[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 27 (Wednesday, March 5, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E379]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF A BILL REQUESTING FAIR REPRESENTATION ON FEDERAL 
                   JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS

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                         HON. NEIL ABERCROMBIE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 5, 1997

  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, today I am reintroducing legislation 
which calls for fair representation on all Federal Judicial Circuit 
Court of Appeals. This legislation is a companion bill to S. 382, the 
Fairness in Judiciary Appointments Act of 1997. Furthermore, it is 
identical to H.R. 3045, which was introduced in 1996.
  Currently, only the State of Hawaii does not have representation on 
their circuit court of appeals. In fact, it's been over 10 years since 
Judge Herbert Choy of Honolulu retired from the Ninth Circuit Court of 
Appeals. Some States like Montana have only recently had a resident 
granted a judgeship. My bill would require that each State have at 
least one judge appointed to its circuit court of appeals. That way, 
all States would always have representation on the bench. The bill does 
not affect the President's historic power to appoint Federal judges.
  Having each State represented on its respective circuit courts helps 
ensure that justice is blind and impartial. A report entitled ``The 
Long Range Plans for Federal Courts,'' completed by the Judicial 
Conference of the United States in December 1995, noted, ``Federal 
judicial credibility and accountability are fostered when appellate 
judges are drawn primarily from the region they will serve.'' This bill 
would add to the judicial credibility of the courts, because each State 
would have at least one judge representing and understanding its State 
law, business, and customs.
  This legislation is about maintaining the integrity of our third 
branch of government, fairness, and representation. I strongly urge my 
colleagues to support this bill and press for its passage.

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