The week of November 30, 2020, two federal judicial nominees were confirmed to Article I judgeships by the U.S. Senate. They will join their respective courts upon receiving their judicial commission and taking their judicial oaths.
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
On December 2, 2020, Kathryn Davis was confirmed to the court by the U.S. Senate by a vote of 51-45. She was nominated to the court by President Donald Trump (R) on November 19, 2019. Davis was nominated to replace Judge Charles F. Lettow, who assumed senior status on July 13, 2018.
The United States Court of Federal Claims is an Article I tribunal, a federal court organized under Article I of the U.S. Constitution.
After Davis receives her judicial commission, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims will have:
- Six vacancies
- Seven Republican-appointed judges and three Democrat-appointed judges.
In addition to Davis, President Trump has appointed 13 judges to the court. President Barack Obama (D) appointed three judges to the court.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
On December 3, 2020, Liam Hardy was confirmed to the court by the U.S. Senate by a vote of 59-34. He was nominated to the court by President Donald Trump (R) on May 21, 2020. Hardy was nominated to replace Judge Margaret Ryan, whose term expired on July 31, 2020.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces is an Article I federal court that exercises worldwide appellate jurisdiction over members of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty and other persons subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
After Hardy receives his judicial commission, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces will have:
- No vacancies
- Three Republican-appointed judges and two Democrat-appointed judges.
In addition to Hardy, President Trump has appointed one judge to the court. President Obama appointed two judges to the court, and President George W. Bush appointed one judge to the court.
Since taking office, President Trump has nominated 274 individuals to federal judgeships, 229 of whom have been confirmed. There were 60 vacancies in the federal judiciary, as of December 8, 2020. Of those vacancies, 48 had pending nominations.
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