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Federal Courts, Empty Benches: The Wednesday Vacancy Count 2/6/2013
February 6, 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 Yellow. There were three new vacancies this past week, leaving the final tally at 87 vacancies or approximately 10% 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 | 10% or 18 vacancies |
| District Courts | 10.1% or 69 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 this past week.
New vacancies
Northern District of Georgia
On January 31, 2013, Charles Pannell assumed senior status for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia after serving on the court for 12 years.[1] Pannell first joined the court on August 3, 2000, after an appointment from Bill Clinton. At the time of his appointment he was a Superior court judge for the Conasauga Judicial Circuit of Georgia. Born in DeKalb County, GA in 1946, Pannell graduated from the University of Georgia with his bachelor's degree in 1967 and later graduated from University of Georgia School of Law with his J.D. degree in 1970.[2] The transition to senior status creates the third vacancy on the court of eleven, raising the vacancy warning level from Yellow to Orange.
Western District of Kentucky
On February 1, 2013, Charles Simpson assumed senior status for the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky after serving on the court for 26 years.[3] Simpson first joined the court on August 4, 1986, after an appointment from Ronald Reagan. He served as chief judge of the court from 1994-2001. Simpson chairs the federal judiciary's International Judicial Relations Committee. This committee coordinates the relationship between the federal judiciary, foreign judiciaries and organizations whose mission is to expand "the rule of law and the administration of justice."[4] At the time of his appointment he was a City Clerk for the City of Rolling Fields, Kentucky. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Simpson graduated from the University of Louisville with his bachelor's degree in 1967 and his Juris Doctor J.D. degree in 1970.[5] The transition to senior status creates the third vacancy on the court of five, raising the vacancy warning level from Orange to Red.
Eighth Circuit
On February 1, 2013, Michael Melloy assumed senior status for the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit after serving on the court for almost 10 years.[6] Melloy first joined the court on February 14, 2002, after an appointment from George W. Bush. At the time of his appointment he was a judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa. He joined this court on August 17, 1992 and served as chief judge from 1992-1999. Born in Dubuque, Iowa, Melloy graduated from Loras College with his bachelor's degree in 1970. Melloy obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1974. Melloy served in the United States Army on active duty from 1970 to 1972 and then in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1972 to 1976.[2] The transition to senior status creates the first vacancy on the court of eleven, raising the vacancy warning level from Green to Blue.
New nominations
On January 31, 2013 President Barack Obama nominated two individuals to be judges for the federal Courts of Appeal. Obama commented on the nominations, stating "Jane Kelly and Gregory Alan Phillips have proven themselves to be not only first-rate legal minds but faithful public servants. It is with full confidence in their ability, integrity, and independence that I nominate them to the bench of the United States Court of Appeals."[7]
Eighth Circuit
President Barack Obama nominated Jane Kelly to the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit to fill the vacancy left by Michael Melloy.[8] Kelly is currently an Assistant Federal Public Defender in the Northern District of Iowa. Born in Greencastle, IN, Kelly attended Duke University, graduating summa cum laude in 1987 with a B.A.. She went on to earn her J.D. in 1991 from Harvard Law School, graduating cum laude again.[7]
Tenth Circuit
President Barack Obama nominated Gregory Alan Phillips to the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit to fill the vacancy left by Terrence O'Brien.[8] Phillips is currently Wyoming’s Attorney General and has held the position since March 2011. Born in Evanston, Wyoming, Philips attended University of Wyoming, graduating in 1983 with a B.A.. He went on to earn his J.D. in 1987 from the University of Wyoming College of Law.[7]
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ U.S. Courts Current Vacancies
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Judge Pannell Bio from the Federal Judicial Center Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "FJC" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ U.S. Courts Current Vacancies
- ↑ University of Louisville Law School, "Judge Simpson Named Chair of International Judicial Relations Committee," May 19, 2008
- ↑ Judge Charles R. Simpson's Biography from the Federal Judicial Center.
- ↑ U.S. Courts Current Vacancies
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "President Obama Nominates Two to Serve on the US Court of Appeals" January 31, 2013
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate" 1/31/2013
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