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Federal Courts, Empty Benches: The Wednesday Vacancy Count 10/3/2012
October 3, 2012
- For a District by District break down, see: Federal Court Vacancy Warning System
The current vacancy warning level for the U.S. District courts is set at Blue. There was one new vacancy this past week. That leaves the final tally at 75 vacancies or approximately 8.6% 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 | 7.8% or 14 vacancies |
| District Courts | 9% or 61 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 a shared post between the two Missouri districts and counts it 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 this past week.
New vacancies
District of New Mexico
On October 1, 2012, Bruce Black assumed senior status for the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico after serving on the court for nearly 17 years.[1] Black joined the court in 1995 after an appointment from Bill Clinton. Black has served as the Chief judge of the court since 2010. Prior to appointment, Black served on the New Mexico Court of Appeals from 1991-1995. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Black is a graduate of Albion College of Michigan with his bachelor's degree in 1969 and from Michigan Law School with his Juris Doctor degree in 1971.[2] Black's transition creates the first vacancy on the court of 7, raising the vacancy warning level from Green to Yellow.
New nominations
There were no new nominations this week.
See also
Footnotes
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