Revisions to the US Federal Court 1-17-26

Congress revises the federal judiciary system through ongoing legislation, with major overhauls including the 1948 Judicial Code revision for administrative changes, the 1891 Act creating Circuit Courts of Appeals, the 1925 Judges' Bill for Supreme Court discretion, and expansions in 1978 and 1990 to add judgeships, alongside specialized courts created like the Federal Circuit (1982) and Court of International Trade (1980).  

Key Legislative Milestones

1789 Judiciary Act: Established the initial structure of the federal court system, including the Supreme Court and lower federal courts, says the Federal Judicial Center.

1891 (Judiciary Act of 1891): Created the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals, ending the practice of Supreme Court justices "riding circuit," notes the U.S. Courts.

1911 (Abolition of Circuit Courts): Eliminated the old circuit courts, solidifying the current district/circuit court structure, according to the Supreme Court Historical Society.

1925 (Judges' Bill): Granted the Supreme Court more control over its docket, allowing it to choose more cases, states the Federal Judicial Center.

1948 (Judicial Code Revision): The first major overhaul of the Judicial Code since 1911, simplifying statutes, establishing chief judges for district/appellate courts, and modernizing language, explains the Federal Judicial Center.

1980 (U.S. Court of International Trade): Reorganized trade-related courts into this specialized body, reports the Annenberg Classroom.

1982 (Federal Circuit): Created the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, handling specialized patent and customs appeals, describes the Federal Judicial Center.

1990 (Court Expansion): Congress added numerous seats to the federal courts to address caseloads, notes the Center for American Progress. 

These revisions reflect ongoing adjustments to judicial administration, structure, and jurisdiction, with significant changes occurring at key historical moments and in response to growing caseloads. 

Congress has revised the federal judiciary system several times since its creation, with major overhauls occurring in 1789, 1891, 1911, and 1948. 

The most significant legislative revisions include:

Judiciary Act of 1789: Established the initial three-part federal court structure, including the Supreme Court, district courts, and circuit courts.

Judiciary Act of 1891 (Evarts Act): Created the U.S. circuit courts of appeals as a new intermediate tier to relieve the Supreme Court's growing caseload.

Judicial Code of 1911: Abolished the original U.S. circuit courts and transferred their remaining trial jurisdiction to the U.S. district courts, solidifying the modern three-tier structure.

Judicial Code of 1948: Represented the first major modern overhaul of the judicial code, simplifying statutes and establishing the office of "chief judge" for district and appellate courts. 

Additional Key Revisions

1801 & 1802 Acts: A brief, highly partisan reorganization that created new judgeships (the "Midnight Judges") in 1801, only to be repealed by the new Republican-led Congress in 1802.

Judiciary Act of 1869: Set the number of Supreme Court justices at nine, where it has remained since, and established separate circuit judgeships for the first time.

The "Judges' Bill" of 1925: Significantly expanded the Supreme Court’s discretionary power to choose its own cases through writs of certiorari.

Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978: Established the modern U.S. bankruptcy court system as a unit of the district courts.

Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1982: Created the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, defined by its subject matter jurisdiction rather than geography.

Judgeship Bill of 1990: Provided the last major expansion of federal court seats, adding 11 circuit and 61 district judgeships. 

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Comments

Federal Judges need to have their scope limited to Federal Cases confined to local cases and should not be allowed to make rulings beyond their local cases.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader