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The Federal Vacancy Count 2/24/2016

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FederalVacancy Blue.png
Key:
(Numbers indicate % of seats vacant.)
0%0%-10%
10%-25%25%-40%
More than 40%



February 24, 2016

By Rebecca Kretschmer

This month's Federal Vacancy Count includes nominations, confirmations and vacancies from January 27, 2016, to February 23, 2016. Nominations, confirmations and vacancies occurring on February 24 will be reflected in the March 2016 report. Please note that as of January 2016, Ballotpedia's Federal Vacancy Count will include information on the United States Court of Federal Claims, and vacancy, confirmation and nomination totals will be changed accordingly. The map in this report does not include information on the Federal Claims Court at this time.

The vacancy warning level remained at blue this month after eight vacancies and three new confirmations. Due to the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, the Supreme Court now has one vacant seat. The total vacancy percentage rose to 9.2 percent, and the number of vacancies across Article III courts and Federal Claims Court rose to 82 out of 890. There were five new nominations this month, raising the total number of nominees waiting for confirmation to 39 (including Federal Claims Court nominees). A breakdown of the vacancies at each level can be found in the table below. For a more detailed look at the vacancies on the federal courts, see our Federal Court Vacancy Warning System.

Vacancies by court

Court # of Seats Vacancies
Supreme Court 9 11.1% or 1 vacancy
Appeals Courts 179 5.0% or 9 vacancies
District Courts 677 9.2% or 62 vacancies
International Trade 9 44.4% or 4 vacancies
Federal Claims 16 37.5% or 6 vacancies
All Judges 890 9.2% or 82 vacancies


New vacancies

Supreme Court

Antonin Scalia was the 103rd associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Republican President Ronald Reagan appointed him to the court on June 24, 1986. Scalia was the first Italian-American to be confirmed to the Supreme Court.[1][2][3] On February 13, 2016, Scalia "was found dead of apparent natural causes" while visiting "the Cibolo Creek Ranch, a resort in the Big Bend region south of Marfa," Texas, according to the San Antonio-Express News.[4]

Scalia was considered to be a core member of the conservative wing of the court. He was a vigorous proponent of textualism in statutory interpretation, an originalist in constitutional interpretation and a passionate critic of the idea of a "Living Constitution." In an interview with New York Magazine, Scalia commented on the growth of originalism:

“ For example, I truly thought I’d never see an originalist on the faculty of Harvard Law School. You know, everybody copies Harvard—that’s the big ship. There are now three originalists on the faculty, and I think I heard that they’ve just hired, or are considering hiring, a fourth. I mean, that’s amazing to me. Elena Kagan did that, and the reason she did it is that you want to have on your faculty representatives of all responsible points of view.[5][6][7] ”

Scalia's unexpected death created a vacancy on the Supreme Court that President Barack Obama indicated he will attempt to fill before his term ends in 2017. The vacancy warning level for the court changed from green to yellow. For more information about the process to fill Scalia's seat and what the 2016 presidential candidates and members of Congress have said about Scalia and the future of the court, please visit the following pages:

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U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Dean Pregerson is a federal judge on senior status with the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Pregerson received his undergraduate degree from the University of California-Los Angeles in 1972 and his J.D. from the University of California-Davis King Hall School of Law in 1976. On the recommendation of U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D) and Barbara Boxer (D), Pregerson was nominated by President Bill Clinton on January 26, 1996, to a seat vacated by Wallace Tashima as Tashima was nominated to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Pregerson was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 24, 1996, on a majority voice vote. He received his commission on August 1, 1996, and assumed senior status on January 28, 2016.[8][9] Pregerson's transition caused the vacancy warning level of the court to change from blue to yellow.
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U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

William Quarles is a federal judge on senior status with the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Quarles earned his associate degree from the Community College of Baltimore in 1967 before graduating from the University of Maryland-College Park with his bachelor's degree in 1976. Quarles received his J.D. degree from the Catholic University of America in 1979. He was nominated to the United States District Court for the District of Maryland by former President George W. Bush on January 7, 2003, to a seat vacated by William M. Nickerson. Quarles was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 12, 2003, and received his commission on March 14, 2003. He assumed senior status on February 1, 2016.[10][11] Quarles' transition caused the vacancy warning level of the court to change from blue to yellow.
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U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada

Robert C. Jones is a federal judge on senior status with the United States District Court for the District of Nevada. He graduated from Brigham Young University with his bachelor's degree in 1971 and received a J.D. from the University of California Los Angeles School of Law in 1975. On the recommendation of U.S. Senator John Ensign, Jones was nominated to the United States District Court for the District of Nevada by former President George W. Bush (R) on June 9, 2003, to a seat vacated by David Hagen. Jones was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 2, 2003, on a Senate voice vote and received his commission on November 30, 2003.[12][13] He served as the chief judge of the court from 2011 to 2014 and assumed senior status on February 1, 2016.[14] Jones' transition caused the vacancy warning level of the court to change from green to yellow.
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U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas

