Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump
From Ballotpedia
During his one term in office, President Donald Trump (R) nominated 274 individuals to federal judgeships. Trump made 245 judicial appointments.[1] Of those appointments, 234 were Article III judges.[2] Trump withdrew eight nominees and 143 received no vote from the Senate.[3]
This page provides an overview of the federal judicial nominees appointed by President Trump. This page also provides additional procedural and historical context about Trump's judicial nominees and the nomination records of previous presidents, including the following information:
- List of judicial nominees;
- Supreme Court nominees appointed by Trump;
- The number of historical judicial appointments made by presidents between 1933 and 2021;
- A summary of noteworthy events related to Trump's judicial nominations.
List of judges
The following is a table of President Trump's nominations for federal judgeships. Among the most notable of these are Supreme Court justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.
| Name | Nominated to: | First nomination date | Hearing date | Nomination withdrawn | Confirmation date | Senate confirmation vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Truong (District of Columbia) | Superior Court of the District of Columbia | May 14, 2020 | February 4, 2021 | |||
| Danny Nguyen (Superior Court of the District of Columbia) | Superior Court of the District of Columbia | May 14, 2020 | February 4, 2021 | |||
| Jennifer Rearden (New York) | United States District Court for the Southern District of New York | May 4, 2020 | ||||
| Vijay Shanker (District of Columbia) | District of Columbia Court of Appeals | June 25, 2020 | February 4, 2021 | |||
| Scott Hardy | United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania | December 2, 2019 | January 8, 2020 | July 27, 2020 | 65-30 | |
| Thomas Cullen (Virginia) | United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia | February 4, 2020 | March 4, 2020 | September 10, 2020 | 79-19 | |
| Justin Walker (Kentucky) | United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky | June 24, 2019 | July 31, 2019 | October 24, 2019 | 50-41 | |
| Raúl Arias-Marxuach (District of Puerto Rico) | United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico | April 12, 2018 | June 20, 2018 | May 2, 2019 | 95-3 | |
| Peter Phipps (Pennsylvania) | United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania | February 15, 2018 | April 25, 2018 | October 11, 2018 | Voice vote | |
| Stephanie Dawkins Davis (Michigan) | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan | March 11, 2019 | May 22, 2019 | December 19, 2019 | Voice vote | |
| Carl Ross (Washington, D.C.) | Superior Court of the District of Columbia | November 19, 2019 | June 3, 2020 | February 4, 2021 | ||
| John P. Howard III (District of Columbia) | District of Columbia Court of Appeals | June 25, 2020 | February 4, 2021 | |||
| Terrence Andrews | United States Court of Federal Claims | December 17, 2020 | February 4, 2021 | |||
| Maria Teresa Cenzon | District Court of Guam | November 30, 2020 | February 4, 2021 | |||
| Joseph Barloon | United States Court of International Trade | November 16, 2020 | February 4, 2021 | |||
| Thomas Kirsch | United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit | November 16, 2020 | November 18, 2020 | December 15, 2020 | 51-44 | |
| Joseph Dawson (South Carolina) | United States District Court for the District of South Carolina | October 23, 2020 | November 18, 2020 | December 16, 2020 | 56-39 | |
| Amy Coney Barrett (7th Circuit) | United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit | May 8, 2017 | September 6, 2017 | October 31, 2017 | 55-43 | |
| Sharon Goodie | Superior Court of the District of Columbia | September 17, 2020 | February 4, 2021 | |||
| Katherine Crytzer | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee | September 22, 2020 | November 18, 2020 | December 16, 2020 | 48-47 | |
| Charles Atchley | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee | September 22, 2020 | November 18, 2020 | December 17, 2020 | 54-41 | |
| Stephen A. Kubiatowski | United States Court of Federal Claims | October 23, 2020 | February 4, 2021 | |||
