[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 59 (Friday, April 11, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S5379]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. HATCH:
  S. 920. A bill to provide for the appointment of additional Federal 
circuit and district judges, and for other purposes; to the Committee 
on the Judiciary.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, it is my pleasure to introduce today the 
Federal Judgeship Act of 2003. This bill will alleviate some of the 
strain on the vastly overburdened Federal courts by creating a total of 
57 new judgeships: Eleven new circuit judgeships and 46 new district 
judgeships. It also converts five existing temporary judgeships to 
permanent positions. In addition, the bill confers Article III status 
on the judgeships authorized for the Northern Mariana Islands and the 
Virgin Islands.
  The Judicial Conference of the United States endorses the provisions 
in this bill. I hope that my colleagues will join me in supporting it.
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