Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Republicans seek to split court circuit

|
|
 
  
Published: June 19, 2005 at 11:04 AM

WASHINGTON, June 19 (UPI) -- Congressional Republicans have begun a push to split the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, which has jurisdiction in the far Western United States.

The Republicans say breaking up the usually liberal court, which covers nine states, is the best way to solve the problem of large caseloads on federal judges, The New York Times reported Sunday.

Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, has introduced legislation that would create two new appellate courts for the area, and the Times said Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., plans to introduce a bill that would split the circuit into three parts.

"The situation is continuing to get worse for the 9th Circuit," Ensign told the newspaper. "It has by far the most cases per jurist, and it's just too large and too unwieldy."

However, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., has said the real problem is the number of judges handling cases. "If there is a way to reduce the caseload of the 9th Circuit's judges in a fair and honest manner," she said in a statement, "I am open to considerations." Feinstein has resisted splitting the court in the past.

Topics: Dianne Feinstein, John Ensign, Mike Simpson
© 2005 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
Notable deaths of 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee AmfAR Cinema Against AIDS gala
Indianapolis 500 Presidential Medal of Freedom Memorial Day around the nation
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 20
Singer Janelle Monae arrives at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards in Universal City, California
View Caption
Singer Janelle Monae arrives for the MTV Movie Awards at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California. UPI/Jim Ruymen
fark
The bar for spelling has never been lowre
Turns out men cheat way more than women after all
Famous last words: "The notion that it's too late to do anything is comical. It's hilarious. We're...
Five secrets to getting the best healthcare. #6: Don't get sick
Traveling to the U.S.? If invited to a dinner party, bring a gift of wine, but not cash or toiletries...
Man turns dead pet cat into remote-controlled helicopter, calls it art (w/WTF pics)