Committee votes to shrink Fourth Circuit bench amid dispute over workload data and representation
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Summary
Sen. Morris’s proposal to cut Fourth Circuit appellate judges from 12 to 8 passed out of committee after judges warned the Fourth Circuit handles an outsized share of writs and complex appeals and civil‑rights groups said the move could reduce diverse representation; senators asked for the Supreme Court study to be added to the record.
The Senate Judiciary committee voted to report Senate Bill 197, which would reduce the number of judges on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal, to the full Senate after extended debate about caseload metrics and representation.
Sen. Morris argued the Fourth Circuit has more appellate judges per capita than other circuits and cited Supreme Court statistical reports for the disparity. Several senators requested that the Supreme Court’s weighted caseload and annual reports be placed in the committee record for closer review.
Fourth Circuit judges told the committee that their court routinely handles a disproportionate share of the state’s writ and appellate work because the district courts in Orleans produce a high number of complex trials and interlocutory writs. Chief Judge Roland Belsom and Judges Daniel Dysart and Sandra Jenkins said their average case files run thousands of pages, that the court regularly handles 20–25% of the state’s appellate work and that removing a third of their members would sharply raise the volume of record review and risk delays and logistical complications for three‑judge panels.
Opponents, including the ACLU and local leaders, said cutting seats that are elected from Orleans Parish would reduce representation from the city and threaten bench diversity. Supporters pointed to per‑capita disparity of judges and argued consolidation would reduce cost.
After questions and public comment, the committee voted to report the bill to the Senate floor. The hearing record includes the Supreme Court’s judicial workload documents by request, and senators said they will continue scrutiny on whether the statistical measures used justify numerical reductions across appellate districts.
If taken up on the floor, the Senate will consider the data, parity among circuits, and practical effects on panel composition and opinion production.
