State supreme court vacancy count for May 2025


In this month’s state supreme court vacancy update, Ballotpedia tracked announced retirements, nominations, appointments, confirmations, and the swearing-in of justices from May 1, 2025, to May 31, 2025. Ballotpedia tracks court vacancies in all 52 state supreme courts.

Justice retirements:

Two justices were sworn out of office in May 2025.

Candidates nominated, appointed, and confirmed:

In May 2025, applicants for a vacancy were announced, finalists were chosen for another vacancy, and one candidate was appointed to their state’s supreme court.

Justices sworn in:

Two justices were sworn into office in May 2025.

  • Bill Lewis was sworn into the Alabama Supreme Court on May 20, 2025. Lewis, a Republican, joins a court comprised solely of Republicans. The court has not had a Democrat sit on the court since Sue Bell Cobb retired in 2011.
  • Bridget Hill was sworn into the Wyoming Supreme Court on May 28, 2025. Hill was appointed in April 2025, but she did not take office until her predecessor, Chief Justice Kate M. Fox, left office. Hill previously served as the state Attorney General from 2019 until her appointment to the Wyoming Supreme Court. She will have the option to stand for retention in 2026 for a full eight-year term.

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