1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

The proposed Judicial Administration and Improvement Act of 2025 seeks to divide the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals into two circuits - the new Ninth Circuit covering California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and a newly created Twelfth Circuit comprising Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, and Nevada. While restructuring the judiciary may have merits in improving efficiency, this legislation raises concerns given the current fiscal climate. At a time when federal agencies are facing budgetary constraints and workforce reductions, creating new federal judgeships could be viewed as misaligned with broader austerity measures. Rather than expanding the federal payroll, resources may be better directed toward streamlining existing court operations or bolstering other public services that directly impact struggling Americans. A measure of this scale warrants careful consideration of its costs and priorities relative to the needs of ordinary citizens facing economic hardship.