Federal Courts, Empty Benches: The Wednesday Vacancy Count 5/15/2013
May 15, 2013
- For a District by District break down, see: Federal Court Vacancy Warning System
The vacancy warning level for the U.S. Federal courts is currently set at Blue. There were two new confirmations this past week, leaving the final tally at 82 vacancies or approximately 9.6% of the total Article III posts currently unfilled. The vacancy information for the various court levels is as follows:
| Key: | |
| (Percentage of seats vacant.) | |
| 0% | 1%-9% |
| 10%-24% | 25%-40% |
| More than 40% | |
| Supreme Court | 0% or no vacancies |
| Appeals Courts | 8.9% or 16 vacancies |
| District Courts | 9.7% or 66 vacancies |
There are currently 9 Supreme Court posts, 179 appellate court posts and 680 district court posts for a total of 868 Article III judges. This count includes four temporary posts, one each in the Northern District of Alabama, District of Arizona, Southern District of Florida and the Central District of California. This also includes two shared post between the two Missouri districts and the two Kentucky districts, which count as two posts with separate vacancies.
Weekly map
The new weekly map feature will be updated every week and posted here and on the vacancy warning level analysis page.
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New confirmations
Middle District of Louisiana
On May 9, 2013, the United States Senate confirmed Shelly Deckert Dick to an Article III post for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana with a voice vote.[1][2] Dick was originally nominated on April 25, 2013, by President Barack Obama to the seat vacated by Ralph Tyson. At the time of nomination, Dick was a partner in the law firm Forrester, Dick & Clark in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She was rated Substantial Majority Qualified, Minority Not Qualified by the American Bar Association. She had a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on December 12, 2012 and you can find her Committee Questionnaire available here, her Questions for the Record available here and her Renomination Questions for the Record available here.[3] The confirmation fills the only vacancy on the court of three, lowering the vacancy warning level from Orange to Green.
Southern District of New York
On May 9, 2013, the United States Senate confirmed Nelson S. Roman to an Article III post for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York with a vote of 97-0.[1][4] Roman was originally nominated on September 20, 2013, by President Barack Obama to the seat vacated by Richard Berman. At the time of nomination, Roman was a judge on the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department. He was rated Substantial Majority Well Qualified, Minority Qualified by the American Bar Association. He had a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 23, 2013 and you can find his Committee Questionnaire available here and his Questions for the Record available here.[3] The confirmation fills the one of four vacancies on the court of twenty-eight, leaving the vacancy warning level unchanged at Yellow.
New vacancies
There were no new vacancies this past week.
New nominations
On May 9, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated two to serve as United States District Judges. President Obama commented on the nomination stating:
| " | I am pleased to nominate these distinguished individuals to serve on the United States District Court bench. I am confident they will serve the American people with integrity and a steadfast commitment to justice.[5][6] | ” |
Northern District of Alabama
President Obama nominated Madeline Haikala to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama to fill the vacancy left by Inge Johnson.[7] Haikala is currently a United States Magistrate Judge in the Northern District of Alabama. She attended Williams College, graduating with a B.A. in 1986. She went on to attend Tulane University Law School, earning her J.D. magna cum laude in 1989.[5] If confirmed, the nomination would fill the only vacancy on the court of eight.
Southern District of New York
President Obama nominated Gregory Howard Woods to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York to fill the vacancy left by Barbara Jones.[7] Woods is currently the General Counsel at the United States Department of Energy. He earned his B.A., graduating magna cum laude, from Williams College in 1991. He went on to earn his J.D. from Yale Law in 1995.[5] If confirmed, the nomination would fill the one of three vacancies on the court of twenty-eight.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 113th Congress Confirmations
- ↑ United States Periodic Press Gallery
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 113th Congress Nomination Materials
- ↑ United States Periodic Press Gallery
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "President Obama Nominates Two to Serve on the United States District Court" 5/9/2013
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate" 5/9/2013
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