Florida would get 11 new federal district court judges under legislation filed this week by U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson.
The “Florida Federal Judicial Relief Act” would authorize six new judgeships in the sprawling Middle District, which currently has 15 judges and covers 35 counties stretching from the Georgia line in northeast Florida to south of Naples, including the Tampa Bay region.
The legislation would authorize three new judges and convert a temporary judicial post into a permanent position in the Southern District, which has 18 judges and covers nine counties --- including Miami-Dade and Broward --- in southeast Florida.
The bill also would add one new judge to the Northern District, which has four active judges, covers 23 counties and includes the Panhandle, Tallahassee and Gainesville.
The additional judgeships are based on the recommendations of the Judicial Conference of the United States, a national policy-making group that offers its assessment every two years.
Rubio, a Republican, said adding the judges would “ensure a more efficient” court system.
“The overwhelming caseload facing our judges is an undue burden for both our judicial system and the people of Florida,” Rubio said. Nelson, a Democrat, noted Florida's district courts are among the busiest in the nation. “This bill will help provide Floridians with better access to our legal system,” he said.