There was no debate as the Idaho Senate this morning unanimously approved HJM 4, a non-binding memorial calling on Congress to add a third federal judge in Idaho - quite a contrast to the House's earlier consideration of the same measure, which passed there on a 47-21 vote, but only after objections on the floor to allowing a Democratic president to appoint another federal judge; more than a third of House Republicans opposed a new federal judge for Idaho if current President Obama might get to make the appointment.

Idaho's had just two federal district judges since 1954, and the federal court caseload has increased so dramatically that there are now big delays in processing civil cases, since criminal cases are given priority. Other states including Alaska, Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota already have three federal judges and have smaller populations than Idaho.