McSally, Sinema sponsor legislation to strengthen Arizona’s court system
KTAR
PHOENIX – Arizona Sens. Martha McSally and Kyrsten Sinema have cosponsored a bill that aims to streamline the backlog of cases plaguing the state’s federal courts
McSally, a Republican, and Sinema, a Democrat, crossed the aisle on the legislation that would increase the number of federal judgeships in the state.
McSally said in a press release that Arizona’s growing population has rendered judges “burdened with heavy caseloads that hinder their ability to effectively do their jobs.”
Arizona is officially in the midst of a “Judicial Emergency,” which the Judicial Conference of the United States defines as instances “where weighted filings are in excess of 600 per judgeship,” the release notes.
There are currently 800 weighted filings per judgeship in Arizona.
The proposed bill would add four federal judgeships to the state’s courts and would make permanent another judgeship that is currently temporary.
“Arizona is one of the fastest growing states in the nation,” Sen. Sinema said in the release.
“Making Arizona’s federal judgeship a permanent position increases access to judicial services for all Arizonans.”