Biden continues to play crooked games.
President Joe Biden has vetoed a crucial bipartisan bill that would have added 66 new federal judgeships, a move that critics argue is rooted in partisan politics and a desire to limit President Donald Trump’s influence on judicial appointments. The bill, known as the JUDGES Act, aimed to address the growing backlog in the federal judiciary, particularly in states with overwhelmed courts, by gradually expanding the number of judgeships through 2035.
Biden justified his veto by claiming that the legislation was “too hurried” and that it failed to address important questions, such as the allocation of new judgeships and how the roles of senior status judges and magistrate judges factor into the equation. He also suggested that the rush to pass the bill might have been a failure to adequately assess the true need for new appointments.
But many Republicans see Biden’s veto as a strategic move aimed at preventing a potential Republican president from having the opportunity to appoint judges to these newly created positions. The JUDGES Act was designed to gradually add judges over several years, with the intention of avoiding a situation where one party could dominate the judiciary by filling a large number of positions all at once.
The bill had received strong bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress, reflecting widespread concern over the mounting caseloads that federal judges have been facing. In fact, some judges from both parties have publicly endorsed the legislation, pointing out that their workloads have increased by over 30% in recent decades.
Despite bipartisan backing, Biden’s veto sends a strong signal to Republicans that his administration is committed to maintaining control over judicial appointments. With a potential second term for President Trump on the horizon, Biden’s refusal to allow the expansion raises concerns that Democrats are more focused on preventing Republican influence in the courts than addressing the real need for more judges.
Biden has now issued over a dozen vetoes during his presidency, a sign of his willingness to challenge legislative action that he perceives as unfavorable to his administration’s agenda. To override this veto, Congress would need a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate—a threshold that seems unlikely to be met, given the current makeup of the legislative body.
While Biden’s veto on judicial appointments made headlines, he also signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), despite objections from some liberals over provisions banning transgender surgeries for minors. The NDAA includes measures that increase military service members’ pay and benefits, but the transgender provision has become a point of contention for the left. Biden’s signing of the bill highlights the tension between his commitment to defense priorities and his opposition to specific social policies included in the legislation.
The judicial veto serves as a reminder of the stark divisions in American politics, particularly regarding the future of the judiciary. Republicans should remain vigilant as Biden’s veto power continues to shape the course of judicial reforms and appointments in the coming years.