Dianne Feinstein: “As the distinguished Chair knows, the board of governors of the Arizona bar has issued a resolution against the recent…”

“As the distinguished Chair knows, the board of governors of the Arizona bar has issued a resolution against the recent Burns proposal, stating the following: The proposal cuts Arizona off from California, the State with which it shares the greatest legal and economic ties. This bill would create a two-State circuit, with one tiny State dwarfed by a large State. California would have 94 percent of the new ninth circuit's caseload. It is also a very costly proposal. I find it just ironic that the committee would vote to spend so much for no demonstrated gain, when this Congress is so concerned--and I believe commendably concerned-- with reducing the costs of the judiciary. Splitting the ninth circuit would require duplicative offices of clerk of the court, circuit executive, staff attorneys, settlement attorneys, courtrooms, libraries, and mail and computer facilities. The estimated additional costs of a new or rehabilitated courthouse for a proposed headquarters in Phoenix range from $23 to $59.5 million. Both GSA and CBO have allocated startup costs at an additional $3 million. GSA and CBO have estimated annual costs of duplicative staff positions at $1 million, and an additional $2 million for the cost of leasing space for the headquarters until permanent quarters could be made available. So we have duplicative staff to the tune of $1 million, and additional lease costs--unnecessary--of $2 million.”