Federal Vacancy Warning System: 113th Congress
From Ballotpedia
Overview
The 113th Congress lasted from January 3, 2013, until January 3, 2015, and coincided with the first two years of President Barack Obama's second term. During this Congress, the United States Senate confirmed 22 Circuit Court nominees and 110 District Court nominees.[1] The largest change in the federal judiciary occurred after the change in the filibuster rules. After the change, the number of vacancies quickly declined from 93 vacancies in November 2013 to under 60 in June 2014.
Partisan balance
| Senate Partisan Balance | |
|---|---|
| Party | 113th Congress |
| Democratic | 53 |
| Republican | 45 |
| Independent | 2 |
| Total | 100 |
Notable news
Filibuster changes
Late in 2013, the Senate changed the number of votes needed to reach cloture, or to end debate on a nominee, on United States court of appeals and United States district court nominees. The change, known as the Nuclear Option, lowered the number of votes needed to move the nomination past the debate portion of the process from 60 to 50. This allowed the then Democratic-controlled Senate to rapidly move nominees through the confirmation process without the aid of any Republican senators.[2]
For more on the filibuster reform see the Federal Courts, Empty Benches: The Wednesday Vacancy Count 11/27/2013 and "Nuclear option" invoked by U.S. Senate.
President Obama's nominees
To see a full list of President Obama's judicial nominees, see Federal judges nominated by Barack Obama.
Variation in vacancies from week to week
| Date | Change from last week | Appellate and Supreme Court Vacancies ( percent of Posts) | District Court Vacancies ( percent of Posts) | Total Vacancies ( percent of Posts) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/9/2013 | -3 = -3 change | 17 (9.5%) | 64 (9.4%) | 81 (9.3%) |
| 1/16/2013 | -1 = -1 change | 17 (9.5%) | 65 (9.6%) | 82 (9.4%) |
| 1/23/2013 | 0 change | 17 (9.5%) | 65 (9.6%) | 82 (9.4%) |
| 1/30/2013 | -2 = -2 change | 17 (9.5%) | 67 (9.8%) | 84 (9.7%) |
| 2/6/2013 | -3 = -3 change | 18 (10%) | 69 (10.1%) | 87 (10%) |
| 2/13/2013 | -1 = -1 change | 19 (10.6%) | 69 (10.1%) | 88 (10.1%) |
| 2/20/2013 | +1 = +1 change | 18 (10%) | 69 (10.1%) | 87 (10%) |
| 2/27/2013 | +1 = +1 change | 17 (9.5%) | 69 (10.1%) | 86 (9.9%) |
| 3/6/2013 | +2 and -1 = +1 change | 17 (9.5%) | 68 (10%) | 85 (9.8%) |
| 3/13/2013 | +2 = +2 change | 16 (8.9%) | 67 (9.9%) | 83 (9.6%) |
| 3/20/2013 | -1 = -1 change | 16 (8.9%) | 68 (10%) | 84 (9.7%) |
| 3/27/2013 | +3 = +3 change | 16 (8.9%) | 65 (9.6%) | 81 (9.3%) |
| 4/3/2013 | -3 = -3 change | 17 (9.5%) | 67 (9.9%) | 84 (9.7%) |
| 4/10/2013 | +1 = +1 change | 16 (8.9%) | 67 (9.9%) | 83 (9.6%) |
| 4/17/2013 | +1 = +1 change | 16 (8.9%) | 66 (9.7%) | 82 (9.4%) |
| 4/24/2013 | +2 = +2 change | 16 (8.9%) | 64 (9.4%) | 80 (9.2%) |
| 5/1/2013 | +1 and -3= -2 change | 16 (8.9%) | 66 (9.7%) | 82 (9.4%) |
| 5/8/2013 | -2= -2 change | 16 (8.9%) | 68 (10%) | 84 (9.7%) |
| 5/15/2013 | +2 =+2 change | 16 (8.9%) | 66 (9.7%) | 82 (9.4%) |
