Judicial Nominations Update

This week brought another new record with the confirmation of the 21st circuit court judge since Inauguration Day: this marks the most confirmed circuit judges ever at this point in a presidency. In addition, President Trump is just one judge shy of equaling the current record for the most circuit judges confirmed in the first two years of a presidency (22 by President George H.W. Bush).

The White House is continuing to select excellent nominees, Senator Grassley and the Senate Judiciary Committee are continuing to steadily process those nominees, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is keeping his promise to prioritize the confirmation of circuit judges.

Here is this week’s update on federal judicial nominations:

Current and known future vacancies: 177

Courts of Appeals: 22

District/Specialty Courts*: 155

Pending nominees for current and known future vacancies: 85

Courts of Appeals: 10

District/Specialty Courts: 75

* Includes the Court of Federal Claims and the International Trade Court

Court of Appeals Nominees Awaiting Senate Judiciary Committee Hearings

Nominee (Circuit) Nomination Date Days Pending Both Blue Slips Returned? Judiciary Committee Hearing Date Britt Grant (11th) 4/12/2018 36 Yes 5/23/2018 David Porter (3rd) 4/12/2018 36 No Not yet scheduled Paul Matey (3rd) 4/12/2018 36 No Not yet scheduled Richard Sullivan (2nd) 5/7/2018 11 No Not yet scheduled Jay Richardson (4th) 5/7/2018 11 Yes Not yet scheduled Marvin Quattlebaum (4th) 5/7/2018 11 Yes Not yet scheduled Ryan Nelson (9th) 5/15/2018 3 No Not yet scheduled

Court of Appeals Nominees Awaiting Senate Judiciary Committee Votes

Nominee (Circuit) Nomination Date Days Pending Judiciary Committee Hearing Date Andrew Oldham (5th) 2/15/2018 92 4/25/2018 Ryan Bounds (9th) 9/7/2017 253 5/9/2018