Hill Country Chronicle

Representative Chip Roy from Texas has publicly announced his opposition to the JUDGES Act, a legislative proposal identified as S. 4199, which aims to establish 66 new federal judgeships across various districts in the United States.

In his statement, Rep. Roy explained his decision: "I voted against S. 4199, the Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved (JUDGES) Act. This legislation would authorize 66 new federal judgeships in districts nationwide."

Although acknowledging that Texans could benefit from the additional judges, Rep. Roy emphasized that he had made a commitment not to support any legislative priorities proposed by senators who backed the fiscal year 2023 omnibus bill. He elaborated on this stance by referencing a letter he sent on December 19, 2022: "While Texans benefit from the additional judges, I voted against the bill as a matter of keeping my word."

Rep. Roy further criticized the passage of the fiscal year 2023 omnibus bill during what he described as a "lame-duck Congress controlled by Democrats," stating it continued "the federal government’s war on the liberty and security of the American people."

Additionally, Rep. Roy pointed out ongoing concerns with the Judicial Conference's efforts to eliminate single-judge divisions while simultaneously advocating for the JUDGES Act's approval: "As I highlighted in two separate letters in October, the Judicial Conference’s pursuit of eliminating single-judge divisions while simultaneously asking for the JUDGES Act passage has remained unresolved."

He concluded by reaffirming his dedication to ensuring Texas possesses all necessary legal resources to contest federal overreach in court.