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H.R. 3426 · House bill · 119th Congress
This bill provides statutory authority for the General Services Administration (GSA) courtroom sharing policy and limits construction of new courthouses.
Under the bill, GSA must ensure courtroom sharing by magistrate, bankruptcy, and senior district judges. Specifically
in courthouses with 10 or more active district judges, GSA must provide two courtrooms per 3 active district judges (except such courthouses may contain not less than 9 courtrooms for active district judges);
in courthouses with 3 or more bankruptcy judges, GSA must provide one courtroom per 2 bankruptcy judges;
in courthouses with 3 or more senior district judges, GSA must provide one courtroom per 2 senior district judges; and
in courthouses with 3 or more magistrate judges, GSA must provide one courtroom per 2 magistrate judges.
GSA is prohibited from constructing a new courthouse that does not comply with the courtroom sharing requirements. Additionally, if a new courthouse will add capacity in the GSA inventory, existing space in the same courthouse complex must be fully utilized or relinquished from such inventory.
GSA must update the U.S. Courts Design Guide to reflect these requirements within 180 days after the bill's enactment. (The Design Guide sets forth the federal judiciary’s requirements for the design, construction, and renovation of court facilities and is intended for use by individuals involved in federal court construction projects.)
This Act may be cited as the “Courthouse Affordability and Space Efficiency Act of 2025” or the “CASE Act”.
(a) In general.— Chapter 33 of title 40, United States Code, as amended by this act, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
“3320. Reducing costs related to courthouses.—
(a) Limitation on new courthouses.— The Administrator of General Services may not commence construction of any new courthouse if—
(1) construction has not begun on or before the date of enactment of this section; or
(2) the design and construction of the new courthouse fails to comply, at a minimum, with the courtroom sharing requirements described in subsection (b).
(b) Courtroom sharing requirements defined.— The term “courtroom sharing requirements” means—
(1) in courthouses with 10 or more active district judges, 2 courtrooms per 3 active district judges, except such courthouses may contain not less than 9 courtrooms for active district judges;
(2) in courthouses with 3 or more bankruptcy judges—
(A) 1 courtroom per 2 bankruptcy judges;
(B) 1 courtroom for emergency matters; and
(C) if there is an odd number of bankruptcy judges, the number of courtrooms required pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be rounded down;
(3) in courthouses with 3 or more senior district judges, 1 courtroom per 2 senior district judges; and
(4) in courthouses with 3 or more magistrate judges—
(A) 1 courtroom per 2 magistrate judges;
(B) 1 criminal duty courtroom; and
(C) if there is an odd number of magistrate judges, the number of courtrooms required pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be rounded down.
(c) United States Courts Design Guide.— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Design Guide for courthouses shall be updated to incorporate courtroom sharing requirements to the maximum extent practicable.
(d) Utilization.— If a new courthouse will add capacity in the inventory of the General Services Administration, existing space in the same courthouse complex must be fully utilized or relinquished from the inventory of the General Services Administration.”.
(b) Clerical amendment.— The analysis for chapter 33 of title 40, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: