Author: Kate Carsella

  • SCOTUS accepts cases for 2021-2022 term

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    The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) on Jan. 14 accepted five cases for argument during the 2021-2022 term: George v. McDonough involves when a veteran has the legal right to appeal after theU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) denies a disability benefits claim. Veterans have the right to challenge final VA decisions if…

  • Nominee confirmed to Ninth Circuit

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    The U.S. Senate confirmed one of President Joe Biden’s (D) federal judicial nominees to a lifetime Article III judgeship on Jan. 12: Gabriel Sanchez, to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, by a vote of 52-47 The Ninth Circuit is one of 13 U.S. courts of appeal. They are the intermediate appellate…

  • SCOTUS begins January argument session

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    The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) began its latest sitting of the 2021-2022 term on Jan. 10. The court is hearing arguments in person and providing audio livestreams of arguments. Justice Sonia Sotomayor is participating remotely from her office as a precaution related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This week, SCOTUS will hear arguments…

  • Upcoming state supreme court vacancy in New Jersey

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    New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Faustino J. Fernandez-Vina is scheduled to retire from the court on Feb. 15 upon reaching the state’s mandatory retirement age of 70 years old. Fernandez-Vina’s replacement will be Gov. Phil Murphy’s (D) third nominee to the seven-member supreme court.  In New Jersey, state supreme court justices are selected through direct…

  • SCOTUS releases February argument calendar

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    The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) released its February argument calendar for the 2021-2022 term on Dec. 17. The court scheduled seven cases for arguments on the merits between Feb. 22 and March 2, including two cases consolidated for one hour of oral argument. Arguments will be conducted in person, although the court…

  • U.S. Senate confirms two nominees to Article III judgeships

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    The U.S. Senate confirmed two of President Joe Biden’s (D) federal judicial nominees to lifetime Article III judgeships on Dec. 15: Jennifer Sung, to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, by a vote of 50-49 Samantha Elliott, to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire, by a vote of…

  • Lucy Koh confirmed to U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit

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    The U.S. Senate confirmed one of President Joe Biden’s (D) federal judicial nominees to a lifetime Article III judgeship on Dec. 13: Lucy Koh, to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, by a vote of 50-45 The United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit is one of 13 U.S. courts…

  • SCOTUS accepts three new cases for 2021-2022 term

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    The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) accepted three cases for argument during the 2021-2022 term on Dec. 10: Golan v. Saada, originating from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, concerns international child custody. Southwest Airlines v. Saxon, on an appeal from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit,…

  • Biden ties Clinton in second-most Article III judicial confirmations through Dec. 1 of a president’s first year since 1981

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    President Joe Biden (D) has appointed and the Senate has confirmed 28 Article III federal judges through Dec. 1 of his first year in office.  Since 1901, Biden has made the third-most Article III appointments of any president by this time in office, tied with President Bill Clinton (D). President John F. Kennedy (D) had…

  • Monthly tracker: Article III federal judicial nominations by president by days in office since Jan. 2001

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    Through Dec. 1, 2021, there were 890 authorized federal judicial posts and 78 vacancies. Seventy-four of those vacancies were for Article III judgeships. This report is limited to Article III courts, where appointees are confirmed to lifetime judgeships. In the past month, no new judges have been confirmed. In the past month, 11 new judges…