The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is postponing a conference for federal judges that was slated for next year in northern California, as controversy surrounding a similar gathering in Maui persists.

Two Republican senators from Iowa and Alabama have been critical of the circuit's conferences, which they say are extravagant affairs in the midst of government budget cuts.

The circuit is moving forward with plans for August's conference in Maui but on Friday announced it is pushing back next year's gathering planned for Monterey, Calif., to 2014.

The circuit says the postponement is in response to budget constraints facing the federal judiciary and government.

Former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle is asking the GOP senators to back off on calling for the Maui conference's cancellation. The Republican also is Maui's former mayor. She's running for Hawaii's open U.S. Senate seat.