| 5/22/2013 | +3 =+3 change | 16 (8.9%) | 63 (9.3%) | 79 (9.1%) |
| 5/29/2013 | +1 =+1 change | 15 (8.4%) | 63 (9.3%) | 78 (9%) |
| 6/5/2013 | -2 =-2 change | 16 (8.9%) | 64 (9.4%) | 80 (9.2%) |
| 6/12/2013 | No Change | 16 (8.9%) | 64 (9.4%) | 80 (9.2%) |
| 6/19/2013 | +4 =+4 change | 16 (8.9%) | 60 (8.8%) | 76 (8.8%) |
| 6/26/2013 | -1 =-1 change | 17 (9.6%) | 60 (8.8%) | 77 (8.9%) |
| 7/3/2013 | -5 =-5 change | 17 (9.6%) | 65 (9.5%) | 82 (9.4%) |
| 7/10/2013 | -2 and +2 =0 change | 17 (9.6%) | 65 (9.5%) | 82 (9.4%) |
| 7/17/2013 | -1 =-1 change | 17 (9.6%) | 66 (9.7%) | 83 (9.6%) |
| 7/24/2013 | 0 =0 change | 17 (9.6%) | 66 (9.7%) | 83 (9.6%) |
| 7/31/2013 | -4 =-4 change | 17 (9.6%) | 70 (10.3%) | 87 (10%) |
| 8/7/2013 | -1 and +1 =0 change | 16 (8.9%) | 71 (10.4%) | 87 (10%) |
| 8/14/2013 | 0 change | 16 (8.9%) | 71 (10.4%) | 87 (10%) |
| 8/21/2013 | -2 = -2 change | 17 (9.5%) | 72 (10.6%) | 89 (10.2%) |
| 8/28/2013 | -2 = -2 change | 17 (9.5%) | 74 (10.9%) | 91 (10.5%) |
| 9/4/2013 | -3 = -3 change | 17 (9.5%) | 77 (11.3%) | 94 (10.9%) |
| 9/11/2013 | +4 = -4 change | 17 (9.5%) | 75 (11.1%) | 92 (10.6%) |
| 9/18/2013 | 0 = 0 change | 17 (9.5%) | 75 (11.1%) | 92 (10.6%) |
| 9/25/2013 | +2 = +2 change | 16 (8.9%) | 75 (11.1%) | 91 (10.5%) |
| 10/2/2013 | -6 = -6 change | 17 (9.5%) | 77 (11.3%) | 94 (10.8%) |
| 10/9/2013 | +2 = +2 change | 17 (9.5%) | 76 (11.2%) | 93 (10.7%) |
| 10/16/2013 | +4 = +4 change | 17 (9.5%) | 74 (10.9%) | 91 (10.5%) |
| 10/23/2013 | 0 = 0 change | 17 (9.5%) | 74 (10.9%) | 91 (10.5%) |
| 10/30/2013 | 0 = 0 change | 17 (9.5%) | 74 (10.9%) | 91 (10.5%) |
| 11/6/2013 | -3 and +2 = -1 change | 18 (10.1%) | 74 (10.9%) | 92 (10.6%) |
| 11/13/2013 | 0 = 0 change | 18 (10.1%) | 74 (10.9%) | 92 (10.6%) |
| 11/20/2013 | -1 and 0 = -1 change | 18 (10.1%) | 75 (11.1%) | 93 (10.7%) |
| 11/27/2013 | 0 = 0 change | 18 (9.5%) | 75 (11.1%) | 93 (10.7%) |
| 12/4/2013 | -1 and 0 = -1 change | 18 (10.1%) | 76 (11.2%) | 94 (10.9%) |
| 12/11/2013 | 0 and +1 = +1 change | 17 (9.4%) | 76 (11.2%) | 93 (10.9%) |
| 12/18/2013 | -1 and +5 = +4 change | 16 (9.0%) | 73 (10.8%) | 89 (10.3%) |
| 1/8/2014 | -5 and +1 = -4 change | 17 (9.5%) | 76 (11.2%) | 93 (10.8%) |
| 1/15/2014 | -2 and +1 = -1 change | 16 (8.9%) | 78 (11.5%) | 94 (10.9%) |
| 1/22/2014 | -1 and +0 = -1 change | 16 (8.9%) | 79 (11.7%) | 95 (11.0%) |
| 1/29/2014 | -0 and +0 = 0 change | 16 (8.9%) | 79 (11.7%) | 95 (11.0%) |
| 2/5/2014 | -1 and +0 = -1 change | 16 (8.9%) | 80 (11.8%) | 96 (11.1%) |
| 2/12/2014 | -0 and +0 = 0 change | 16 (8.9%) | 80 (11.8%) | 96 (11.1%) |
| 2/19/2014 | -0 and +0 = 0 change | 16 (8.9%) | 80 (11.8%) | 96 (11.1%) |
| 2/26/2014 | -0 and +4 = +4 change | 16 (8.9%) | 76 (11.2%) | 92 (10.6%) |
| 3/5/2014 | -1 and +0 = -1 change | 17 (9.5%) | 76 (11.2%) | 93 (10.8%) |
| 3/12/2014 | -0 and +4 = +4 change | 17 (9.5%) | 72 (10.6%) | 89 (10.3%) |
| 3/19/2014 | -2 and +5 = +3 change | 16 (9.0%) | 70 (10.3%) | 86 (9.9%) |
| 3/26/2014 | -1 and +0 = -1 change | 16 (9.0%) | 71 (10.5%) | 87 (10.1%) |
