119th (2025–2027)
S. 5148
The BOASBERG Act would require all federal district courts, appellate courts, and three-judge district courts to randomly assign cases to judges, preventing lawyers, parties, or judges from influencing which judge hears their case. Cases could only be reassigned in limited circumstances, such as when a judge must recuse themselves, when cases are related and need consolidation for efficiency, or in rare situations where the chief judge publicly certifies reassignment is necessary for docket management. The bill also mandates that judges cannot decline randomly assigned cases and prohibits chief judges from using their position to steer cases to particular judges. Courts would be required to publicly disclose their assignment rules and publish annual statistical reports on reassignments, while any attempt to manipulate the system could result in lawyer sanctions, judge misconduct proceedings, or disciplinary action for court employees. Federal courts would have 120 days from the bill's enactment to implement the required random assignment rules.