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 9/29/05 - no nominee
- Eastern District of North Carolina - vacant since 12/31/05 - no nominee
- Northern District of West Virginia - vacant since 12/18/2006 -Gina Marie Groh, nominated on 5/19/11
- District of Maryland - vacant since 9/1/2008 -George Levi Russell, III, nominated on 11/10/11
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.
- Mary Geiger Lewis, Nominated to the District of South Carolina on March 16, 2011
- Jeffrey J. Helmick, Nominated to the Northern District of Ohio on May 11, 2011.
- Cathy Ann Bencivengo, Nominated to the Southern District of California on May 11, 2011.
- Gina Marie Groh, Nominated to the Northern District of West Virginia on May 19, 2011.
- Jesse M. Furman, Nominated to the Southern District of New York on June 7, 2011
Judicial Nominations At A Glance
1/25/12 – Judicial Nominations at a Glance
View comparisons of the rate and number of confirmations and nominations under the last three presidents. read full story
In the News…
1/26/12 – Republicans May Impede Some Judges After Recess Appointments
Senate Republicans are weighing a plan to block most of President Barack Obama’s appellate-court nominations starting in June or earlier in response to the recess appointments he made this month. read full story
1/26/12 – Obama, senators at odds over picks
The White House and Georgia's U.S. senators may agree that Atlanta lawyers Jill A. Pryor and Mark H. Cohen should be federal judges—but they apparently differ on which lawyer should fill an opening at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and which one should serve on Atlanta's U.S. District Court. read full story
1/26/12 – Senate GOP Not United on Nominations
Despite significant deliberation, Senate Republicans are wrestling with how to devise a united response to President Barack Obama’s controversial recess appointments earlier this month. Some Senators appear to be concerned that further blockades of nominees could give the president more ammunition for his narrative about GOP obstruction creating a do-nothing Congress. 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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1/25/12: Obama deserves props for taking on GOP obstructionism
Kudos to Barack Obama for raising the critical issue of nomination reform last night. Now the test will be whether he presses it over the course of the year. -
1/25/12: World-Herald editorial: Vote of confidence in a capable judge
It is no surprise that Judge John Gerrard received a strong endorsement from both of Nebraska's U.S. senators and has won confirmation to the federal bench by a vote of 74 to 16.
Congressional Statements
The following are selected statements by senators and congressmen concerning judicial nominations. Click on the link to view the item.
- 1/26/12: Sen. Grassley on Recess Appointments
- 1/23/12: Sen. Schumer on Recommendation of Attorney Lorna G. Schofield for U.S. District Court Judgeship
- 1/23/12: Sen. Johanns on Confirmation of Justice Gerrard to U.S. District Court
- 1/23/12: Sen. Collins on Nomination of William Kayatta Jr. for U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals
- 1/23/12: Sen. Snowe on Nomination of William Kayatta Jr. for U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals
- 1/13/12: Sen. Menendez on Supporting Patty Schwartz for Third Circuit
- 12/31/11: Sen. Leahy on Chief Justice Roberts’ Year-End Report On The Federal Judiciary
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
11/2/11: Hearing: Sen. Cornyn Introduces Judge Guaderrama
8/24/11: Debating the Politics of Confirming President Obama’s Judicial Nominees
7/8/11: Manglona nomination stalled by congressional debt stalemate
6/21/11: The Rachel Maddow Show on Judicial Vacancy Crisis
4/21/11: CNN on Judicial Vacancy Crisis
