On The Bench: Week of July 13, 2023

The Senate made some progress on judicial nominations this week, after returning from the mid-summer recess. Three Article III nominees were confirmed: Justice Myong Joun (D. Mass.) in a 52-46 vote, Kymberly Evanson (W.D. Wash.) in a 50-42 vote, and Tiffany Cartwright (W.D. Wash.) in a 50-47 vote. The Senate also invoked cloture on Rachel Bloomekatz (6th Cir.), setting up a potential confirmation vote next week.

The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Wednesday for 3 Article III nominees: Magistrate Judge Matthew Maddox (D. Md.), Jerry Edwards, Jr. (W.D. La.)      , and Brandon Long (E.D. La.). All three nominees are now eligible for a committee vote. On Thursday, the Committee held a markup where it advanced 3 Article III nominees to the Senate floor: Judge Loren AliKhan (D.D.C.), Susan DeClercq (E.D. Mich.), and Judge Vernon Oliver (D. Conn.).

As of July 13, there are 91 Article III vacancies, 68 of which are current. There are 28 pending nominees: 17 waiting for floor votes, 4 waiting to be reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 7 waiting for hearings before the Committee. To date, 139 Article III judges have been confirmed during the Biden-Harris Administration.