President Biden's veto of a bill designed to increase the number of federal judges has drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle, igniting a debate over the bill's timing and political motivations. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), a key Biden ally and co-sponsor of the bill, expressed his disappointment, emphasizing the bipartisan effort behind the legislation and the pressing need to address the growing caseloads burdening federal courts.

Coons placed the blame on House Republicans, suggesting their decision to vote on the bill after the 2024 election politicized the process. He highlighted the careful bipartisan crafting of the bill, which aimed to distribute the addition of new judgeships over a decade to avoid favoring any single administration. The Senator contended that the House's delayed action ultimately led to the presidential veto.

Conversely, Republicans have accused Biden of using the veto to prevent President-elect Trump from filling the proposed new judicial positions. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) argued that the bill's initial unanimous passage in the Senate demonstrated its bipartisan support and importance in addressing court backlogs. He asserted that Democratic support waned only after the election results, indicating a shift in their stance based on political considerations.

The vetoed bill would have created 66 new federal district judgeships over a ten-year period. The initial Senate passage occurred during a period of high Democratic morale following Vice President Kamala Harris's nomination as the Democratic presidential candidate. The unanimous consent in the Senate indicated a lack of Republican opposition at the time.