Mary Lou Robinson is a federal judge on senior status with the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. A native of Kansas, Robinson graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with her bachelor's degree in 1948 and with her J.D. in 1950. On the recommendation of U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen, she was nominated by former President Jimmy Carter on February 23, 1979, to a new seat created by 92 Stat. 1629, which was approved by Congress. Robinson was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 24, 1979, and received her commission on April 26, 1979. She assumed senior status on February 3, 2016.[15] Robinson's transition did not change the vacancy warning level, which remained at yellow.
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U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington

Robert Lasnik is a federal judge on senior status with the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. Born on Staten Island in New York, Lasnik graduated from Brandeis University with his bachelor's degree in 1972, earned a master's degree from Northwestern University in 1973 and earned a second master's degree from Northwestern University in 1974. Lasnik received a J.D. degree from the University of Washington in 1978.[16] He was nominated to the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington by former President Bill Clinton (D) on May 11, 1998, to fill a seat vacated by Carol Dimmick. Lasnik was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 21, 1998, and received his commission on October 22, 1998. Lasnik served as chief judge of the court from 2004 to 2011. He assumed senior status on January 27, 2016.[17][16] Lasnik's transition caused the vacancy warning level of the court to change from green to yellow.
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U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington

Marsha Pechman is a federal judge on senior status with the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. Pechman graduated from Cornell University with her bachelor's degree in 1973 and later earned a J.D. from Boston University in 1976.[16] She was nominated to the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington by former President Bill Clinton on March 24, 1999, to a seat vacated by William Dwyer. Pechman was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 8, 1999, and received her commission on September 9, 1999. She assumed senior status on February 6, 2016.[16][18] Pechman's transition did not change the vacancy warning level, which remained at yellow.
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U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

Rudolph Randa is a federal judge on senior status with the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1963, where he received academic honors and earned distinguished military honors. He later received his J.D. degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1966. In 1992, Randa was appointed by former President George H.W. Bush (R) to become a federal district judge in the Eastern District of Wisconsin to replace Judge Robert Warren. Randa's nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 11, 1992, by unanimous consent. He assumed senior status on February 5, 2016.[19] Randa's transition caused the vacancy warning level of the court to change from green to yellow.
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New confirmations

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa

Leonard T. Strand is an Article III federal judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa. He earned his B.A., with high distinction, from the University of Iowa in 1987 and his J.D., with highest distinction, from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1990. Prior to his nomination, Strand served as a federal magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.[1] He was appointed to serve as an Article III federal judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa on July 21, 2015, by President Barack Obama. The American Bar Association rated Strand Unanimously Well Qualified for the position.[20] His Committee on the Judiciary hearing was held on October 21, 2015, and his nomination was reported to the full Senate on November 5, 2015, on a voice vote. His nomination was confirmed by the Senate on February 11, 2016, on a vote of 93 to 0.[21][22] Strand's transition changed the court's vacancy warning level from red to green.
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U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa

Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger is an Article III federal judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. She earned her B.S.F.S from Georgetown University in 1997 and her J.D. from Yale Law School in 2004. Prior to her confirmation, Ebinger was a judge of District 5C of Iowa. Ebinger was nominated to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa by President Barack Obama on September 15, 2015. The American Bar Association rated Ebinger Unanimously Qualified for the nomination.[23] Ebinger's hearing was held on October 21, 2015, and her nomination was reported to the full Senate on November 5, 2015, on a voice vote. She was confirmed to the position by the Senate on February 8, 2016, by a vote of 83 to 0.[24][25] Ebinger's transition changed the court's vacancy warning level from orange to green.
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U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey

John Michael Vazquez is an Article III federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Vazquez earned his B.A. from Rutgers University in 1992 and his J.D., graduating summa cum laude, from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1996. Prior to his confirmation as a judge, Vazquez was a partner at the law firm of Critchley, Kinum & Vazquez, LLC. On March 27, 2015, President Barack Obama nominated John Michael Vazquez to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. The American Bar Association rated Vazquez Unanimously Well Qualified for the nomination.[26] Vazquez had a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on July 22, 2015. His nomination was reported to the full U.S. Senate on September 17, 2015, and the Senate confirmed his nomination on January 27, 2016.[27][28][29] Vazquez's transition did not affect the vacancy warning level, which remained at yellow.
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New nominations

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eight Circuit

Jennifer Puhl was nominated by President Barack Obama on January 28, 2016, to the position of federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit. She earned her B.A. in 1997 from the University of North Dakota, graduating magna cum laude, and her J.D. in 2000 from the University of North Dakota School of Law, graduating cum laude. Puhl is currently an assistant United States attorney in the District of North Dakota. She has worked with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of North Dakota since 2002.[30] This nomination does not affect the court's vacancy warning level, which remains at blue.
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U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Abdul Kallon was nominated by President Barack Obama on February 11, 2016, to the position of federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. Kallon received his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College in 1990 and his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1993. He currently serves as a federal judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. He was nominated to the court by President Obama and was sworn in on February 1, 2010.[31] Prior to his first appointment, Kallon was a member of the law firm of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings.[32] This nomination does not affect the Eleventh Circuit's vacancy warning level, which remains at blue.
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U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas

