Staff Reports
President Joe Biden has officially thrown a wrench in the works of a bipartisan effort to expand the federal judicial system, vetoing a proposal that would have created 66 new district judgeships. The president’s reasoning for this decision, which could easily be mistaken for a bad excuse from a high school student for skipping class, revolves around concerns about “hurried action” from the House and a perceived lack of clarity on how these new judgeships would be allocated. Apparently, a decade-long plan requiring input from three presidents and six Congresses wasn’t thorough enough for his liking.
The bill, which had the blessing of a previously bipartisan Senate, was designed to make sure neither political party got to stack the courts in their favor. But after former President Donald Trump regained the reins of the Republican Party, the GOP-controlled House decided to push the measure forward, only to get slapped down by Biden. The president’s dismissal is a classic case of political foot-dragging, demonstrating that when it comes to getting things done for the American people, Biden’s preferred tempo is more “slow and steady” than “urgent and necessary.”
To add to the irony, Biden claimed that the legislation failed to address critical questions regarding the allocation of these judgeships and the role of existing judges in the judicial system. One can’t help but chuckle at the notion that the president is worried about efficiency in a system known for its delay and backlog. Meanwhile, organizations representing judges and attorneys have flagged that the shortage of federal judges is actually contributing to dire delays in the legal system. It seems like those advocating for speedy justice might not be on Biden’s holiday card list.
Biden Vetoes Bipartisan Bill in Order to Block Trump from Making Additional Judicial Appointments: Biden claimed the bill was a “hurried action” from the House of Representatives. https://t.co/D4ZBe60KpL pic.twitter.com/XzzRtjiZSy
— The Western Journal (@WestJournalism) December 24, 2024
Republican Senator Todd Young, who felt the sting of Biden’s veto acutely, called the decision misguided and an example of why Americans can’t wait for the day when Biden finally vacates the White House. Young pointed out the irony that while the president is quick to use his executive power to help family members, like his son Hunter, Biden is dragging his feet when it comes to aiding average Americans seeking timely justice. There’s certainly an appearance that Biden’s priorities are skewed—his legacy might well come to be seen as “Pardons for My Family, Delays for Regular Folks.”
The irony of the situation is palpable. In a time when the judicial system is at the brink of chaos due to a lack of necessary appointments, Biden’s veto choice suggests that he places partisan game-playing over the very justice system the nation relies on. Given that overturning the veto would require a hefty two-thirds majority in both chambers, it appears this legislation may now be collecting dust, much like the promises made during Biden’s campaign—another instance of the president prioritizing political maneuvering over immediate action for the American populace.
