Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judgeship and Reorganization Act of 2025

HR 634, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judgeship and Reorganization Act of 2025, splits the current Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals into two separate circuits: the restructured Ninth Circuit (covering California, Guam, Hawaii, and the Northern Mariana Islands) and a new Twelfth Circuit (covering Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington). The bill adds 2 new judges for the restructured Ninth Circuit and 3 new judges for the Twelfth Circuit, with appointments requiring Senate confirmation after January 2025. It establishes transition rules for existing judges, ensuring current judges in specific states are reassigned to the new circuits based on their duty stations, and ensures ongoing cases are handled without disruption. This reorganization directly affects federal appellate judges and the administrative structure of the U.S. Court of Appeals system.