| Zachary Somers | United States Court of Federal Claims | September 8, 2020 | November 18, 2020 | December 17, 2020 | 52-43 | |
| David Woll | United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York | September 8, 2020 | ||||
| Ryan McAllister | United States District Court for the Northern District of New York | September 8, 2020 | ||||
| Benjamin Beaton | United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky | September 8, 2020 | September 9, 2020 | November 17, 2020 | 52-44 | |
| Kathryn Kimball Mizelle | United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida | September 8, 2020 | September 9, 2020 | November 18, 2020 | 49-41 | |
| Thompson Michael Dietz | United States Court of Federal Claims | July 2, 2020 | September 9, 2020 | December 19, 2020 | 51-36 | |
| Taylor McNeel | United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi | July 2, 2020 | September 9, 2020 | December 1, 2020 | 53-39 | |
| James P. Arguelles | United States District Court for the Eastern District of California | June 18, 2020 | ||||
| Brenda Saiz | United States District Court for the District of New Mexico | June 18, 2020 | ||||
| Fred Federici | United States District Court for the District of New Mexico | June 18, 2020 | ||||
| Edmund LaCour | United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama | June 2, 2020 | February 4, 2021 | |||
| Toby Crouse | United States District Court for the District of Kansas | May 21, 2020 | July 29, 2020 | November 17, 2020 | 50-43 | |
| Liam Hardy | United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces | May 21, 2020 | August 4, 2020 | December 3, 2020 | 59-34 | |
| Roderick Young | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia | May 21, 2020 | June 24, 2020 | September 24, 2020 | 93-2 | |
| Dirk Paloutzian | United States District Court for the Eastern District of California | May 21, 2020 | ||||
| Aileen Cannon | United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida | May 21, 2020 | July 29, 2020 | November 12, 2020 | 56-21 | |
| Kristi Johnson | United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi | May 4, 2020 | September 9, 2020 | November 17, 2020 | 53-43 | |
| Cory Wilson (Mississippi) | United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi | October 15, 2019 | January 8, 2020 | May 4, 2020 | ||
| Hala Jarbou | United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan | March 18, 2020 | June 24, 2020 | September 10, 2020 | 83-15 | |
| Michael Newman (Ohio) | United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio | March 3, 2020 | July 29, 2020 | October 22, 2020 | 67-30 | |
| Brett H. Ludwig | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin | March 3, 2020 | June 17, 2020 | September 9, 2020 | 91-5 | |
| James Knepp (Ohio) | United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio | March 3, 2020 | July 29, 2020 | November 10, 2020 | 64-24 | |
| Philip Calabrese | United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio | March 3, 2020 | July 29, 2020 | December 1, 2020 | 58-35 | |
| Saritha Komatireddy | United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York | May 4, 2020 | ||||
| Christy Wiegand | United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania | February 12, 2020 | June 17, 2020 | September 9, 2020 | 82-14 | |
| Franklin U. Valderrama | United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois | February 12, 2020 | June 24, 2020 | September 17, 2020 | 68-26 | |
| Iain D. Johnston | United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois | February 12, 2020 | June 24, 2020 | September 17, 2020 | 77-14 | |
| David Dugan | United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois | February 12, 2020 | June 24, 2020 | September 16, 2020 | 55-41 | |
| Drew Tipton | United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas | February 4, 2020 | February 12, 2020 | June 3, 2020 | 52-41 | |
| Mark V. Holmes | United States Tax Court | February 6, 2019 | February 4, 2021 | |||
| Stephen P. McGlynn | United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois | February 4, 2020 | June 24, 2020 | September 16, 2020 | 55-41 | |
| John L. Badalamenti | United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida | February 4, 2020 | February 12, 2020 | June 1, 2020 | 55-22 | |
| Anna Manasco | United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama | February 4, 2020 | February 12, 2020 | May 20, 2020 | 71-21 | |
