Code, is amended by adding after section 297 the following:
``Sec. 298. Assignment to the United States District Court for the 
              Northern Mariana Islands
    ``In addition to the judges authorized to be designated by sections 
291 and 292, the Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for 
the Ninth Circuit may assign judges of courts of record of the Northern 
Mariana Islands or Guam, including a judge of the District Court of 
Guam who is appointed by the President or a recalled senior judge of 
the District Court of Guam, to serve temporarily as a judge in the 
United States District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands whenever 
such an assignment is necessary for the proper dispatch of the business 
of the court. Such designated judges shall have the powers of a 
magistrate judge under section 636.''.
            (2) Technical and conforming amendment.--The table of 
        sections for chapter 13 of title 28, United States Code, is 
        amended by adding after the item relating to section 297 the 
        following:

``298. Assignment to the United States District Court for the Northern 
                            Mariana Islands.''.
    (f) Judicial Conferences of Circuits.--Section 333 of title 28, 
United States Code, is amended in the third sentence of the first 
undesignated paragraph by striking ``the District Court of the Virgin 
Islands, and the District Court of the Northern Mariana Islands'' and 
inserting ``and the District Court of the Virgin Islands''.
    (g) Judge in Territories and Possessions.--Section 373 of title 28, 
United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a) by striking ``the District Court of 
        the Northern Mariana Islands,''; and
            (2) in subsection (e) by striking ``the District Court of 
        the Northern Mariana Islands,''.
    (h) Annuities for Survivors of Certain Judicial Officials of the 
United States.--Section 376(a) of title 28, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(B) by striking ``, the District Court 
        of the Northern Mariana Islands,''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)(B) by striking ``, the District Court 
        of the Northern Mariana Islands,''.
    (i) Savings Provisions.--The amendments made by subsections (a) 
through (h) of this section shall not affect the rights of any judge 
who may have retired before the effective date of this section. Service 
as a judge of the District Court of the Northern Mariana Islands shall 
be included in computing under sections 371, 372, 373, and 376 of title 
28, United States Code, the aggregate years of judicial service of any 
person who is in office as a district judge for the District of the 
Northern Mariana Islands on the effective date of this section. The 
term of office of any such judge shall terminate upon a vacancy in the 
office by expiration of the term or otherwise. Upon such termination, 
the President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the 
Senate, a judge for the district who shall hold office during good 
behavior.
    (j) United States Attorney.--Section 541 of title 28, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a) by inserting before the period the 
        following: ``, except that any United States attorney appointed 
        for the Northern Mariana Islands may at the same time serve as 
        United States attorney in another judicial district''; and
            (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d) and 
        inserting after subsection (b) the following:
    ``(c) If the President appoints a United States attorney for the 
Northern Mariana Islands who at that time is serving in the same 
capacity in another district, the appointment shall, without prejudice 
to a subsequent appointment, be for the unexpired term of such United 
States attorney.''.
    (k) United States Marshals Service.--Section 561(d) of title 28, 
United States Code, is amended by adding after the second sentence the 
following: ``If the President appoints a marshal for the Northern 
Mariana Islands who at that time is serving in the same capacity in 
another district, the appointment shall, without prejudice to a 
subsequent appointment, be for the unexpired term of such marshal.''.
    (l) United States Magistrates.--Section 631(b)(1) of title 28, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting ``the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands,'' after ``Puerto Rico,''.
    (m) Interlocutory Decisions.--Section 1292(d)(4)(A) of title 28, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``, the District Court of 
the Virgin Islands, or the District Court for the Northern Mariana 
Islands,'' and inserting ``, or the District Court of the Virgin 
Islands,''.
    (n) Jurisdiction of the United States Court of Appeals for the 
Federal Circuit.--Section 1295(a) of title 28, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``, the District Court of 
        the Virgin Islands, or the District Court for the Northern 
        Mariana Islands,'' and inserting ``, or the District Court of 
        the Virgin Islands,''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2) by striking ``, the District Court of 
        the Virgin Islands, or the District Court for the Northern 
        Mariana Islands,'' and inserting ``, or the District Court of 
        the Virgin Islands,''.
    (o) Diversity Jurisdiction.--Section 1332(d) of title 28, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``, and the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico'' and inserting ``, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands''.
    (p) Civil Commitment and Rehabilitation of Narcotics Addicts.--
Section 2901(e) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking 
``or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,'' and inserting ``the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands,''.
    (q) Northern Mariana Islands Judicial Provisions.--The Act of 
November 8, 1977 (Public Law 95-157; 91 Stat. 1265) is amended--
            (1) in section 4(a) (48 U.S.C. 1824(a))--
                    (A) by striking ``(a)'';
                    (B) by striking all beginning with ``, unless those 
                cases are reviewable in the District Court for the 
                Northern Mariana Islands'' through the period and 
                inserting a period; and
                    (C) by striking subsection (b); and
            (2) by striking--
                    (A) the first section (48 U.S.C. 1821);
                    (B) section 2 (48 U.S.C. 1822);
                    (C) section 3 (48 U.S.C. 1823);
                    (D) section 5 (48 U.S.C. 1825); and
                    (E) section 6 (48 U.S.C. 1826).

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, including such sums 
as may be necessary to provide appropriate space and facilities for the 
judicial positions created by this Act.

SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
                                 <all>