Terrence Campbell was nominated by President Barack Obama on January 28, 2016, to the position of federal judge on the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. Campbell earned his B.A. magna cum laude from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, in 1992 and his J.D., Order of the Coif, from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1997. He is currently a member of the law firm of Barber Emerson, L.C. in Lawrence, Kansas, where he has worked since 1999.[33] This nomination does not affect the court's vacancy warning level, which remains at yellow.
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U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

Claude Kelly was nominated by President Barack Obama on February 4, 2016, to the position of federal judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Kelly earned his B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross in 1983 and his J.D. from Tulane University Law School in 1987. Since 2014, he has served as the chief federal defender in the Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Before that, he worked as a criminal defense attorney in New Orleans, Louisiana, from 2006 to 2014.[34] This nomination does not affect the court's vacancy warning level, which remains at blue.
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U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana

Stephanie A. Finley was nominated by President Barack Obama on February 4, 2016, to the position of federal judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. Finley earned her B.S. magna cum laude from Grambling State University in 1988 and her J.D. cum laude from Southern University Law Center in 1991. She is currently the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Louisiana. She has served in this position since 2010.[35] This nomination does not affect the court's vacancy warning level, which remains at yellow.
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Monthly map

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See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Federal Judicial Center, "Antonin Scalia," accessed May 20, 2015 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "bio" defined multiple times with different content
  2. ↑ The Supreme Court Historical Society, "Justice Antonin Scalia," accessed May 13, 2014
  3. ↑ Real Clear Politics, "First Italian justice: Antonin Scalia," May 22, 2012
  4. ↑ San Antonio-Express News, "Senior U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia found dead at West Texas ranch," accessed February 13, 2016
  5. ↑ Legal Solutions Blog, "Antonin Scalia: An originalist with a colorful personality," August 21, 2013
  6. ↑ New York Magazine, "In conversation: Antonin Scalia," October 6, 2013
  7. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  8. ↑ The Library of Congress, "PN864-104," accessed February 16, 2009
  9. ↑ Federal Judicial Center, "Dean D. Pregerson Biography," accessed March 9, 2015
  10. ↑ The Library of Congress, "William Quarles USDC, MD confirmation: PN29-108," accessed February 23, 2016
  11. ↑ Federal Judicial Center, "William Quarles biography," accessed February 23, 2016
  12. ↑ The Library of Congress, "Robert Clive Jones USDC, NV confirmation: PN702-108," accessed February 23, 2016
  13. ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Confirmations of the 108th Congress," accessed February 4, 2009
  14. ↑ Federal Judicial Center, "Robert C. Jones Biography," accessed February 24, 2015
  15. ↑ Federal Judicial Center, "Biography of Mary Lou Robinson," accessed February 5, 2016
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Federal Judicial Center, "Robert Lasnik's Biography," accessed January 27, 2016 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "FJC Bio" defined multiple times with different content
  17. ↑ The Library of Congress, "Judge Robert Lasnik USDC, WDWA confirmation: PN1085-105," accessed May 20, 2015
  18. ↑ The Library of Congress, "Marsha Pechman USCD, WDWA confirmation: PN175-106," accessed February 8, 2016
  19. ↑ Federal Judicial Center, "Biography of Rudolph Thomas Randa," accessed February 5, 2016
  20. ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III Judicial Nominees: 114th Congress," accessed July 24, 2015
  21. ↑ The White House, "President Obama Nominates Judge Leonard Terry Strand to Serve on the United States Court for the Northern District of Iowa," July 21, 2015
  22. ↑ Congress.gov, "PN675 — Leonard Terry Strand — The Judiciary," accessed February 12, 2016
  23. ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III Judicial Nominees: 114th Congress," accessed September 15, 2015
  24. ↑ The White House, "President Obama Nominates Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger to Serve on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa," September 15, 2015
  25. ↑ Congress.gov, "PN831 — Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger — The Judiciary," February 8, 2016
  26. ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III Judicial Nominees: 114th Congress," accessed April 1, 2015
  27. ↑ Congress.gov, "PN326 — John Michael Vazquez — The Judiciary," accessed February 1, 2016
  28. ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Results of Executive Business Meeting - September 17, 2015," accessed September 18, 2015
  29. ↑ The White House, "President Obama Nominates Two to Serve on the United States District Courts," March 26, 2015
  30. ↑ Whitehouse.gov, "President Obama Nominates Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl to Serve on the United States Court of Appeals," January 28, 2016
  31. ↑ WBRC "Abdul Kallon sworn in as newest AL federal judge," February 1, 2010
  32. ↑ Federal Judicial Center, "Judge Kallon's Biography," accessed February 23, 2016
  33. ↑ WhiteHouse.gov, "President Obama Nominates Terrence J. Campbell to Serve on the United States District Court," January 28, 2016
  34. ↑ Whitehouse.gov, "President Obama Nominates Two to Serve on the United States District Courts," February 4, 2016
  35. ↑ Whitehouse.gov, "President Obama Nominates Two to Serve on the United States District Courts," February 4, 2016
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