On The Bench: Week of November 9, 2023

The Senate made good progress on judicial nominations this week. As of this writing, the Senate has confirmed 5 Article III nominees: Judge Kenly Kato (C.D. Cal.) in a 51-46 vote, Julia Kobick (D. Mass.) in a 52-46 vote, Magistrate Judge Ramon Reyes (E.D.N.Y.) in a 51-48 vote, Brandy McMillion (E.D. Mich.) in a 53-42 vote, and Mónica Ramírez Almadani (C.D. Cal.) in a 51-44 vote. Notably, Kobick was the 150th Article III confirmation of this administration and the 100th woman confirmed to the federal bench during this administration. Even after these confirmations, there are still 22 Article III nominees on the floor.

On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held an executive business meeting where it was successfully able to advance two judicial nominees out of committee: Judge Eumi Lee (N.D. Cal.) and Magistrate Judge Mustafa Kasubhai (D. Or.). The Committee was also scheduled to vote on the authorization for subpoenas relating to the Supreme Court ethics investigation, but gaveled out before voting on them.

As of November 9, there are 94 Article III vacancies, 64 of which are current. Once the remaining nominee is officially nominated, there will be 35 pending nominees: 22 waiting for floor votes, 3 waiting to be reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 10 waiting for hearings before the Committee. To date, 153 Article III judges have been confirmed during the Biden-Harris Administration.