Political Quotes

“we have already debated the merits of the second-degree amendment, which establishes the commission to study the reorganization or the probable reorganization of the courts of appeals across this Nation. But the real emphasis should be placed upon the first-degree amendment, which actually has something to do with the restructuring of the ninth judicial circuit. We have already debated the issue. Those who are opposed to the issue made their points, and made them very well. But I think the most compelling reasons why we should do this is that it is just a big, big circuit. Under this proposal--that is, the first degree--to split the ninth circuit, California, Hawaii, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands would form one 15-judge unit. That would be the ninth circuit. Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington would form the new twelfth circuit of 13 judges. The caseload would be split, and the heavy end of it would still be with the California, Hawaii, or the old ninth. They would still, under today's procedures, have 60 percent of the caseload, while 40 percent would go into the new twelfth circuit. The reasons are as compelling for those States that would remain in the ninth after the newly formed twelfth went into full operation. The circuit is just too big--9 States, 1.4 million square miles, 45 million people. It is, by far, the largest circuit of all of the 11.”