| David Joseph | United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana | December 2, 2019 | January 8, 2020 | July 28, 2020 | 55-42 | |
| Christian Weiler | United States Tax Court | November 20, 2019 | July 21, 2020 | August 13, 2020 | Voice vote | |
| Alina Marshall | United States Tax Court | November 19, 2019 | July 21, 2020 | August 13, 2020 | Voice vote | |
| Matthew Schelp | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri | December 2, 2019 | December 4, 2019 | February 12, 2020 | 72-23 | |
| Iris Lan | United States District Court for the Southern District of New York | December 2, 2019 | ||||
| John Hinderaker | United States District Court for the District of Arizona | December 2, 2019 | December 4, 2019 | September 23, 2020 | 70-27 | |
| John Heil | United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Oklahoma | December 2, 2019 | January 8, 2020 | May 20, 2020 | 75-17 | |
| John Cronan (New York) | United States District Court for the Southern District of New York | December 2, 2019 | March 4, 2020 | August 6, 2020 | 55-42 | |
| Andrew Brasher (Alabama) | United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama | April 10, 2018 | June 6, 2018 | May 1, 2019 | 52-47 | |
| David Novak (Virginia) | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia | March 26, 2019 | April 30, 2019 | October 16, 2019 | 89-3 | |
| Jennifer Togliatti | United States District Court for the District of Nevada | November 21, 2019 | March 4, 2020 | |||
| Edward Meyers | United States Court of Federal Claims | November 19, 2019 | January 8, 2020 | September 22, 2020 | 66-27 | |
| Joshua Kindred | United States District Court for the District of Alaska | November 21, 2019 | December 4, 2019 | February 12, 2020 | 54-41 | |
| Kathryn Davis | United States Court of Federal Claims | November 19, 2019 | February 12, 2020 | December 2, 2020 | 51-45 | |
| Grace Obermann | United States Court of Federal Claims | October 30, 2019 | November 13, 2019 | February 4, 2021 | ||
| Stephen Vaden | United States Court of International Trade | October 17, 2019 | November 13, 2019 | November 18, 2020 | 49-43 | |
| Bernard Jones (Oklahoma) | United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma | October 17, 2019 | October 30, 2019 | December 19, 2019 | 91-3 | |
| Michelle Pettit | United States District Court for the Southern District of California | November 21, 2019 | ||||
| Steve Kim (California) | United States District Court for the Central District of California | November 21, 2019 | ||||
| Knut Johnson | United States District Court for the Southern District of California | November 21, 2019 | ||||
| John Holcomb (California) | United States District Court for the Central District of California | November 21, 2019 | June 17, 2020 | September 15, 2020 | 83-12 | |
| Lawrence VanDyke | United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit | October 15, 2019 | October 30, 2019 | December 11, 2019 | 51-44 | |
| Todd Robinson (California) | United States District Court for the Southern District of California | November 21, 2019 | June 17, 2020 | September 16, 2020 | 86-10 | |
| Scott Rash | United States District Court for the District of Arizona | October 15, 2019 | December 4, 2019 | May 19, 2020 | 74-20 | |
| Sherri Lydon | United States District Court for the District of South Carolina | October 15, 2019 | October 16, 2019 | December 5, 2019 | 76-13 | |
| Robert J. Luck | United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit | October 15, 2019 | October 16, 2019 | November 19, 2019 | 64-31 | |
| Barbara Lagoa | United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit | October 15, 2019 | October 16, 2019 | November 20, 2019 | 80-15 | |
| Rahkel Bouchet | Superior Court of the District of Columbia | March 21, 2024 | ||||
| Rahkel Bouchet | Superior Court of the District of Columbia | September 9, 2019 | February 4, 2021 | |||
| Mark Robbins (District of Columbia) | Superior Court of the District of Columbia | November 19, 2019 | June 3, 2020 | February 4, 2021 | ||
| Scott Laurer | United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims | September 19, 2019 | November 6, 2019 | July 23, 2020 | Voice vote | |
