Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.
Federal Courts, Empty Benches: The Wednesday Vacancy Count 5/29/2013
May 29, 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 was one new confirmation this past week, leaving the final tally at 78 vacancies or approximately 9% 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 | 8.4% or 15 vacancies |
| District Courts | 9.3% or 63 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.
 |
New confirmations
D.C. Circuit
On May 23, 2013, the United States Senate confirmed Srikanth Srinivasan to an Article III post for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit with a vote of 97-0.[1][2] Srinivasan was originally nominated on June 11, 2012, by President Barack Obama to the seat vacated by Raymond Randolph. At the time of nomination, he was the Principal Deputy Solicitor General of the United States. Srinivasan was rated Unanimously Well Qualified by the American Bar Association. He had a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 10, 2013. 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 eleven, leaving the vacancy warning level unchanged at Orange.
President Obama commented on the confirmation in a special press release, stating:
| “ | I’m pleased the Senate unanimously confirmed Sri Srinivasan to be a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Sri is a trailblazer who personifies the best of America. Born in Chandigarh, India, and raised in Lawrence, Kansas, Sri spent nearly two decades as an extraordinary litigator before serving as Principal Deputy Solicitor General of the United States. Now he will serve with distinction on the federal bench. Sri will in fact be the first South Asian American to serve as a circuit court judge in our history. While I applaud the Senate’s action, it’s important to remember that this confirmation is the first one to this important court in seven years. The three remaining vacancies must be filled, as well as other vacancies across the country.[4][5] | ” |
New vacancies
There were no new vacancies this past week.
New nominations
On May 23, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated three to the United States District Court bench. Obama commented on the nomination, stating:
| “ | These individuals have had distinguished legal careers and I am honored to ask them to continue their work as judges on the federal bench. They will serve the American people with integrity and an unwavering commitment to justice.[6][5] | ” |
District of New Hampshire
President Obama nominated Landya McCafferty to the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire to fill the vacancy left by Steven McAuliffe.[7] McCafferty is currently a United States Magistrate Judge for the District of New Hampshire. She attended Harvard University, graduating cum laude with an A.B. in 1984. She went on to attend Northeastern University School of Law, earning her J.D. in 1991.[6] If confirmed, the nomination would fill the only vacancy on the court of three.
District of Montana
President Obama nominated [[Brian Morris]] to the United States District Court for the District of Montana to fill the vacancy left by Sam Haddon.[7] Morris is currently a judge for the Montana Supreme Court. He attend Stanford University, earning both his B.A. and M.A. in 1987 and his J.D. with distinction in 1992.[6]
President Obama nominated Susan P. Watters to the United States District Court for the District of Montana to fill the vacancy left by Richard Cebull.[7] Watters is currently a judge on the Montana 13th Judicial District Court. She earned her B.A. from Eastern Montana College in 1980. She went on to attend the University of Montana School fo Law, earning her J.D. in 1988.[6]
If nominated, these individuals would fill the only two vacancies on the court of three.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ 113th Congress Confirmations
- ↑ United States Periodic Press Gallery
- ↑ 113th Congress Nomination Materials
- ↑ "Statement by the President on the Confirmation of Sri Srinivasan" 5/23/2013
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "President Obama Nominates Three to Serve as District Court Judges" 5/23/2013
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate" 5/23/2013
| |||||
