In this month's state supreme court vacancy update, Ballotpedia tracked announced retirements, nominations, appointments, confirmations, and the swearing-in of justices from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30, 2025. Ballotpedia tracks court vacancies in all 52 state supreme courts.

Announced retirements:

During November 2025, two justices announced their retirement from their respective state supreme courts.

• In Florida, Justice Charles Canady announced on Nov. 17 that he would step down from the Florida Supreme Court. In his retirement announcement, he said that he would leave the court to take a position at the University of Florida's Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education. He did not specify when he would step down from the court but noted he will start his university position in early 2026. Canady's retirement gives Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) his eighth opportunity to appoint a justice to the seven-member Florida Supreme Court.

• In North Dakota, Justice Daniel Crothers announced on Nov. 26 that he would step down from his position on the court at the end of February 2026. Crothers was first appointed to the North Dakota Supreme Court in 2005 by former Gov. John Hoeven (R). He has run for re-election unopposed three times since his initial appointment, most recently in 2022. Crothers' vacancy gives Gov. Kelly Armstrong (R) his first opportunity to appoint a justice to the state's highest court since taking office in December of last year.

Candidates nominated, appointed, and confirmed:

During November 2025, four candidates were appointed to state supreme courts, and finalists for one vacancy were announced.

• In South Dakota, Gov. Larry Rhoden (R) appointed Judge Robert Gusinsky to the South Dakota Supreme Court on Nov. 4. Gusinsky has served as a circuit court judge on the Seventh Judicial Circuit since his initial appointment in 2013 by former Gov. Dennis Daugaard (R). Gusinsky will replace Justice Janine M. Kern, who is retiring in December 2025. Gusinsky is Rhoden's first appointment to the state supreme court since he took office earlier this year.

• In Nebraska, Gov. Jim Pillen (R) appointed Derek Vaughn to the Nebraska Supreme Court on Nov. 10. Vaughn, a trial court judge in Nebraska's Fourth Judicial District, is Pillen's third nominee to the seven-member supreme court. Vaughn replaced Lindsey Miller-Lerman, who retired on Oct. 31. As of Nov. 30, Vaughn had not been sworn into office.

• In West Virginia, Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R) appointed attorney Gerald Titus III to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia on Nov. 21. Titus replaced Justice Tim Armstead, who died on Aug. 26, 2025. Prior to his appointment to the court, Titus was an attorney at Spilman, Thomas & Battle, a law firm based in Charleston, West Virginia. Titus is Morrisey's second appointment to the five-member supreme court since he took office earlier this year.

• In Washington, Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) appointed Colleen Melody to the Washington State Supreme Court on Nov. 24. Melody is Ferguson's first appointment to the nine-member supreme court. Prior to her appointment to the court, Melody led the Wing Luke Civil Rights Division in the Washington Attorney General's office. She had held this position since 2015, when then-Attorney General Bob Ferguson appointed her to lead the division. Melody will replace Justice Mary Yu after she retires on Dec. 31.

• In Tennessee, the Tennessee Governor's Council for Judicial Appointments released a list of three finalists who passed the interview phase of the selection process. The finalists will be sent to Gov. Bill Lee (R), who will make his fourth nomination to the five-member court. Following Lee's nomination of a candidate, both houses of the Tennessee General Assembly must confirm the nominee, who will then stand for retention in November 2026. The finalists include an attorney and two Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals judges. As of Nov. 30, Lee had not announced a nominee.

Justices sworn in/out:

During November 2025, one justice was sworn into office.

• In West Virginia, Gerald Titus III was sworn into the state's highest court. Titus, a Charleston-based attorney, took office this month after a Nov. 21 appointment by Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R). Titus replaces former Justice Tim Armstead, who passed away on Aug. 26, 2025, at the age of 60.