Responding to the District of Colorado’s Need for Additional Support, the Senators’ Legislation Would Add Seats to the Bench for the First Time Since 1984
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and U.S. Representative Joe Neguse introduced the Colorado Judgeship Act to add three district judges to the District Court of Colorado. The increase in judges responds to a need for additional support on Colorado’s district court bench as the state’s population increases. Colorado U.S. Representative Joe Neguse introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
“Caseload backlogs shouldn’t stand in the way of justice. We need to expand the number of judges on Colorado’s district court so the bench is sufficient for our growing state,” said Hickenlooper.
“As Colorado grows, we need to help our courts administer a fair and efficient justice system. In addition to continuing to confirm eminently qualified judges, this legislation is another step to provide much-needed support to the District Court of Colorado,” said Bennet.
“We must ensure that Colorado’s growing population has proper judicial representation, which means advocating for additional judges to be added to the state’s federal district court,” said Neguse.
With Colorado’s growing population, the District Court of Colorado’s caseload has reached the highest level since the Court started tracking this data. The Colorado Judgeship Act would allow the president to appoint three additional judges to Colorado’s district court to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. This would be the first increase in judges on Colorado’s district court since 1984.
Hickenlooper and Bennet have filled four vacancies on the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado and are working to fill a fifth vacancy. Since 2021, the senators recommended Regina Rodriguez, Charlotte Sweeney, Nina Wang, Gordon Gallagher, and Kato Crews to serve on the District Court. The Senate confirmed Judge Rodriguez in June 2021, Judge Sweeney in May, Judge Wang in August, and Judge Gallagher in March. Last week, Judge Crews advanced out of the Judiciary Committee and now awaits consideration by the full Senate.
The text of the bill is available HERE.
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