| Grant Jaquith | United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims | September 19, 2019 | November 6, 2019 | July 23, 2020 | Voice vote | |
| Cory Wilson | United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit | May 4, 2020 | May 20, 2020 | June 24, 2020 | 52-48 | |
| Daniel Traynor | United States District Court for the District of North Dakota | September 19, 2019 | September 25, 2019 | December 19, 2019 | 51-41 | |
| Rick Richmond | United States District Court for the Central District of California | October 17, 2019 | ||||
| Shireen Matthews | United States District Court for the Southern District of California | October 17, 2019 | June 17, 2020 | |||
| Sandy Nunes Leal | United States District Court for the Central District of California | October 17, 2019 | ||||
| Barbara Bailey Jongbloed | United States District Court for the District of Connecticut | October 15, 2019 | October 30, 2019 | |||
| John Gallagher (Pennsylvania federal judicial nominee) | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania | October 15, 2019 | October 16, 2019 | December 19, 2019 | 83-9 | |
| Silvia Carreno-Coll | United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico | October 15, 2019 | October 16, 2019 | February 25, 2020 | 96-0 | |
| Adam Braverman | United States District Court for the Southern District of California | October 17, 2019 | ||||
| Fernando Aenlle-Rocha | United States District Court for the Central District of California | October 17, 2019 | December 4, 2019 | December 20, 2020 | 80-8 | |
| William Nardini | United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit | September 19, 2019 | September 25, 2019 | November 7, 2019 | 86-2 | |
| Danielle Forrest | United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit | September 19, 2019 | September 25, 2019 | November 6, 2019 | 73-17 | |
| Anuraag Singhal | United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida | September 9, 2019 | September 11, 2019 | December 19, 2019 | 76-17 | |
| Sarah Pitlyk | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri | September 9, 2019 | September 25, 2019 | December 4, 2019 | 49-44 | |
| Richard Myers II | United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina | September 9, 2019 | September 11, 2019 | December 5, 2019 | 68-21 | |
| Karen Marston | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania | September 9, 2019 | September 11, 2019 | December 19, 2019 | 87-6 | |
| Jodi Dishman | United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma | September 9, 2019 | September 25, 2019 | December 19, 2019 | 75-17 | |
| Steven Menashi | United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit | September 9, 2019 | September 11, 2019 | November 14, 2019 | 51-41 | |
| R. Austin Huffaker | United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama | July 8, 2019 | July 31, 2019 | December 4, 2019 | 89-4 | |
| Lee Rudofsky | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas | July 8, 2019 | July 31, 2019 | November 7, 2019 | 51-41 | |
| Daniel Epstein (Texas) | United States Court of Federal Claims | June 24, 2019 | December 17, 2020 | |||
| Justin Walker (U.S. Court of Appeals) | United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit | May 4, 2020 | May 6, 2020 | June 18, 2020 | 51-42 | |
| Eleni Roumel | United States Court of Federal Claims | June 24, 2019 | July 17, 2019 | January 8, 2020 | 51-47 | |
| John Kness | United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois | June 24, 2019 | July 17, 2019 | February 12, 2020 | 81-12 | |
| Halil Ozerden | United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit | June 24, 2019 | July 17, 2019 | |||
| A. Marvin Quattlebaum Jr. (South Carolina) | United States District Court for the District of South Carolina | August 3, 2017 | October 4, 2017 | March 1, 2018 | 69-28 | |
| Kevin R. Sweazea | United States District Court for the District of New Mexico | June 12, 2019 | October 29, 2019 | |||
| Robert Molloy | District Court of the Virgin Islands | June 12, 2019 | June 26, 2019 | February 25, 2020 | 97-0 | |
| David Barlow | United States District Court for the District of Utah | June 12, 2019 | July 17, 2019 | December 4, 2019 | 88-4 | |
| Elizabeth Shapiro | Superior Court of the District of Columbia | May 23, 2019 | June 3, 2020 | February 4, 2021 | ||
