Haley Stevens: “I shall not use that much time. I do appreciate the courtesy of the manager of the bill. Mr. President, we have studied…”

“I shall not use that much time. I do appreciate the courtesy of the manager of the bill. Mr. President, we have studied this matter to death. The issue, in 1973, was recommended by Senator Hruska and the Hruska Commission was created. It recommended then, in 1973, that the ninth circuit court be split. Every Congress we hear the same thing from the large delegation in the House and the two Senators in the Senate from California: we need more study. I think that is what we are hearing again now--have another study. It has only been 24 years now that we have been studying since the first commission reported. But, of course, we do need the advice of another commission. Mr. President, I am a California lawyer. I was raised in California, and I am pleased to have that background. But I tell you, in all sincerity, I cannot believe that we can continue this situation. This chart--I am not sure it can be seen, Mr. President. This chart shows the population and caseload of the circuits. Clearly, the population is almost 50 million people in the ninth circuit, and it requires some change when, clearly, the average of all of the others is somewhere around 20 million people. I want to address the concern spoken to, I think, by my good friend from Hawaii, Senator Inouye. It has been 13 years now since a Hawaii resident was appointed to the ninth circuit. Fourteen judges have been seated on the circuit since that time, but Hawaii was never recognized.…”