Category: Judicial Nominations

As of this writing, the full Senate made no progress on judicial nominations this week. This was due in large part to the articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas being delivered to the Senate this week.

On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing for 4 Article III nominees: Kevin Ritz (6th Cir.), Brian Murphy (D. Mass.), Judge Rebecca Pennell (E.D. Wash.), and Jeannette Vargas (S.D.N.Y.). These nominees are now eligible for a committee vote.

On Thursday, Committee held an executive business meeting. At the meeting, the Committee advanced 5 Article III nominees to the floor: Judge Nancy Maldonado (7th Cir.), Georgia Alexakis (N.D. Ill.), Kriss Lanham (D. Ariz.), Magistrate Judge Angela Martinez (D. Ariz.), and Sparkle Sooknanan (D.D.C.). These nominees are now eligible for cloture and confirmation votes.

As of April 18, there are 72 Article III vacancies, 41 of which are current. There are 20 pending nominees: 14 waiting for floor votes, 4 waiting to be reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 2 waiting for hearings before the Committee. To date, 193 Article III judges have been confirmed during the Biden-Harris Administration.

The Senate made continued progress on judicial nominations this week. Over the course of the week, the Senate confirmed 3 Article III nominees: Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen (D. Utah), Magistrate Judge Susan Bazis (D. Neb.), and Robert White (E.D. Mich.). During this administration there have now been 193 Article III nominees confirmed. This is equal to the amount the prior administration had at this point in April of the fourth year. By the end of four years, the prior administration had 234 Article III nominees confirmed.

On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held an executive business meeting. At the meeting, the Committee advanced 4 Article III nominees to the floor: Magistrate Judge Sanket Bulsara (E.D.N.Y.), Judge Dena Coggins (E.D. Cal.), Eric Schulte (D.S.D.), and Judge Camela Theeler (D.S.D.). These nominees are now eligible for cloture and confirmation votes.

As of April 11, there are 72 Article III vacancies, 41 of which are current. There are 20 pending nominees: 9 waiting for floor votes, 5 waiting to be reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 6 waiting for hearings before the Committee. To date, 193 Article III judges have been confirmed during the Biden-Harris Administration.

Late last week, the Senate confirmed two more nominees: Ernest Gonzalez (W.D. Tex.) and Magistrate Judge Leon Schydlower (W.D. Tex.). After passing the government funding legislation, the Senate started its two-week recess.

Before leaving for recess, Majority Leader Schumer filed cloture on 3 Article III nominees: Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen (D. Utah), Magistrate Judge Susan Bazis (D. Neb.), and Robert White (E.D. Mich.). The cloture vote on Magistrate Judge Bazis is the first vote set for when the Senate returns from recess on April 8.

As of March 28, there are 73 Article III vacancies, 44 of which are current. There are 25 pending nominees: 8 waiting for floor votes, 9 waiting to be reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 6 waiting for hearings before the Committee. To date, 190 Article III judges have been confirmed during the Biden-Harris Administration.

The Senate made encouraging progress on judicial nominations this week. As of this writing, there have been 3 Article III confirmations: Nicole Berner (4th Cir.), Magistrate Judge Edward Kiel (D.N.J.), and Judge Eumi Lee (N.D. Cal.). Berner becomes the first openly LGBTQ person to ever serve on the Fourth Circuit and Magistrate Judge Kiel is the first Asian-American to ever serve on the District of New Jersey.

On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing for 5 Article III nominees: Judge Nancy Maldonado (7th Cir.), Georgia Alexakis (N.D. Ill.), Kriss Lanham (D. Ariz.), Magistrate Judge Angela Martinez (D. Ariz.), and Sparkle Sooknanan (D.D.C.). All five are now eligible for a committee vote. If confirmed, Judge Maldonado would be the first ever Latinx person to serve on the Seventh Circuit.

Also this week, the White House announced the latest slate of judicial nominees. The slate contained 5 Article III nominees: Kevin Ritz (6th Cir.), Brian Murphy (D. Mass.), Judge Rebecca Pennell (E.D. Wash.), Detra Shaw-Wilder (S.D. Fla.), and Jeannette Vargas (S.D.N.Y.).

As of March 21, there are 75 Article III vacancies, 46 of which are current. Once the latest nominees are officially nominated, there will be 25 pending nominees: 10 waiting for floor votes, 9 waiting to be reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 6 waiting for hearings before the Committee. To date, 188 Article III judges have been confirmed during the Biden-Harris Administration.

The Senate made encouraging progress on judicial nominations this week. As of this writing, there have been 3 Article III confirmations: Judge Melissa DuBose (D.R.I.), Magistrate Judge Sunil Harjani (N.D. Ill.), and Jasmine Yoon (W.D. Va.). Judges DuBose and Yoon become the first people of color to serve as a judge on their respective courts.

The Senate also invoked cloture on Nicole Berner (4th Cir.) on Thursday afternoon. This sets up a potential confirmation vote for when the Senate returns next week.

As of March 14, there are 78 Article III vacancies, 49 of which are current. There are 23 pending nominees: 13 waiting for floor votes, 4 waiting to be reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 6 waiting for hearings before the Committee. To date, 185 Article III judges have been confirmed during the Biden-Harris Administration.