A project of the American Constitution Society
Judicial Vacancies
The following is a list of the five judgeships that have been vacant for longer than all others. Click on any vacancy for more information, or click below for information on all judicial vacancies.
- Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit - vacant since 12/31/04 - no nominee
- Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit - vacant since 09/29/05 - no nominee.
- Eastern District of North Carolina - vacant since 12/31/05 - no nominee
- Western District of Wisconsin - vacant since 01/20/2009 - no nominee.
- Western District of Texas - vacant since 11/30/2008 -no nominee
Pending Nominees
The following is a list of the five judicial nominees who have been waiting the longest for confirmation. Click on any nominee for more information, or click below for information on all pending judicial nominees.
- Valerie E. Caproni, Nominated to the Southern District of New York on November 14, 2012.
- Jennifer A. Dorsey, Nominated to the District of Nevada on September 19, 2012.
- Brian J. Davis, Nominated to the Middle District of Florida on Feb. 29, 2012.
- Jill Pryor, Nominated to the Eleventh Circuit on February 16, 2012.
- Rosemary Marquez, Nominated to the District of Arizona on June 23, 2011.
Judicial Nominations At A Glance
06/06/2013 – Judicial Nominations at a Glance
View comparisons of the rate and number of confirmations and nominations under the last three presidents. Also see our nominations infographic! read full story
In the News…
06/19/2013 – McConnell Sings Very Different Tune On Nuclear Option Than In 2005
After Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) warned Tuesday that going nuclear on filibuster reform for nominations would lead to the end of the 60-vote threshold for all matters, Democrats quickly pointed out that McConnell had supported a similar proposal during the 2005 filibuster battles. read full story
06/18/2013 – D.C. Circuit Judge Srinivasan Sworn In
Sri Srinivasan was sworn in yesterday afternoon as the newest judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. read full story
06/17/2013 – Senate Dems Schedule Hearing For D.C. Circuit Nominee Patricia Millett
Senate Democrats moved Monday to schedule a confirmation hearing for Patricia Millett, one of President Obama's three nominees to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. The hearing will be on July 10, said Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), saying Millett "should have broad bipartisan support." read full story
Upcoming Events
Click on a link below to learn more about upcoming events addressing judicial nominations:
Recommended Readings
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06/19/2013: Susan Collins: Why Congress should reform federal court
I recognize that the D.C. Circuit often handles complex cases, but the fact remains that total appeals filed in the D.C. Circuit have fallen more than 13 percent since 2006 when Democrats were arguing that judicial seats did not need to be filled. -
06/19/2013: Lamar Alexander Warns Harry Reid Against Breaking Filibuster Pledge, Despite Breaking His Own
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) spent most of Tuesday criticizing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) for signaling that he may go back on his initial pledge to not make changes to Senate filibuster rules. But it turns out Alexander hasn't exactly stuck to his own filibuster pledge.
Congressional Statements
The following are selected statements by senators and congressmen concerning judicial nominations. Click on the link to view the item.
- 06/18/2013: The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that her Federal Law Enforcement Nominating Commission is accepting applications for an upcoming opening on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- 06/17/2013: Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced Monday that the Judiciary Committee will next month begin confirmation hearings for President Barack Obama’s nominees to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.
- 06/17/2013: U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) today praised the Senate's confirmation of Judge Luis Felipe Restrepo as U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
- 06/17/2013: Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, On the Nominations of Judge Luis Restrepo and Kenneth Gonzales
- 06/13/2013: Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, On the Nominations of Judge Nitza Quiñones Alejandro and Judge Jeffrey Schmehl
- 06/12/2013: Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.): Senate Dems Manufacture Crisis Over Consideration of Judicial Nominees
- 06/11/2013: Senator Mark Kirk (D-IL) Picks Manish Shah for Appointment to be Northern District of Illinois Court Judge
The Role of the Courts
Click here to view a document from the state of Maryland that includes a discussion of the concept of separation of powers and a description of the judicial branch.
Click here to view a document from the Federal Judicial Center that discusses the historical development of the federal judiciary.
How the Confirmation
Process Works
Click here to view a slide show explaining how the confirmation process works.
Click on the links below to learn more about the invididual parts of the confirmation process.
Videos
06/02/2013: The importance of the D.C. Circuit and the longetivity of the filibuster
11/01/12: Holding Court: Huffpost Live on the Future of the Supreme Court
10/03/12: Nan Aron: Romney Would ‘Turn the Clock Back’ on Supreme Court
04/08/12: Up with Chris Hayes: Judicial review along party lines
2/28/12: Sen. Coons on Judicial Vacancy Crisis
