Armando Omar Bonilla

Court of Federal Claims
	Federal Circuit
Judgeships
	Posts: 16
	Judges: 16
	Vacancies: 0
Judges
	Chief: Elaine Kaplan
	Active judges: Armando Omar Bonilla, Kathryn Davis, Thompson Michael Dietz, Philip Hadji, Richard Hertling, Ryan Holte, Elaine Kaplan, Carolyn Lerner, Robin M. Meriweather, Edward Meyers, Eleni Roumel, Stephen Schwartz, Molly Silfen, Matthew Solomson, Zachary Somers, David A. Tapp; Senior judges:; Susan G. Braden, Eric G. Bruggink, Lynn J. Bush, Edward J. Damich, Nancy B. Firestone, Robert H. Hodges Jr., Marian Blank Horn, Charles F. Lettow, Loren A. Smith, Margaret M. Sweeney, Thomas C. Wheeler, John Paul Wiese, Mary Ellen Coster Williams, Victor J. Wolski

Nomination Tracker
Nominee Information
	Name: Armando Omar Bonilla
	Court: United States Court of Federal Claims
Progress
	Confirmed 74 days after nomination.
	Nominated: October 5, 2021
	ABA Rating: N/A
	Questionnaire: Questionnaire
	Hearing: October 6, 2021
	QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
	Reported: October 28, 2021
	Confirmed: December 18, 2021
	Vote: Voice vote

Armando Omar Bonilla is a judge on the United States Court of Federal Claims. He was renominated to the court by President Joe Biden (D) on October 5, 2021, after Biden withdrew the original nomination from July 13, 2021. Bonilla was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 18, 2021, by voice vote.^[1]^[2]^[3] To see a full list of judges appointed by Joe Biden, click here.

The United States Court of Federal Claims is an Article I tribunal, a federal court organized under Article I of the United States Constitution. To learn more about the court, click here.

Prior to his nomination, Bonilla was vice president for ethics and investigations with Capital One Financial Corporation.^[4]

On May 21, 2014, President Barack Obama (D) nominated Bonilla to the United States Court of Federal Claims.^[5] On January 3, 2017, Bonilla's nomination was returned to President Obama at the sine die adjournment of the 114th Congress.^[6]

Judicial nominations and appointments

United States Court of Federal Claims (2022-present)

See also: Federal judges nominated by Joe Biden

On October 5, 2021, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Bonilla to the United States Court of Federal Claims. The U.S. Senate confirmed Bonilla by voice vote on December 18, 2021.^[1] Bonilla received commission on February 17, 2022. To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.

Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Bonilla on December 18, 2021, by voice vote.^[1]

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Bonilla's nomination on October 6, 2021. The committee voted to advance Bonilla's nomination to the full Senate on October 28, 2021.

Nomination

On July 13, 2021, President Joe Biden (D) announced his intent to nominate Bonilla to the United States Court of Federal Claims.^[4] The president officially nominated Bonilla on July 13, 2021. The nomination was withdrawn on October 5, 2021.^[3] The president renominated Bonilla to the court on October 5, 2021.^[1]

Bonilla was nominated to replace Judge Edward J. Damich, assumed senior status on October 22, 2013.^[7]

United States Court of Federal Claims (2014)

See also: Federal judges nominated by Barack Obama

Armando Omar Bonilla received a nomination to the United States Court of Federal Claims from President Barack Obama (D) on May 21, 2014.^[5] The president said regarding the nomination:

“

Throughout their careers, these individuals have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to public service. It is with full confidence in their ability, integrity, and independence that I nominate them to serve on the Court of Federal Claims.^[5]^[8]

”

The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing for Bonilla on July 24, 2014.^[9] The committee reported Bonilla to the full Senate on September 18, 2014, on a voice vote.^[10]

Bonilla's nomination was returned on December 31, 2014. He was renominated by President Barack Obama on January 7, 2014.^[11]

The Senate Judiciary Committee reported Bonilla to the full Senate on February 26, 2015. On January 3, 2017, Bonilla's nomination was returned to President Obama at the sine die adjournment of the 114th Congress.^[6]

Biography

Education

Bonilla earned a bachelor's degree from West Virginia University in 1989. He earned a J.D. from the Seton Hall University School of Law, graduating magna cum laude in 1992.^[5]

Professional career

2022-present: Judge, United States Court of Federal Claims
2018-2021: Vice president for ethics and investigations, Capital One Financial Corporation
1994-2018: United States Department of Justice
- 2010-2017: Associate deputy attorney
- 2002-2010: Prosecutor, Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division
- 2001-2002: Prosecutor, Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section of the Criminal Division
- 1994-2001: Trial and appellate attorney, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division
1996-1998: Adjunct professor of law, The George Washington University Law School
1992-1994: Law clerk, Garrett Brown, District of New Jersey^[5]^[12]

About the court

The United States Court of Federal Claims is a United States federal court that hears claims against the U.S. government. It was created in 1982 as an Article I tribunal.

Judgments of the court may be appealed to the Federal Circuit.

The court has jurisdiction over claims across the United States for over $10,000 and congruent jurisdiction with the United States District Courts on claims under $10,000.^[13]

The court has original jurisdiction over all money claims against the federal government based in federal statute, executive order or contract. This jurisdiction also includes bid protests and vaccine compensations. The approximate breakdown of the cases by jurisdiction includes:

Tax Refund Suits ~ 25%
Contract Claims ~ 33%
Fifth Amendment takings ~ 10%

The rest constitute other varieties of claims.^[13]

The federal nomination process

Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:

The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.

As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.

After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.

If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.

The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.

If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.