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Emergency Judicial Relief Act of 2011

Star Print ordered on the reported bill.

Official summary

Version 01 · Reported to Senate with amendment(s) · Oct 17, 2011

Emergency Judicial Relief Act of 2011 - (Sec. 2) Directs the President to appoint, by and with the Senate's advice and consent, specified additional permanent district judges for various federal judicial districts in Arizona, California, Minnesota, and Texas.

Converts certain existing temporary judgeships for the district of Arizona and the central district of California to permanent judgeships.

Increases the filing fee for most civil actions or proceedings, excluding a writ of habeas corpus, to $360 (currently, $350).

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Requires that incremental amounts collected by reason of enactment of this Act be deposited in a special fund in the Treasury to offset funds appropriated for the operation and maintenance of U.S. courts to the extent specifically appropriated by an Act of Congress after enactment of this Act.

(Sec. 3) Prohibits any judicial branch officer, employee, agent, contractor, or subcontractor from discharging, demoting, threatening, suspending, harassing, or otherwise discriminating against an employee in the terms and conditions of employment because of any lawful act by the employee to provide information, cause information to be provided, or otherwise assist in an investigation regarding any possible violation of federal law or regulation, or misconduct, by a judge, justice, or any other employee in the judicial branch, which may assist in the investigation of the possible violation or misconduct.

Authorizes an employee injured by such a prohibited act to obtain appropriate relief in a civil action.

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Who introduced it

Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA] · D–CA

Committees

  • Judiciary Committee
7 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Star Print ordered on the reported bill.

  2. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 195.

  3. Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment. Without written report.

  4. Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment. Without written report.

  5. Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.

  6. Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3058)

  7. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3058)

  8. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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