Next Tuesday, confirmation hearings will begin for Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court. The hearings are expected to run until next Friday.
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is adhering to his promise to keep the Senate working this August. Last week, McConnell warned that the Senate would stay in session until another twelve judicial nominees and four executive branch nominees are confirmed. McConnell said, “No more obstruction, no more delays. It’s time to confirm them all.”
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley is also continuing to process nominees, holding a hearing last week for Eighth Circuit nominee Jonathan Kobes.
I applaud both Leader McConnell and Chairman Grassley for putting the Democrat senators’ feet to the fire as they persist with their unprecedented obstruction efforts.
Here is this week’s update on federal judicial nominations:
Current and known future vacancies: 179
Supreme Court: 1
Courts of Appeals: 18
District/Specialty Courts*: 160
Pending nominees for current and known future vacancies: 89
Supreme Court: 1
Courts of Appeals: 8
District/Specialty Courts: 80
* 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 |
| Paul Matey (3rd) | 4/12/2018 | 137 | No | Not yet scheduled |
| Eric Murphy (6th) | 6/18/2018 | 70 | No | Not yet scheduled |
| Chad Readler (6th) | 6/18/2018 | 70 | No | Not yet scheduled |
| Eric Miller (9th) | 7/19/2018 | 39 | No | Not yet scheduled |
Court of Appeals Nominees Awaiting Senate Judiciary Committee Votes
| Nominee (Circuit) | Nomination Date | Days Pending | Judiciary Committee Hearing Date |
| Ryan Nelson (9th) | 5/15/2018 | 104 | 7/11/2018 |
| Richard Sullivan (2nd) | 5/7/2018 | 112 | 8/1/2018 |
| Jonathan Kobes (8th) | 6/11/2018 | 77 | 8/22/2018 |
Court of Appeals Nominees Awaiting Senate Floor Votes
| Nominee (Circuit) | Nomination Date | Days Pending | Date Reported to Senate Floor |
| David Porter (3rd) | 4/12/2018 | 137 | 7/19/2018 |
Nominees Awaiting Floor Votes: 45
Courts of Appeals: 1
District/Specialty Courts: 44
Nominees Confirmed by the Senate: 53
Supreme Court: 1
Courts of Appeals: 26
District/Specialty Courts: 26