Federal Courts, Empty Benches: The Wednesday Vacancy Count 7/31/2013
July 31, 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 Yellow. There was one new vacancy this past week and three missed vacancies added, leaving the final tally at 87 vacancies or approximately 10 percent 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 percent or no vacancies |
| Appeals Courts | 9.6 percent or 17 vacancies |
| District Courts | 10.3 percent or 70 vacancies |
There are currently 9 Supreme Court posts, 179 appellate court posts and 681 district court posts for a total of 869 Article III judges. This count includes four temporary posts, one each in the District of Columbia, 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
District of Maine
On July 31, 2013, Judge George Singal assumed senior status for the United States District Court for the District of Maine, where he had served for over 13 years.[1] Singal was originally nominated by Bill Clinton and joined the court on July 11, 2000. From 2003 until 2009 he served as Chief Judge. At the time of his nomination, he was a private practice attorney in Maine. Singal graduated from the University of Maine with a B.A. in 1967. He went on to earn his J.D. from Harvard Law in 1970.[2] His transition to senior status creates the first vacancy on the court of three, raising the vacancy warning level from Green to Orange.
Missed vacancies
Upon review of the federal courts, three vacancies were missed by previous weeks.
Northern District of New York
On June 30, 2013, Judge Norman Mordue assumed senior status for the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, where he had served for almost 15 years.[3] Mordue was originally nominated by Bill Clinton and joined the court on October 22, 1998. From 2006 until 2011 he served as Chief Judge. At the time of his nomination, he was a Justice for the New York Supreme Court 5th Judicial District. Mordue graduated from Syracuse University with his bachelor's degree in 1966 and later graduated from Syracuse University College of Law with his J.D. Degree in 1971. Mordue also served as a U.S. Army Captain from 1966 to 1968.[4] His transition to senior status creates the first vacancy on the court of five, raising the vacancy warning level from Green to Yellow.
Eastern District of Michigan
On January 29, 2013, Judge George Steeh assumed senior status for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, where he had served for almost 15 years.[5] Steeh was originally nominated by Bill Clinton and joined the court on May 22, 1998. At the time of his nomination, he was a Judge for the Michigan Sixteenth Judicial District Court. A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan Steeh graduated from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor earning both his bachelor's and Juris Doctor degrees in 1969 and 1973.[6]
On March 1, 2013, Judge Robert Cleland assumed senior status for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, where he had served for almost 23 years.[7] Cleland was originally nominated by George H.W. Bush and joined the court on June 19, 1990. At the time of his nomination, he was the Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for St. Clair County, Michigan Attorney's Office. Born in St. Clair, Michigan, Cleland graduated from Michigan State University with his bachelor's degree in 1969, and graduated from the University of North Carolina Law School in 1972 with his J.D. degree.[8]
The two vacancies add to the existing two, leaving four vacancies on the court of fifteen and raising the vacancy warning level from Yellow to Orange.
New nominations
On July 25, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated six to be judges for the United States District Courts. Obama commented on the nominations, stating:
| “ | These men and women 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.[9][10] | ” |
Northern District of California
President Obama nominated Vince Girdhari Chhabria to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California to fill the vacancy left by Susan Illston.[11] Chhabria is currently a Deputy City Attorney at the San Francisco City Attorney's Office. He earned his B.A. from the University of California, Santa Cruz, graduating in 1991. He went on to earn his J.D., graduating in 1998 from the Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley.[9] If confirmed, Chhabria would fill one of three vacancies on the court of fifteen.
Eastern District of Michigan
President Obama nominated Matthew Frederick Leitman to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan to fill the vacancy left by Marianne Battani.[11] Leitman is currently a principal at the law firm Miller Canfield P.L.C.. He graduated with highest distinction, earning his B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1990. He went on to attend Harvard Law School, graduating magna cum laude in 1993 with a J.D..[9]
President Obama nominated Judith Ellen Levy to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan to fill the vacancy left by Nancy Edmunds.[11] Levy is currently an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Michigan. She attended the University of Michigan, earning her B.S. in 1981 and her J.D. (cum laude) in 1996.[9]
President Obama nominated Laurie Michelson to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan to fill the vacancy left by George Steeh.[11] Michelson is currently a United States Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of Michigan. She attended the University of Michigan, earning her A.B. in 1989. She went on to earn her J.D. in 1992 from Northwestern University School of Law.[9]
President Obama nominated Linda V. Parker to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan to fill the vacancy left by Robert Cleland.[11] Parker is currently a judge on the 3rd Circuit Court, Michigan . She earned her B.A. in 1980 from the University of Michigan. She went on to attend George Washington University Law School earning her J.D. in 1983.[9]
If confirmed, these nominees would fill all four vacancies on the court of fifteen.
Eastern District of Arkansas
President Obama nominated James Moody Jr. to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas to fill the vacancy left by Susan Webber Wright.[11] Moody is currently a circuit judge for the Third Division of the Arkansas 6th Judicial Circuit. He attended the University of Arkansas, earning his B.S.B.A. in 1986 and his J.D. in 1989.[9] If confirmed, Moody would fill the only vacancy on the court of five.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ U.S. Courts Current Vacancies
- ↑ Judge Singal Biography from the Federal Judicial Center
- ↑ U.S. Courts Current Vacancies
- ↑ "FJC.gov" Federal Judicial Center, Biography of Norman Mordue, April 11, 2009
- ↑ U.S. Courts Current Vacancies
- ↑ Steeh's Biography from the Federal Judicial Center.
- ↑ U.S. Courts Current Vacancies
- ↑ Judge Robert Cleland's Biography from the Federal Judicial Center.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 "President Obama Nominates Six to Serve on the United States District Court" 7/25/2013
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 "Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate" 7/25/2013
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