10/31/05 New push to split the 9th Circuit Court

Mike Simpson and other Republicans in Congress are renewing the effort to break up the controversial Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals based in San Francisco. SIMPSON "We're very adamant we're going to split the Ninth Circuit. It's necessary. It's the right thing to do administratively for the court." Simpson and Wisconsin's Jim Sensenbrenner, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee have introduced legislation that will provide for additional federal judges while realigning the Ninth Circuit into two separate courts. SIMPSON "The chairman has tied it to the additional judgeships that are necessary across the country. There's not going to be any additional judgeships unless we split the Ninth Circuit." Idaho would become part of the 12th district while California, Hawaii and Guam would remain in the 9th. Simpson says this new legislation is aimed at appeasing critics of the split like California Senator Diane Feinstein who help up House-passed legislation last year and never let it get to the Senate floor for a vote. SIMPSON "If Senator Feinstein and others are okay with the split realizing that they're going to get new judgeships and stuff then perhaps she'll go along with it and it can move relatively quickly." Simpson is hopeful that the House will pass the legislation before the end of the month. The bill authorizes the creation of 68 new judgeships - 12 at the circuit court level and 56 at the district courts. In addition, the bill would create 24 new permanent or temporary bankruptcy judgeships. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott