Category: Judicial Nominations

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.

The full Senate made no progress on judicial nominations this week, in part because there was another government funding deadline. As of this writing, the Senate confirmed 0 Article III nominees this week.

On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing for 4 Article III nominees: 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.). The nominees are now eligible for a committee vote.

On Thursday, the Committee held an executive business meeting where it advanced 5 Article III nominees to the Senate floor: Amir Ali (D.D.C.), Judge Melissa DuBose (D.R.I.), Magistrate Judge Sunil Harjani (N.D. Ill.), Robert White (E.D. Mich.), and Jasmine Yoon (W.D. Va.). After these votes, there are now 17 Article III nominees pending on the floor.

As of March 7, there are 82 Article III vacancies, 51 of which are current. There are 27 pending nominees: 17 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, 181 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, the Senate has confirmed 4 Article III nominees: Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Becerra (S.D. Fla.), David Leibowitz (S.D. Fla.), Magistrate Judge Melissa Damian (S.D. Fla.), and Magistrate Judge Julie Sneed (M.D. Fla.). All four confirmations were to vacancies that had been designated judicial emergencies by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

Also this week, the Senate Judiciary Committee held an executive business meeting on Thursday. The Committee advanced 5 Article III nominees to the floor: Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen (D. Utah), Magistrate Judge Susan Bazis (D. Neb.), Ernest Gonzalez (W.D. Tex.), Magistrate Judge Kelly Rankin (D. Wyo.), and Magistrate Judge Leon Schydlower (W.D. Tex.).

As of February 29, there are 82 Article III vacancies, 51 of which are current. There are 27 pending nominees: 12 waiting for floor votes, 5 waiting to be reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 10 waiting for hearings before the Committee. To date, 181 Article III judges have been confirmed during the Biden-Harris Administration.

The Senate remained on recess this week and is still set to return on Monday, February 26. Majority Leader Schumer filed cloture on two judicial nominees before leaving for recess: Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Becerra (S.D. Fla.) and David Leibowitz (S.D. Fla.). The cloture vote on Magistrate Judge Becerra will be the first vote when the Senate returns the evening of the 26th.

This week the White House announced the next slate of judicial nominees. The slate contained 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.). This slate continues the White House’s emphasis on diversifying the federal bench. If confirmed, Judge Maldonado would be the first ever Latinx person to serve on the Seventh Circuit.

As of February 22, there are 85 Article III vacancies, 55 of which are current. Once the new nominees are officially nominated, there will be 31 pending nominees: 11 waiting for floor votes, 10 waiting to be reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 11 waiting for hearings before the Committee. To date, 177 Article III judges have been confirmed during the Biden-Harris Administration.