WASHINGTON — In a move to ease travel to a federal courthouse for residents, the U.S. House unanimously passed U.S. Rep. Dale Strong’s bipartisan bill to improve the organization of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. 

Specifically, H.R. 7177 will redraw divisional boundaries and assign counties to divisions with the closest courthouse — ensuring Alabamians are assigned to the closest and most convenient federal courthouse to eliminate unnecessary and burdensome travel expenses, said Strong (R-Monrovia).

“I will always look for ways to improve the lives of my constituents,” he said. “That includes ensuring they are assigned to the federal courthouse nearest them to have their cases heard or to fulfill their civic duty and serve on a jury. I am pleased my colleagues joined me to promote the efficient administration of justice in North Alabama.”

The bill amends a state code to reorganize the Northern District of Alabama by consolidating the current seven divisions into five divisions.

It will transfer counties in the Middle and Jasper divisions to the Eastern and Western divisions. The Middle and Jasper divisions no longer have courthouses, so case filings are already being handled by the adjacent divisions.

In addition to being supported by the Judicial Conference of the United States, the legislation is supported by the District Court in the Northern District of Alabama, the affected Defender Services, and U.S. Attorney’s Offices.

It was approved by the Judicial Council of the Eleventh Circuit and, last March, the Judicial Conference adopted a position to support this legislation.