{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://simpson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362236", "Simpson Introduces Legislation to Provide Idaho a Third District Judge", "2013-11-19", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "ID", "Mike Simpson", "S001148", "simpson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson has introduced legislation, H.R. 3457, to add a judge to Idaho\u2019s federal court system, which has a ballooning caseload and just two U.S. district judges.\u00a0Simpson\u2019s legislation directs the appointment of a third district judge in Idaho.\r\n\u201cIt is far past time for Idaho to get a third district judge and the bill I have introduced will provide the additional judge that our state needs,\u201d said Simpson. \u201cI recently met with Idaho\u2019s federal judges and heard directly from them about the serious impact budget cuts, sequester, and the lack of an additional judge are having on the federal courts in Idaho. While I am fully cognizant of the budget crisis facing our country, I share the judges' concerns about delays in the administration of justice and the impact that has on the Constitutional role of the courts.\u201d\r\nAs Idaho\u2019s population has grown, so has the number of court cases.\u00a0 Between 2007 and 2013 the District of Idaho has experienced a 26% increase in total filings and pending caseloads have increased 30%.\u00a0 Idaho has a heavier caseload than other rural states that already have three federal district judges (Alaska, Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming).\u00a0 The challenge of an overloaded court is further compounded by the budget shortages, further impacting the court\u2019s ability to function properly and serve Idahoans.\r\n\u201cFor years I\u2019ve advocated adding a new judge in Idaho because we need it as much as anywhere in the country,\u201d said Simpson. \u00a0\u201cIdahoans deserve access to an efficient court system, and this bill would do much to ensure their continued access to it.\u201d\r\nSimpson and former Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick introduced similar legislation in 2010.\u00a0 It has been 59 years since the number of district judges in Idaho has been increased.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://simpson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362236"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9918669238686562, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}