Robe & Gavel: January 19, 2026
Welcome to the Jan. 19 edition of Robe & Gavel, Ballotpedia’s newsletter about the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) and other judicial happenings around the U.S.
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Welcome back to your #1 destination for federal courts news. SCOTUS released three new opinions this week, so we have a lot to cover. Let’s gavel in!
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Grants
SCOTUS has not accepted any new cases to its merits docket since our Jan. 12 issue. To date, the court has agreed to hear 55 cases for the 2025-2026 term and has issued per curiam decisions on three cases that were not argued. SCOTUS dismissed one case after it was accepted.
Arguments
The Supreme Court will hear three arguments this week. Click here to read more about SCOTUS' current term.
Click the links below to learn more about these cases:
Jan. 20
- Wolford v. Lopez concerns the Second Amendment and laws about licensed concealed carry permit holders bringing handguns on private property open to the public.
- The question presented: “1. Whether the Ninth Circuit erred in holding, in direct conflict with the Second Circuit, that Hawaii may presumptively prohibit the carry of handguns by licensed concealed carry permit holders on private property open to the public unless the property owner affirmatively gives express permission to the handgun carrier?”
- M & K Employee Solutions, LLC v. Trustees of the IAM National Pension Fund concerns calculating pension plan liabilities.
- The question presented: “Whether 29 U.S.C. 1391's instruction to compute withdrawal liability 'as of the end of the plan year' requires the plan to base the computation on the actuarial assumptions to which its actuary subscribed at the end of the year, or allows the plan to use different actuarial assumptions that were adopted after the end of the year.”
Jan. 21
- Trump v. Cook concerns the president’s ability to terminate the appointment of a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
- The questions presented: Whether the Supreme Court should stay the preliminary injunction issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia preventing the president from terminating the appointment of a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
In its October 2024 term, SCOTUS heard arguments in 65 cases. Click here to read more about SCOTUS's previous term.
Opinions
SCOTUS has ruled on three cases since our Jan. 12 edition. The court has issued rulings in seven cases so far this term. SCOTUS had released seven opinions at this point in its 2024-2025 term.
Click the links below to read more about the specific cases SCOTUS ruled on since Jan. 12:
Jan. 14
Bost v. Illinois State Board of Elections was argued before the court on Oct. 8, 2025.
The case concerned whether the petitioners, Michael J. Bost, et al., had Article III standing to bring this case to the Court.
The outcome: In a 7-2 decision, the Supreme Court held that as a candidate for office, Congressman Bost has the legal standing to challenge the rules regarding counting the votes in his election. Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the opinion of the court.
Case v. Montana was argued before the court on Oct. 15, 2025.
The case concerned whether the emergency-aid exception, which allows law enforcement to enter a home without a warrant, requires probable cause.
The outcome: In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the Montana Supreme Court. SCOTUS held that an officer may enter a home without a warrant if he has “an objectively reasonable basis for believing that an occupant is seriously injured or imminently threatened with such injury.” Justice Elena Kagan delivered the opinion of the court.
Barrett v. United States was argued before the court on Oct. 7, 2025.
The case concerned the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment and 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) and (j).
The outcome: In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court reversed in part and remanded the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. SCOTUS held that Congress did not authorize convictions under both 18 U.S.C.§§924(c)(1)(A)(i) and (j) for one act that violates both provisions. So one act that violates both provisions should lead to only one conviction. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson delivered the opinion of the court.
Federal court action
Nominations
President Donald Trump (R) has not announced any new Article III nominees since our Jan. 12 edition. The president has announced 39 Article III judicial nominations since taking office on Jan. 20, 2025. For more information on the president’s judicial nominees, click here.
Committee action
The Senate Judiciary Committee has reported six new nominees out of committee since our Jan. 12 edition.
- Megan Blair Benton, to the U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Missouri
- David Fowlkes, to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
- Nicholas Ganjei, to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- Brian Lea, to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
- Justin Olson, to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
- Aaron Peterson, to the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska
Confirmations
The Senate has not confirmed any new nominees since our Jan. 12 issue.
Vacancies
The federal judiciary currently has 40 vacancies, 39 of which are for lifetime Article III judgeships. As of publication, there were six pending nominations.
According to the Administrative Office of U.S. Courts, there were eight upcoming vacancies in the federal judiciary, where judges have announced their intention to leave active judicial status.
For more information on judicial vacancies during President Trump’s term, click here.
Do you love judicial nomination, confirmation, and vacancy information? We figured you might. Our monthly Federal Vacancy Count monitors all the faces and places moving in, moving out, and moving on in the federal judiciary. Click here for our most current count.
Need a daily fix of judicial nomination, confirmation, and vacancy information? Click here for continuing updates on the status of all federal judicial nominees.
Or, keep an eye on our list for updates on federal judicial nominations.
Looking ahead
We’ll be back on Feb. 16 with a new edition of Robe & Gavel. Until then, gaveling out!
Contributions
Myj Saintyl compiled and edited this newsletter, with contributions from Sam Post and Ellie Mikus.
