Senators Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware, and Ashley Moody, a Republican from Florida, have proposed removing a rule requiring judges on the Court of Federal Claims and Federal Circuit to live within 50 miles of Washington, DC. They argue the change would widen the recruitment pool for courts with nationwide jurisdiction and help attract specialists in complex fields such as intellectual property and government contracts.

The Court of Federal Claims handles claims against the federal government, while the Federal Circuit hears appeals involving patents, trademarks, contracts and related matters. Supporters say judges could be recruited nationally, as occurs in other courts, though critics may raise concerns about travel costs and reduced in-person contact; legal experts cited in the article generally regarded those risks as manageable.