On November 14, 2019, Judge William Nardini received commission for the United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit.
Nardini was nominated to the court by President Donald Trump (R) on September 19, 2019, to succeed Judge Christopher Droney, who assumed senior status on June 30, 2019. Nardini was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on November 7, 2019, by a vote of 86-2.
Following nomination by the president, a federal judge nominee completes a questionnaire that is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The committee then holds a hearing to question the nominee regarding their judicial philosophy and their previous rulings. The committee also sends the nominee’s home state senators a blue slip, permitting them to show their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
After the hearing, the committee votes to approve or return the nominee. If approved, the full Senate votes on the nominee. If returned, the president may renominate the person. If the Senate confirms the nomination, the individual receives commission to serve as a federal judge for a life term. If the individual is not confirmed, they do not become a judge.
The United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit has 13 active Article III judges, including Nardini. The remaining 12 current active judges are:
- Chief judge Robert Katzmann – nominated by President Bill Clinton (D)
- Jose Cabranes – nominated by President Bill Clinton (D)
- Rosemary Pooler – nominated by President Bill Clinton (D)
- Raymond Lohier – nominated by President Barack Obama (D)
- Debra Livingston – nominated by President George W. Bush (R)
- Peter Hall – nominated by President George W. Bush (R)
- Susan L. Carney – nominated by President Barack Obama (D)
- Denny Chin – nominated by President Barack Obama (D)
- Richard Sullivan – nominated by President Donald Trump (R)
- Joseph Bianco – nominated by President Donald Trump (R)
- Michael H. Park – nominated by President Donald Trump (R)
- Steven Menashi – nominated by President Donald Trump (R)
The court’s 14 judges on senior status are:
- Dennis Jacobs – nominated by President George H.W. Bush (R)
- Jon Newman – nominated by President Jimmy Carter (D)
- Ralph Winter – nominated by President Ronald Reagan (R)
- Amalya Kearse – nominated by President Jimmy Carter (D)
- Pierre Leval – nominated by President Bill Clinton (D)
- John Walker – nominated by President George H.W. Bush (R)
- Chester Straub – nominated by President Bill Clinton (D)
- Guido Calabresi – nominated by President Bill Clinton (D)
- Robert Sack – nominated by President Bill Clinton (D)
- Barrington Parker – nominated by President George W. Bush (R)
- Christopher Droney – nominated by President Barack Obama (D)
- Richard Wesley – nominated by President George W. Bush (R)
- Gerard Lynch – nominated by President Barack Obama (D)
- Reena Raggi – nominated by President George W. Bush (R)
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. Appeals are heard in the Thurgood Marshall Federal Courthouse in New York City.