WASHINGTON (DC News Now) -- As members of the DC Court system celebrated a major victory Wednesday, the opening of a new wing of the courthouse, a major problem still looms: there are not enough judges to hear all the cases.  “I must note my deep concern with the long-standing judicial vacancy crisis that the DC Courts face,” said Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse C Street Addition. “And I know it’s a deep concern for all of you.” The new addition adds six new courtrooms and chambers for 21 judges. Still, right now roughly 14% of judicial positions are vacant. “It’s been like playing Whac-a-mole. We solve one problem, another pops up,” said Anita Josey-Herring, outgoing Superior Court Chief Judge. DC Council to investigate ride-hailing app Empower According to the DC Courts, there are 10 judicial vacancies within the court system. Eight of them are within the Superior Court system. Two are within the Appeals Court system. The vacancies, coupled with a rising number of criminal and civil cases, is leading to a backlog within the system. Right now the average age of a criminal case is 200 days higher than in 2019, according to court data. “We have a public responsibility to the public to dispose of the cases that come before us,” said Chief Judge Josey-Herring.  “We try our best to do the best job we can.” Maryland Task Force 1 deploys to Georgia ahead of Hurricane Helene The hold up on filling vacancies falls with the Senate, which must confirm judges for the DC court system. Right now, eight judges between the two systems are awaiting confirmation, according to the DC courts. It’s an issue Holmes Norton has tried to address. She’s introduced the DC Judicial Vacancy Act, which would allow DC judges to be appointed after a Congressional review period rather than waiting on Seante confirmation. That bill is in committee. “(The vacancies have) an impact on our ability to manage cases and process them when they come before us every day,” said incoming Chief Judge Milton C. Lee Jr. Lee said managing the issue is his top priority when he takes over as Chief Judge next week. “We have a committed, dedicated set of judges, managers and staff who will meet the challenge, but it is a much bigger challenge when you don’t have a full set of resources to meet the demand,” said Lee.  “The number one focus for me is to make sure we can motivate all the people here, put them into the very best position to be in to accomplish our task. But everyone has to understand it’s going to be a challenge.”