Washington DC (670 KBOI News) – Two bills in Congress — one in the House, another in the Senate — would split the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals into two districts.

The House bill is sponsored by Idaho 2nd District Congressman Mike Simpson, while the Senate Version is sponsored by both Idaho Senators, Mike Crapo and Jim Risch.

Crapo says the 9th Circuit would still exist, just it would be much smaller.

“Made up only of California, Hawaii, Guam and the Northern Marianas Islands, and then create a 12th Circuit, which would include Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington,” said Crapo.  “This would help us get to a point where this Circuit is more manageable in size.”

Crapo says they also want the new Circuit to be one where the judges are guided more by the Constitution and the rule of law, rather than by judicial activism.

He says he thinks it will clear the Senate Judiciary Committee, but won’t be as easy to get through the Democrat-controlled House.

— Jay Howell, 670 KBOI News