Holder Says He's Open to 'Reconfiguring' the 9th Circuit

[usregimechange]

The long-proposed breakup of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit faces multiple obstacles, including the opposition of many of the court's judges. But when asked recently about the idea, Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. was not willing to rule it out.

It’s been several years since debate last flared about splitting the enormous 9th Circuit. In 2006, congressional Republicans and a handful of the circuit’s judges pushed the idea, citing the circuit’s sprawling geography out West and its heavy caseload. Earlier debates focused on the appellate court’s reputation for liberal rulings that nevertheless applied to states like Idaho and Montana.

On Thursday, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) raised the idea again at a hearing on the U.S. Justice Department’s budget.

“I have long been of the opinion that the 9th Circuit covers far too much territory,” Murkowski told Holder, who was testifying. “Its caseload is too heavy. It’s understaffed. The judges of the 9th Circuit are being asked to spend a lot of time away from their families to hear cases in far-flung states that make up the circuit, and I have long supported a split of the circuit into two circuits.”

Holder said the idea is worthy of some study.

http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2010/05/holder-says-hes-open-to-reconfiguring-the-9th-circuit.html

[annabanana]

1. What are circuits 1-8?.. (size wise) . . . . . .n/t

[usregimechange]

3. examples:

[enlightenment]

5. Since they no longer have to travel the 'circuit' on horseback, ;)

I'd be more interested in seeing how it works out in terms of population and number of cases per year, if you know of any links to that information.

Much appreciated, thanks.

[usregimechange]

8. Caseloads:

http://www.uscourts.gov/caseload2009/tables/B00Mar09.pdf

Number of judges:
http://www.uscourts.gov/judicialvac.cfm

[pnorman]

18. Thanks for those maps!

Are there any available for Districts 7 and 8?

[ornotna]

19. Here you go

http://www.uscourts.gov/courtlinks/

[aquart]

2. That does seem quite large.

[usregimechange]

4. Maybe create some new seats for Obama to fill?

[Igel]

7. Which is worthy of consideration.

Objection to such things usually varies by party affiliation. I'm cynical enough to think that if Holder had been told such an idea in 2004, he'd have spluttered in indignation at the idea. Now, since an ally would call the shots, perhaps it's worth a gander.

Lots of asymmetries. I usually consider an asymmetry to point out something worth pondering: To what extent are my "principles" simply party jingoism and "obviously things should always be done my way" thinking.

[BrklynLiberal]

6. My first instinct is that if the repukes are for it, I don't like it...

[usregimechange]

9. They were less for it after Jan of 2009

[BrklynLiberal]

11. LOL. I guess their enthusiasm dropped with the idea that Pres Obama would be filling the seats.

[KT2000]

10. CC-9 is a Liberal Court

Leave it alone!!!
The repukes just do not like their decisions.

[lonestarnot]

14. The most liberal in the nation! LEAVE IT ALONE!

[dsn]

16. It's also a MASSIVE circuit!

If you were to split it into two circuits at the OR/CA line, you could call the southern circuit the 9th and fill it with liberals from LA and San Francisco, while the northern circuit would be the 10th and fillable with liberals from Seattle and Portland. So...two liberal circuits instead of just one.

[KT2000]

21. Only if there is an ironclad promise!

[truedelphi]

22. In order for it to be left alone, we would need

Someone with a progressive agenda in power, and that apparently is not Obama or Holder.

We can probably kiss the Ninth (as it is) good bye.

[Bluebear]

20. No wonder they want to mess with it.

[Arctic Dave]

12. If Ms Iguana Eyes is for it then it must not be a good idea.

[annabanana]

13. Thanks for this thread... packed full of good info for the curious!. . n/t

[Major Hogwash]

17. I hope they leave it intact. It saves our asses a little up here in Idaho.

What the Republicans wanted to do back in 2006 was split the more conservative states off of the 9th District and lump them all together to form a new District Court.
So then that District Court could set precedents that would then be supported and upheld by the conservatives sitting on the Supreme Court.

[truedelphi]

23. They have some very noteworthy decisions. And it would be a shame if

They were split up or held back.

[WeDidIt]

15. DO IT!

Do it under Obama.

It'll create numerous federal judge slots for Obama to fill!