The U.S. Senate confirmed nominee Steven Menashi to the United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit. Overall, the Senate has confirmed 162 of President Trump’s Article III judicial nominees—two Supreme Court justices, 46 appellate court judges, 112 district court judges, and two U.S. Court of International Trade judges—since January 2017. At the end of the 115th Congress in January 2019, the Senate had confirmed 85 of the president’s judicial nominees.

 

The Senate confirmed Menashi on a vote of 51-41, with only Republican senators voting to confirm. Thirty-nine Democratic senators, Republican Sen. Susan Collins, and independent Sen. Angus King of Maine voted against Menashi’s nomination. Eight senators did not vote.

 

The American Bar Association (ABA) rated Menashi well qualified by a majority and qualified by a minority for the position. The ABA’s Committee on the Federal Judiciary conducts a background check of potential federal judicial nominees and provides a not qualified, qualified, or well qualified rating. Traditionally, the president has consulted with the ABA on judicial nominee prospects.

 

The United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit is one of 13 U.S. courts of appeal. They are the intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal court system. After Menashi receives his judicial commission and takes his oath, the court will have no vacancies, seven Republican-appointed judges, and six Democrat-appointed judges.