Federal Courts, Empty Benches: The Wednesday Vacancy Count 6/19/2013
June 19, 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 were four new confirmations this past week, leaving the final tally at 76 vacancies or approximately 8.8% 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 | 8.9% or 16 vacancies |
| District Courts | 8.8% or 60 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
District of New Mexico
On June 17, 2013, the United States Senate confirmed Kenneth John Gonzales to an Article III post for the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico with a vote of 89-0.[1][2] Gonzales was originally nominated on November 15, 2012, by President Barack Obama to the seat vacated by Bruce Black. At the time of nomination, he was a United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico. Gonzales was rated Unanimously Qualified by the American Bar Association. He had a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 13, 2013 and you can find his Committee Questionnaire available here and his Questions for the Record available here.[3] The confirmation fills the only vacancy on the court of seven, lowering the vacancy warning level from Yellow to Green.
Eastern District of Pennsylvania
On June 17, 2013, the United States Senate confirmed Felipe Restrepo to an Article III post for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania with a voice vote.[1][4] Restrepo was originally nominated on November 27, 2012, by President Barack Obama to the seat vacated by Anita Brody. At the time of nomination, he was a federal magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, a position to which he was appointed in June 2006. Restrepo was rated Unanimously Well Qualified by the American Bar Association. He had a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 13, 2013 and you can find his Committee Questionnaire available here and his Questions for the Record available here.[3]
On June 13, 2013, the United States Senate confirmed Jeffrey L. Schmehl to an Article III post for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania with a vote of 100-0.[1][5] Schmehl was originally nominated on November 27, 2012, by President Barack Obama to the seat vacated by Thomas Golden. At the time of nomination, he was a judge on the Berks County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania. Schmehl was rated Majority Well Qualified, Minority Qualified by the American Bar Association. He had a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 13, 2013 and you can find his Committee Questionnaire available here and his Questions for the Record available here.[3]
On June 13, 2013, the United States Senate confirmed Nitza I. Quinones Alejandro to an Article III post for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania with a voice vote.[1][6] Alejandro was originally nominated on November 27, 2012, by President Barack Obama to the seat vacated by Barclay Surrick. At the time of nomination, she was a judge on the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania. Alejandro was rated Substantial Majority Qualified, Minority Not Qualified by the American Bar Association. She had hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 13, 2013. You can find her Committee Questionnaire available here and her Questions for the Record available here.[3]
The confirmations fill the three of the seven vacancies on the court of twenty-two, lowering the vacancy warning level from Orange to Yellow.
New vacancies
There were no new vacancies this past week.
New nominations
There were no new nominations this past week.
See also
Footnotes
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