In this month’s federal judicial vacancy count, Ballotpedia tracked nominations, confirmations, and vacancies in Article III courts during the month of December through Jan. 1, 2022. Ballotpedia publishes the federal judicial vacancy count at the start of each month.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Vacancies: There have been nine new judicial vacancies since the November 2021 report. There are 74 vacancies out of 870 active Article III judicial positions on courts covered in this report. Including the United States Court of Federal Claims and the United States territorial courts, 76 of 890 active federal judicial positions are vacant.
- Nominations: There were 11 new nominations since the November 2021 report.
- Confirmations: There were 12 confirmations since the November 2021 report.
Nine judges left active status, creating Article III life-term judicial vacancies, since the previous vacancy count. As Article III judicial positions, vacancies must be filled by a nomination from the president. Nominations are subject to confirmation on the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate.
- Judge Francisco Besosa assumed senior status on the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico.
- Judge Timothy Burgess assumed senior status on the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska.
- Judge Henry Floyd assumed senior status on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit.
- Judge Lucy H. Koh left the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California upon her elevation to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.
- Judge William Kuntz assumed senior status on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
- Judge Michael Mosman assumed senior status on the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.
- Judge Susan Richard Nelson assumed senior status on the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.
- Judge Cynthia Rufe assumed senior status on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
- Judge Brooks Smith assumed senior status on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit.
U.S. Court of Appeals vacancies
The following chart tracks the number of vacancies on the United States Court of Appeals from the inauguration of President Joe Biden (D) to the date indicated on the chart.
The following maps show the number of vacancies on the United States Court of Appeals at Biden’s inauguration and as of Jan. 1, 2022.
New nominations
Biden has announced 11 new nominations since the November 2021 report.
- Nancy Gbana Abudu, to the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
- J. Michelle Childs, to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- Jessica Clarke, to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
- Sherilyn P. Garnett, to the United States District Court for the Central District of California
- Hector Gonzalez, to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- Kenly Kiya Kato, to the United States District Court for the Central District of California
- Nina Morrison, to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- William Pocan, to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- Jennifer Rochon, to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
- Fred W. Slaughter, to the United States District Court for the Central District of California
- Sunshine S. Sykes, to the United States District Court for the Central District of California
Since taking office in January 2021, Biden has nominated 73 individuals to Article III positions.
New confirmations
There have been 12 new confirmations since the November 2021 report.
- Lucy H. Koh, to the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
- Jennifer Sung, to the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
- Jane Beckering, to the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
- Mary Dimke, to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
- Samantha Elliott, to the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire
- Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, to the United States District Court for the Central District of California
- Shalina Kumar, to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- Linda Lopez, to the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
- Katherine Menendez, to the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
- Jinsook Ohta, to the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
- Jennifer L. Thurston, to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
- David Herrera Urias, to the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico
As of Jan. 1, 2022, the Senate had confirmed 40 of Biden’s judicial nominees—29 district court judges and 11 appeals court judges—since his term started in January 2021. To review a complete list of Biden’s confirmed nominees, click here.
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