On The Bench: Week of February 15, 2024

Earlier this week, the Senate passed the appropriations bill that helped fund aid for foreign countries. After passing the bill, the Senate left for its scheduled recess. The Senate will be out of session until Monday, February 26.

Before leaving for recess, Majority Leader Schumer filed cloture on two judicial nominees: Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Becerra (S.D. Fla.) and David Leibowitz (S.D. Fla.). These nominees are part of the 11 judicial nominees still pending on the Senate floor. The cloture vote on Magistrate Judge Becerra will be the first vote when the Senate returns the evening of the 26th.

As of February 15, there are 85 Article III vacancies, 55 of which are current. There are 26 pending nominees: 11 waiting for floor votes, 10 waiting to be reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 5 waiting for hearings before the Committee. To date, 177 Article III judges have been confirmed during the Biden-Harris Administration.