| 4/2/2014 | -3 and +5 = +2 change | 15 (8.4%) | 70 (10.3%) | 85 (9.8%) |
| 4/9/2014 | -0 and +0 = 0 change | 15 (8.4%) | 70 (10.3%) | 85 (9.8%) |
| 4/16/2014 | -1 and +0 = -1 change | 15 (8.4%) | 71 (10.5%) | 86 (9.9%) |
| 4/23/2014 | -1 and +0 = -1 change | 15 (8.4%) | 72 (10.6%) | 87 (10.0%) |
| 4/30/2014 | -0 and +1 = +1 change | 14 (7.8%) | 72 (10.6%) | 86 (9.9%) |
| 5/7/2014 | -0 and +9 = +9 change | 13 (7.3%) | 64 (9.5%) | 77 (8.9%) |
| 5/14/2014 | -1 and +4 = +3 change | 12 (6.8%) | 62 (9.2%) | 74 (8.6%) |
| 5/21/2014 | -1 and +7 = +6 change | 11 (6.1%) | 57 (8.4%) | 68 (7.9%) |
| 5/28/2014 | 0 and +1 = +1 change | 10 (5.6%) | 57 (8.4%) | 67 (7.7%) |
| 6/4/2014 | -1 and 0 = -1 change | 10 (5.6%) | 58 (8.6%) | 68 (7.9%) |
| 6/11/2014 | 0 and +6 = +6 change | 10 (5.6%) | 52 (7.6%) | 62 (7.2%) |
| 6/18/2014 | -1 and +3 = +2 change | 10 (5.6%) | 50 (7.4%) | 60 (6.9%) |
| 6/25/2014 | -1 and +4 = +3 change | 10 (5.6%) | 47 (6.9%) | 57 (6.6%) |
| 7/2/2014 | -4 and 0 = -4 change | 10 (5.6%) | 51 (7.5%) | 61 (7.1%) |
| 7/9/2014 | 0 and +1 = +1 change | 10 (5.6%) | 50 (7.5%) | 61 (6.9%)* |
| 7/16/2014 | 0 and 0 = 0 change | 10 (5.6%) | 50 (7.5%) | 61 (7.0%)* |
| 7/23/2014 | -1 and +5 = +4 change | 9 (5.0%) | 47 (6.9%) | 57 (6.5%)* |
| 7/30/2014 | 0 and +1 = +1 change | 8 (4.5%) | 47 (6.9%) | 56 (6.4%)* |
| 8/6/2014 | -1 and 0 = -1 change | 8 (4.5%) | 48 (7.1%) | 57 (6.5%)* |
| 8/13/2014 | -1 and 0 = -1 change | 8 (4.5%) | 49 (7.2%) | 58 (6.6%)* |
| 8/20/2014 | 0 change | 8 (4.5%) | 49 (7.2%) | 58 (6.6%)* |
| 8/27/2014 | -1 and 0 = -1 change | 8 (4.5%) | 49 (7.2%) | 59 (6.7%)* |
| 9/3/2014 | -1 and 0 = -1 change | 8 (4.5%) | 50 (7.4%) | 60 (6.8%)* |
| 9/10/2014 | 0 and +1 = +1 change | 7 (3.9%) | 50 (7.4%) | 59 (6.8%)* |
| 9/17/2014 | 0 and 0 = 0 change | 7 (3.9%) | 50 (7.4%) | 59 (6.8%)* |
| 9/24/2014 | -1 and 0 = -1 change | 7 (3.9%) | 50 (7.4%) | 60 (6.8%)* |
| 10/1/2014 | 0 and 0 = 0 change | 7 (3.9%) | 50 (7.4%) | 60 (6.8%)* |
| 10/8/2014 | -3 and 0 = -3 change | 7 (3.9%) | 53 (7.8%) | 63 (7.2%)* |
| 10/15/2014 | 0 and 0 = 0 change | 7 (3.9%) | 53 (7.8%) | 63 (7.2%)* |
| 10/22/2014 | 0 and 0 = 0 change | 7 (3.9%) | 53 (7.8%) | 63 (7.2%)* |
| 10/29/2014 | 0 and 0 = 0 change | 7 (3.9%) | 53 (7.8%) | 63 (7.2%)* |
| 11/5/2014 | -1 and 0 = -1 change | 7 (3.9%) | 54 (7.9%) | 64 (7.3%)* |
| 11/12/2014 | 0 and 0 = 0 change | 7 (3.9%) | 54 (7.9%) | 64 (7.3%)* |
| 11/19/2014 | -2 and +5 = +3 change | 7 (3.9%) | 51 (7.5%) | 61 (7.0%)* |
| 11/26/2014 | 0 and +5 = +5 change | 7 (3.9%) | 46 (6.8%) | 56 (6.4%)* |
| 12/3/2014 | -2 and 0 = -2 change | 7 (3.9%) | 48 (7.1%) | 58 (6.6%)* |
| 12/10/2014 | 0 and +5 = +5 change | 7 (3.9%) | 43 (6.4%) | 53 (6.1%)* |
| 12/17/2014 | 0 and +1 = +1 change | 7 (3.9%) | 42 (6.2%) | 52 (5.9%)* |
Asterisks denote one or more vacancies on the Court of International Trade.
Graphs
Monthly confirmation and vacancy changes
 |
Weekly net vacancy changes
 |
Weekly vacancy percentage by court level
 |
Weekly total vacancy percentage
 |
See also
External links
Footnotes
