The U.S. Senate confirmed one of President Joe Biden’s (D) federal judicial nominees to a lifetime Article III judgeship on Jan. 12:

1. Gabriel Sanchez, to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, by a vote of 52-47

The Ninth Circuit is one of 13 U.S. courts of appeal. They are the intermediate appellate courts of the federal court system.

Sanchez was nominated to the Ninth Circuit on Sept. 20 to replace Judge Marsha Berzon, who is scheduled to assume senior status. Sanchez was rated Well Qualified by the American Bar Association.

To date, 41 of Biden’s appointees have been confirmed. For historical comparison since 1981, the following list shows the date by which the past six presidents had 41 Article III judicial nominees confirmed by the Senate:

1. President Donald Trump (R) – June 5, 2018
2. President Barack Obama (D) – Aug. 5, 2010
3. President George W. Bush (R) – March 15, 2002
4. President Bill Clinton (D) – March 10, 1994
5. President George H.W. Bush (R) – May 11, 1990
6. President Ronald Reagan (R) – Dec. 16, 1981

Additional reading:

• Judicial vacancies during the Biden administration
• Judicial vacancies in federal courts
• Current federal judicial vacancies
• Bar association ratings