On The Bench: Week of April 18, 2024

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.