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Nicholas Ganjei

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Nicholas Ganjei
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Nonpartisan
United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Tenure
Nominee

Nicholas Ganjei is a confirmed nominee to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. He was nominated by President Donald Trump (R) on November 18, 2025, and confirmed by the United States Senate on February 3, 2026, by a vote of 51-45. Ganjei will join the court upon receiving his judicial commission and taking his judicial oath. Click here for more information on Ganjei's federal judicial nomination.[1][2][3]

On November 18, 2025, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Nicholas Ganjei to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.[1] Ganjei's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2026.[4] The president renominated Ganjei on January 5, 2026.[3]

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.

Prior to joining the court, Ganjei was a U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas.[5]

Judicial nominations and appointments

United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas

See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump

On November 18, 2025, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Ganjei to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.[1] He was confirmed by a 51-45 vote of the U.S. Senate on February 3, 2026.[3] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.

Nomination Tracker
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Nominee Information
Name: Nicholas Ganjei
Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Progress
Confirmed 77 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: November 18, 2025
ApprovedAABA Rating: Qualified
Questionnaire: [N/A Questionnaire]
ApprovedAHearing: November 19, 2025
Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: January 15, 2026 
ApprovedAConfirmed: February 3, 2026
ApprovedAVote: 51-45


Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Ganjei on February 3, 2026, on a vote of 51-45.[3] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.

Ganjei confirmation vote (February 3, 2026)
Party Yea Nay No vote
Electiondot.png Democratic 0 43 2
Ends.png Republican 51 0 2
Grey.png Independent 0 2 0
Total 51[6] 45 4

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Ganjei's nomination on November 19, 2025. He was reported to the full Senate on December 11, 2025, after a 12-10 committee vote.[7] Ganjei was reported to the full Senate again on January 15, 2026, after a 12-10 committee vote.[8]

Nomination

On November 18, 2025, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Nicholas Ganjei to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

The American Bar Association (ABA) rated Ganjei qualified.[9] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

Ganjei was nominated to replace Judge Lynn Hughes, who assumed senior status on February 12, 2023.[5]

Biography

Early life and education

Ganjei was born in Santa Clara, California in 1979. He earned a B.A. from American University in 2000, and a J.D. from University of California, Berkeley, School of Law in 2005.[5]

Professional career

About the court

Southern District of Texas
Fifth Circuit
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Judgeships
Posts: 19
Judges: 14
Vacancies: 5
Judges
Chief: Randy Crane
Active judges: Alfred Bennett, Jeff Brown, Randy Crane, Keith Ellison, Charles R. Eskridge III, Marina Garcia Marmolejo, George Hanks, John Kazen, David Morales, Rolando Olvera, Nelva Gonzales Ramos, Fernando Rodriguez Jr., Diana Saldana, Drew Barnett Tipton

Senior judges:
Micaela Alvarez, Andrew Hanen, Melinda Harmon, Ricardo Hinojosa, David Hittner, Kenneth Hoyt, Lynn Hughes, Janis Jack, Sim Lake, Gray Miller, John Rainey, Lee Rosenthal, Hilda Tagle, Ewing Werlein


The United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas is one of 94 United States district courts. The court's headquarters are in Houston and has six additional offices in the district. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit based in downtown New Orleans at the John Minor Wisdom Federal Courthouse.

The Southern District of Texas has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.

There are seven court divisions, each covering the following counties:

To read opinions published by this court, click here.

The federal nomination process

Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:

  • The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
  • The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
  • The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
  • As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
  • After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
  • If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
  • If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
  • The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
  • If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
  • If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Congress.Gov, "PN655-2 — 119th Congress (2025-2026) — Nicholas Jon Ganjei — The Judiciary," accessed November 18, 2025
  2. ↑ Truth Social, "Donald J. Trump," November 12, 2025
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Congress.Gov, "PN726-6 — 119th Congress (2025-2026) — Nicholas Jon Ganjei — The Judiciary," accessed January 5, 2026
  4. ↑ Under Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, pending nominations are returned to the president if the Senate adjourns sine die or recesses for more than 30 days.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Federal Judicial Center, "Ganjei, Nicholas Jon," accessed February 9, 2026
  6. ↑ Note: The bolded number reflects the largest number.
  7. ↑ U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, "RESULTS OF COMMITTEE EXECUTIVE BUSINESS MEETING," accessed December 11, 2025
  8. ↑ U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, "RESULTS OF COMMITTEE EXECUTIVE BUSINESS MEETING," accessed January 15, 2026
  9. ↑ American Bar Association, "STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY," accessed December 15, 2025

Texas courts

Federal courts:

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas

State courts:

Texas Supreme Court • Texas Court of Appeals • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals • Texas District Courts • Texas County Courts • Texas County Courts at Law • Texas Statutory Probate Courts • Texas Justice of the Peace Courts

State resources:

Courts in Texas • Texas judicial elections • Judicial selection in Texas

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