Ada Reporter

U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher has announced his support as an original co-sponsor of H.R. 319, a bill aimed at adding a third federal district judgeship to Idaho. Fulcher stated that with the state's population having nearly tripled since the addition of a second district court judge, a third judgeship is now necessary. "A third district judgeship is not only justified, it’s necessary," he said. He emphasized that this move would save taxpayer money by reducing the need for non-local judges and improve access to the court system for Idaho citizens, particularly those in rural areas.

The bill was authored by Congressman Mike Simpson, who highlighted the delays in justice for Idahoans due to the lack of judicial resources. He criticized President Biden's recent veto of the bipartisan JUDGES Act, which would have created additional federal judgeships nationwide, including in Idaho. Simpson expressed determination to pass this critical legislation, stating it would help alleviate overburdened judges and reduce case backlog.

Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch have introduced similar legislation in the Senate (S. 54).