There is a crisis in the federal judiciary — 75 of them to be exact. That is the number of federal courts, according to the Judicial Conference (the policymaking body for the federal courts), facing “judicial emergencies” due to crushing caseloads and long-term judicial vacancies.

To address some of these challenges, the Judicial Conference has asked Congress to create 57 new federal judgeships. These additional judgeships are greatly needed. Since the last major increase in judgeships nearly 30 years ago, filings in federal court have increased by approximately 40 percent. Mounting caseloads create significant case delays and unneeded legal uncertainties, which fuel greater litigation costs and impose significant hardship on individuals and businesses across the country.