Federal Courts, Empty Benches: The Wednesday Vacancy Count 1/16/2013
January 16, 2013
- For a District by District break down, see: Federal Court Vacancy Warning System
The vacancy warning level for the U.S. District courts is currently set at Blue. There was one new vacancy this past week and three vacancies retroactively added from last year, leaving the final tally at 82 vacancies or approximately 9.4% 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 | 9.5% or 17 vacancies |
| District Courts | 9.6% or 65 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
There were no new confirmations during the past week.
New vacancies
District of South Carolina
On January 16, 2013 Margaret Seymour assumed senior status for the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina after serving on the court for 14 years.[1] Seymour first joined the court on October 22, 1998 after an appointment from Bill Clinton. She became Chief Judge of the court in 2012. At the time of her appointment she was a federal magistrate judge in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. Born in Washington, D.C., Seymour graduated from Howard University with her bachelor's degree in 1969 and later from American University's Washington College of Law with her J.D. degree in 1972.[2] The transition to senior status creates the first vacancy on the court of ten, lowering the vacancy warning level from Green to Blue.
Vacancy error
The vacancy count for the turn of the year requires updating. Since the vacancy count was written for 1/2/2013, three new vacancies have been added, effective December 31, 2012. The vacancy timeline and map have been updated retroactively.
Southern District of New York
On December, 31 2012 Barbara Jones retired from the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York after serving on the court for 17 years.[3] Jones first joined the court on December 26, 1995 after an appointment from Bill Clinton. At the time of her appointment she was the First Assistant District Attorney for the New York County District Attorney's Office. Jones graduated from Mount St. Mary's College with her bachelor's degree in 1968 and later graduated from Temple University School of Law with her juris doctorate degree in 1973.[4] The transition creates the sixth vacancy on the court of twenty-eight, leaving the vacancy warning level unchanged at Yellow.
District of Arizona
On December, 31 2012 David Bury assumed senior status for the United States District Court for the District of Arizona after serving on the court for 11 years.[5] Bury first joined the court on March 19, 2002 after an appointment from George W. Bush. Bury spent his entire pre-judicial legal career as a private practice attorney licensed in the State of Arizona from 1967 to 2002. A native of Oklahoma, Bury graduated from Oklahoma State University with his bachelor's degree in 1964 and later graduated from the University of Arizona College of Law with his Juris Doctorate degree in 1967.[6] The transition creates the third vacancy on the court of thirteen, leaving the vacancy warning level unchanged at Yellow.
Western District of Arkansas
On December, 31 2012 Jimm Hendren assumed senior status for the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas after serving on the court for 20 years.[7] Hendren first joined the court on March 18, 1992 after an appointment from George H.W. Bush. Hendren served as the Chief Judge of the Court from 1997 - 2012. At the time of appointment, Hendren was a private practice attorney in Arkansas. Hendren graduated from the University of Arkansas with his bachelor's degree in 1964 and his juris doctoral degree in 1965. Also, Hendren served in the US Navy JAG Corps consecutively from 1965 to 1968 and 1969 to 1970. Also Hendren, served as a Lieutenant Commander for the US Navy Reserve from 1970 to 1983.[8] The transition creates the first vacancy on the court of three, raising the vacancy warning level from Green to Orange.
New nominations
There were no new nominations this past week.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ U.S. Courts Current Vacancies
- ↑ Judge Seymour's Biography from the Federal Judicial Center.
- ↑ U.S. Courts Current Vacancies
- ↑ "Federal Judicial Center" Biography of Barbara Jones, May 6, 2009
- ↑ U.S. Courts Current Vacancies
- ↑ Judge Bury's Biography-Federal Judicial Center
- ↑ U.S. Courts Current Vacancies
- ↑ Hendren Bio from the Federal Judicial Center.
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