Author: Kate Carsella
-
Rhode Island Supreme Court justice set to retire in December
Rhode Island Supreme Court Justice Francis Flaherty is retiring on December 31, 2020. Flaherty announced plans to pursue other interests following his retirement. Flaherty earned a bachelor’s degree from Providence College in 1968. He earned a J.D., cum laude, from Suffolk University Law School in 1975. Flaherty’s career experience includes working as an attorney in private…
-
SCOTUS grants review in seven cases for 2020-2021 term
On October 2, 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) granted review in seven cases for a total of four hours of oral argument during its October Term for 2020-2021. The cases have not yet been scheduled for argument. FCC v. Prometheus Radio Project (Consolidated with National Association of Broadcasters v. Prometheus Radio…
-
Trump has appointed second-most federal judges through October 1 of a president’s fourth year
Donald Trump has appointed and the Senate has confirmed 218 Article III federal judges through October 1, 2020, his fourth year in office. This is the second-most Article III judicial appointments through this point in all presidencies since Jimmy Carter (D). The Senate had confirmed 260 of Carter’s appointees at this point in his term.…
-
Judicial nominee confirmed to U.S. Court of Federal Claims
On September 22, 2020, the United States Senate confirmed the nomination of Edward Meyers to a federal judgeship on the United States Court of Federal Claims by a 66-27 vote. Meyers will join the court upon receiving his judicial commission and taking his judicial oath. Meyers was originally nominated to the seat by President Donald…
-
U.S. Supreme Court announces oral arguments to be conducted via teleconference for upcoming October sitting
On September 16, 2020, the United States Supreme Court announced that it would hear oral arguments via teleconference during its October sitting, following the same format that was used during its May sitting in the 2019-2020 term. Under this format, all relevant counsel are called the morning of the case’s argument day and are briefed…
-
Death of Massachusetts chief justice creates second vacancy on state supreme court
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants died while in office on September 14, 2020, causing a second vacancy in the state’s court of last resort. The other vacancy will occur on December 1, 2020, when Supreme Judicial Court Justice Barbara Lenk is scheduled to retire from the court, one day prior to…
-
President Trump announces federal judicial nominee to Article I court
On September 2, 2020, President Donald Trump (R) announced his intent to nominate Stephen A. Kubiatowski to a seat on the United States Court of Federal Claims. Following nomination by the president, a federal judicial nominee completes a questionnaire that is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The committee then holds a hearing to question…
-
Candidates advance from Democratic and Republican conventions in Michigan
In Michigan, the Democratic Party and Republican Party both held their nominating conventions for state supreme court and state executive offices on August 29, 2020. Candidates were nominated to advance to the general election scheduled for November 3, 2020. Candidates were selected for nomination to the following offices: • Michigan Supreme Court (2 seats) •…
-
Ballotpedia releases federal judicial vacancy count for August 2020
In this month’s federal judicial vacancy count, Ballotpedia tracked nominations, confirmations, and vacancies to all United States Article III federal courts from August 3, 2020, to September 1, 2020. Ballotpedia publishes the federal judicial vacancy count at the start of each month. HIGHLIGHTS • Vacancies: There have been no new judicial vacancies since the July…
-
Trump has appointed second-most federal judges through September 1 of a president’s fourth year
Donald Trump has appointed and the Senate has confirmed 203 Article III federal judges through September 1, 2020, his fourth year in office. This is the second-most Article III judicial appointments through this point in all presidencies since Jimmy Carter (D), and is tied with the presidency of Bill Clinton (D). The Senate had confirmed…