Federal judges can live anywhere, not near their courts.

What it does

This bill lets federal circuit judges live anywhere instead of near their assigned court. It tells the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to give judges office space where they live. Judges can get offices in Washington, D.C. if they live within 50 miles. Otherwise they get offices in their home district. The same rule applies to judges of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

Who it affects

Federal circuit judges and judges of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims can now live farther from their courts. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts must provide them office space and support services in new locations.

One thing to notice

The bill does not pay for new office buildings. Judges living far away may get worse office space or strain existing resources.

From the analysis of the bill text, linked under Primary records below.

Where it stands

1 cosponsor: 1 Democrats.

• Sep 16, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in Senate”
• Sep 16, 2026 — Referred to Senate Committee on the Judiciary · Congress.gov: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Words to know

• circuit judges — Federal judges who work in a region called a circuit and hear appeals from lower courts.
• Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts — The federal agency that runs the court system and provides judges with offices and support.
• U.S. Court of Federal Claims — A federal court that hears cases where people claim the government owes them money.