| Andrea Hertzfeld | Superior Court of the District of Columbia | May 6, 2019 | October 22, 2019 | November 21, 2019 | Voice vote | |
| Jennifer Philpott Wilson | United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania | May 13, 2019 | June 5, 2019 | November 7, 2019 | 88-3 | |
| William Shaw Stickman | United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania | May 13, 2019 | June 5, 2019 | July 31, 2019 | 56-34 | |
| Kea Riggs | United States District Court for the District of New Mexico | May 13, 2019 | June 26, 2019 | December 19, 2019 | 94-0 | |
| Charles Eskridge | United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas | May 13, 2019 | June 5, 2019 | October 16, 2019 | 61-31 | |
| Douglas Cole | United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio | May 13, 2019 | June 26, 2019 | December 4, 2019 | 64-29 | |
| Steven Grimberg | United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia | April 4, 2019 | April 30, 2019 | September 11, 2019 | 75-18 | |
| Frank W. Volk | United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia | April 4, 2019 | May 22, 2019 | October 16, 2019 | 92-0 | |
| Ada Brown | United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas | March 26, 2019 | April 30, 2019 | September 11, 2019 | 80-13 | |
| Brantley Starr | United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas | March 11, 2019 | April 10, 2019 | July 31, 2019 | 51-39 | |
| Jeff Brown (Texas) | United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas | March 11, 2019 | April 10, 2019 | July 31, 2019 | 50-40 | |
| Michael Bogren | Western District of Michigan | March 11, 2019 | May 22, 2019 | June 26, 2019 | ||
| David A. Tapp | United States Court of Federal Claims | March 5, 2019 | May 22, 2019 | November 5, 2019 | 85-8 | |
| Matthew Solomson | United States Court of Federal Claims | March 5, 2019 | April 30, 2019 | January 8, 2020 | 89-8 | |
| Jason Pulliam | United States District Court for the Western District of Texas | March 5, 2019 | May 22, 2019 | July 31, 2019 | 54-36 | |
| Stephanie Haines | United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania | March 5, 2019 | April 10, 2019 | September 11, 2019 | 94-0 | |
| Robert J. Colville | United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania | March 5, 2019 | N/A | December 19, 2019 | 66-27 | |
| Jason Park | Superior Court of the District of Columbia | January 24, 2019 | April 2, 2019 | August 1, 2019 | Voice vote | |
| James Crowell | Superior Court of the District of Columbia | January 24, 2019 | April 2, 2019 | August 1, 2019 | Voice vote | |
| Daniel Bress | United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit | February 6, 2019 | May 22, 2019 | July 9, 2019 | 53-45 | |
| Michael Liburdi | United States District Court for the District of Arizona | January 17, 2019 | February 13, 2019 | July 30, 2019 | 53-37 | |
| Sean Jordan | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas | January 17, 2019 | March 5, 2019 | July 30, 2019 | 54-34 | |
| Peter Welte | United States District Court for the District of North Dakota | January 17, 2019 | February 13, 2019 | July 30, 2019 | 68-22 | |
| Mark Pittman | United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas | January 17, 2019 | March 5, 2019 | July 31, 2019 | 54-36 | |
| James Wesley Hendrix | United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas | January 17, 2019 | No hearing held | July 30, 2019 | 89-1 | |
| Greg Guidry | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana | January 17, 2019 | February 13, 2019 | June 19, 2019 | 53-46 | |
| Neomi Rao | United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit | November 13, 2018 | February 5, 2019 | March 13, 2019 | 53-46 | |
| Susan Brnovich | United States District Court for the District of Arizona | January 23, 2018 | May 9, 2018 | October 11, 2018 | Voice vote | |
| Mark Scarsi | United States District Court for the Central District of California | November 13, 2018 | November 13, 2019 | September 15, 2020 | 83-12 | |
| Jeremy Rosen | United States District Court for the Central District of California | November 13, 2018 | ||||
| Matthew McFarland | United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio | November 13, 2018 | June 26, 2019 | December 18, 2019 | 56-38 | |
| Thomas Marcelle | United States District Court for the Northern District of New York | November 13, 2018 | September 19, 2019 | |||
