Author: Sara Reynolds
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Delaware governor announces two supreme court nominations
Delaware Governor John Carney (D) has nominated Associate Justice Collins Seitz Jr. to replace Leo Strine as the next chief justice of the Delaware Supreme Court. Carney also nominated Tamika Montgomery-Reeves to serve as a new associate justice, replacing Seitz. Chief Justice Strine announced in July 2019 that he would retire in the fall…
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Senate confirms Justin Walker to U.S. District Court seat
The U.S. Senate confirmed nominee Justin Walker to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Overall, the Senate has confirmed 157 of President Trump’s Article III judicial nominees—two Supreme Court justices, 43 appellate court judges, 110 district court judges, and two U.S. Court of International Trade judges—since January 2017. At the end…
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U.S. Senate confirms four U.S. District Court nominees
The U.S. Senate has confirmed four nominees to U.S. District Court judgeships. Overall, the Senate has confirmed 156 of President Trump’s Article III judicial nominees—two Supreme Court justices, 43 appellate court judges, 109 district court judges, and two U.S. Court of International Trade judges—since January 2017. At the end of the 115th Congress in January…
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Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Fairhurst is retiring
On October 3, Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst announced her intention to retire on January 5, 2020, for health reasons. Fairhurst was first elected to the Washington Supreme Court in 2002 and then re-elected in 2008 and 2014. She became the chief justice in 2016. Fairhurst previously served in the Washington attorney…
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September 2019 breakdown of state legislative party membership: 52.1% Republicans, 46.9% Democrats
September’s partisan count of the 7,383 state legislators across the United States shows 52.1% of all state legislators are Republicans and 46.9% are Democrats. Ballotpedia completes a count of the partisan balance of state legislatures at the end of every month. The partisan composition of state legislatures refers to which political party holds the…
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Maine Supreme Court Justice Hjelm is retiring
Maine Supreme Judicial Court Justice Jeffrey Hjelm announced on September 20 that he is retiring, effective upon the confirmation of his successor. Selection of state supreme court justices in Maine occurs through gubernatorial appointment, although the governor’s nominee must be confirmed by the Maine State Senate. Once confirmed, justices serve seven-year terms and must…
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Gov. Stitt appoints M. John Kane IV to the Oklahoma Supreme Court
On Tuesday, Governor Kevin Stitt (R) appointed M. John Kane IV to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Kane replaced former Justice John Reif, who retired on April 30, 2019. Kane is Stitt’s first nominee to the nine-member supreme court; the governor was first elected in November 2018. Prior to this new appointment, Kane served as…
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U.S. Supreme Court releases December argument calendar
The U.S. Supreme Court has released its December argument calendar for the 2019-2020 term. The court will hear 12 hours of oral argument in 15 cases between December 2 and December 11. As of September 16, 2019, the court had agreed to hear 44 cases in the upcoming term. December 2 New York…