Angie Craig: “I regret to point out one very important provision that is missing from H.R. 2215: a district judgeship for Idaho. This…”

“I regret to point out one very important provision that is missing from H.R. 2215: a district judgeship for Idaho. This is a matter of great urgency to the citizens of my State. Idaho has two Federal district judgeships, created in 1890 and 1954. We are one of only three States in the union with two Federal district judgeships. There are three distinct and widely-distant geographical areas in my State: the Southeast, the Southwest and the North. A district judge must travel up to 450 miles between division offices. This distance is greater than that traveled in other rural district courts, including those of Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota or Eastern Washington. In fact, only a district judge in Alaska has a greater distance to travel, when comparing these rural district courts. Because of the State's sheer size, its extraordinary increase in population, and tremendous growth in caseload over nearly five decades, the current situation is becoming increasingly unworkable, and we are seeking one additional judgeship. Unlike other States, we have no senior judges to fill in the gaps. We are depending on judges borrowed from other districts to help us, but obviously that can only be a temporary fix for the problem. To remedy this crisis, the State of Idaho has requested a third Federal district judge.”