Crapo, Risch Reintroduce Legislation to Grant Idaho a Third District Judge

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) introduced legislation, S. 54, that would create an additional federal district judgeship in Idaho. Idaho is one of only three states (along with North Dakota and Vermont) with only two authorized judgeships. In contrast, the Central District of California and the Southern District of New York each have 28 authorized judgeships. If passed, the legislation would add a third judge to the District of Idaho. Crapo and Risch introduced similar legislation during the 118^th Congress.

"Idaho's growing population demands a third district judge to ensure timely and effective access to justice," said Crapo. "This need has been evident for years, as the state's population and caseload have surged since the last district judge appointment nearly seventy years ago. The lack of sufficient judicial resources has placed Idaho's legal system at a significant disadvantage. Adding a third district judge is a practical solution to help manage the increasing workload and uphold efficient justice."

"Adding a third district judgeship in Idaho is commonsense and would help administer efficient and effective justice in our state," said Risch. "Idaho has faced a judicial emergency for years, putting our state and legal system at a great disadvantage. As the state continues to grow, this bill is an important step in increasing Idahoans' access to the judicial system."

Since the second district judge was authorized in 1954, Idaho's population has grown substantially--and is estimated to be over 2 million people as of December 2024--and the court indicates that its caseload has increased exponentially. This leaves Idaho at a disadvantage compared to other similarly-sized states. Since 2003, the Judicial Conference of the U.S. has consistently found Idaho to be facing a judicial emergency based on weighted caseload numbers per active judge and the lack of a third federal judgeship to balance caseloads. The state is in a precarious position with only two authorized federal judges.