For Federal judges, anyway. The House has approved a bill sponsored by Rep. Steve Cohen that adds 13 new Federal bankruptcy judges, including one in Cohen's district.

The bill also converts 22 temporary judges to permanent status and extends two other temporary positions for five years. To pay for the thirteen new judges, the bill raises the filing fees for Chapter 7 and 13 cases by $1 and for Chapter 11 cases by $42.

"In the last year, the number of personal bankruptcy claims increased 32 percent from 2008, in large measure because of job loss, medical bills and home foreclosures," Congressman Cohen said. "Many constituents in the 9th District have been adversely affected and need help. Shelby County has the highest overall bankruptcy filing rate of any county in the nation, and Tennessee had the second-highest filing rate of any state."