Author: Ellie Mikus
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2025 sees record number of state justice vacancies
2025 state supreme court vacancy count Ballotpedia tracks court vacancies in 52 state supreme courts across all 50 states. Since 2024, Ballotpedia has published an annual state supreme court vacancy count outlining vacancies that occurred within the past year. Number of vacancies In 2025, a record 26 vacancies occurred in 20 state supreme courts nationwide.…
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State supreme court vacancy count for December 2025
In this month's state supreme court vacancy update, Ballotpedia tracked announced retirements, nominations, appointments, confirmations, and the swearing-in of justices from Dec. 1 to Dec. 30, 2025. Ballotpedia tracks court vacancies in all 52 state supreme courts. Justices sworn into office: During December 2025, two justices were sworn into office. Appointees named and nominees confirmed:…
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Elections Ballotpedia is covering in January 2026
In January 2026, Ballotpedia is tracking 23 elections across 13 states. These include 18 special elections held to fill vacancies in ten states, as well as five local recall elections in four states. Upcoming elections: There are no regularly scheduled statewide or municipal elections in January 2026. All elections Ballotpedia is tracking this month are…
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State supreme court vacancy count for November 2025
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. Candidates nominated,…
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Senate confirms largest number of Trump judicial nominees of his second term
In this month’s federal judicial vacancy count, Ballotpedia tracked nominations, confirmations, and vacancies from Oct. 2 through Nov. 4. Ballotpedia publishes the federal judicial vacancy count at the start of each month. HIGHLIGHTS New vacancies There were 47 vacancies out of 870 active Article III judicial positions, a total vacancy rate of 5.4%, which is…
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State supreme court vacancy count for October 2025
In this month's state supreme court vacancy update, Ballotpedia tracked announced retirements, nominations, appointments, confirmations, and the swearing-in of justices from Oct. 1 to Oct. 31, 2025. Ballotpedia tracks court vacancies in all 52 state supreme courts. Announced retirements: During October 2025, one justice announced his retirement from the California Supreme Court. Candidates nominated, appointed,…
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Ballotpedia releases federal judicial vacancy count for October 2025
In this month’s federal judicial vacancy count, Ballotpedia tracked nominations, confirmations, and vacancies from Sept. 2 through Oct. 1. Ballotpedia publishes the federal judicial vacancy count at the start of each month. HIGHLIGHTS New vacancies There were 51 vacancies out of 870 active Article III judicial positions, a total vacancy percentage of 5.9, which is…
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President Trump has appointed eight federal judges through Oct. 1 of the first year of his second term
President Donald Trump (R) has appointed, and the Senate has confirmed, eight Article III federal judges through Oct. 1, the first year of his second term in office. This is the fewest Article III judicial appointments through this point in any president's second term since President Bill Clinton (D). The average number of federal judges…
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State supreme court vacancy count for September 2025
In this month's state supreme court vacancy update, Ballotpedia tracked announced retirements, nominations, appointments, confirmations, and the swearing-in of justices from Sept. 2 to Sept. 30. Ballotpedia tracks court vacancies in all 52 state supreme courts. Announced retirements: During September 2025, one justice announced her future retirement from office. Candidates nominated, appointed, and confirmed: During…
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Ballotpedia releases federal judicial vacancy count for September 2025
In this month’s federal judicial vacancy count, Ballotpedia tracked nominations, confirmations, and vacancies from Aug. 2 through Sept. 1, 2025. Ballotpedia publishes the federal judicial vacancy count at the start of each month. HIGHLIGHTS New vacancies There were 50 vacancies out of 870 active Article III judicial positions, a total vacancy percentage of 5.7, which…