Real Courts, Rule of Law Act of 2026

This bill would create the United States Immigration Courts as an independent court system under Article I of the Constitution, separate from the executive branch. The courts would have a trial division, an appellate division of 21 judges appointed by the President with Senate consent for 15-year terms, and an administrative division. Appellate judges would appoint trial judges, and current immigration judges in the Justice Department would become interim trial judges during a 4-year transition. The bill sets judge qualifications, salaries, removal and retirement rules, gives the courts power to write their own rules and set their own budget, and requires public access to most court records and an annual workload report to Congress.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Zoe Lofgren Democrat sponsor
• 15 cosponsors