| Philip Halpern | United States District Court for the Southern District of New York | November 13, 2018 | October 30, 2019 | February 12, 2020 | 77-19 | |
| Clifton L. Corker | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee | November 13, 2018 | November 28, 2018 | July 18, 2019 | ||
| Brian Buescher | United States District Court for the District of Nebraska | November 13, 2018 | November 28, 2018 | July 24, 2019 | 51-40 | |
| Stanley Blumenfeld | United States District Court for the Central District of California | November 13, 2018 | November 13, 2019 | September 15, 2020 | 92-4 | |
| Kenneth Kiyul Lee | United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit | November 13, 2018 | March 13, 2019 | May 15, 2019 | 52-45 | |
| Daniel Collins (California) | United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit | November 13, 2018 | March 13, 2019 | May 21, 2019 | 53-46 | |
| Patrick Bumatay | United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit | October 15, 2019 | October 30, 2019 | December 10, 2019 | 53-40 | |
| Michael Park | United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit | November 13, 2018 | February 13, 2019 | May 9, 2019 | 52-41 | |
| Joseph Bianco | United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit | November 13, 2018 | February 13, 2019 | May 8, 2019 | 54-42 | |
| Brett Kavanaugh | Supreme Court of the United States | July 10, 2018 | September 4-7, 2018, September 27, 2018 | October 6, 2018 | 50-48 | |
| Susan Baxter | United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania | December 20, 2017 | August 28, 2018 | |||
| Lisa Schenck | United States Court of Military Commission Review | August 28, 2018 | December 10, 2018 | August 1, 2019 | Voice vote | |
| Travis Greaves | United States Tax Court | August 28, 2018 | July 24, 2019 | February 27, 2020 | 85-3 | |
| James Cain, Jr. | United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana | August 28, 2018 | November 13, 2018 | June 19, 2019 | 77-21 | |
| Jean-Paul Boulee | United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia | August 27, 2018 | November 13, 2018 | June 12, 2019 | 85-11 | |
| Bridget S. Bade | United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit | August 27, 2018 | October 24, 2018 | March 26, 2019 | 78-21 | |
| Allison Jones Rushing | United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit | August 27, 2018 | October 17, 2018 | March 5, 2019 | 53 - 44 | |
| John M. Younge | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania | July 17, 2018 | No hearings held | July 31, 2019 | Voice vote | |
| J. Nicholas Ranjan | United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania | July 24, 2018 | November 13, 2018 | July 11, 2019 | 80-14 | |
| Damon Leichty | United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana | July 17, 2018 | November 13, 2018 | July 10, 2019 | 85-10 | |
| Eric Miller (Washington) | United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit | July 13, 2018 | October 24, 2018 | February 26, 2019 | 53-46 | |
| Steven Seeger | United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois | June 18, 2018 | August 22, 2018 | September 11, 2019 | 90-1 | |
| Mary Rowland | United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois | June 18, 2018 | August 22, 2018 | July 31, 2019 | Voice vote | |
| Timothy Reif | United States Court of International Trade | June 18, 2018 | November 28, 2018 | August 1, 2019 | Voice vote | |
| Martha Pacold | United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois | June 11, 2018 | August 22, 2018 | July 31, 2019 | 87-3 | |
| Carl Nichols | United States District Court for the District of Columbia | June 18, 2018 | August 22, 2018 | May 22, 2019 | 55-43 | |
| Karin J. Immergut | United States District Court for the District of Oregon | June 11, 2018 | October 24, 2018 | July 31, 2019 | Voice vote | |
| Stephanie A. Gallagher | United States District Court for the District of Maryland | June 11, 2018 | No hearings held | September 11, 2019 | Voice vote | |
| Miller Baker | United States Court of International Trade | June 18, 2018 | November 28, 2018 | August 1, 2019 | Voice vote | |
| Rossie Alston | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia | June 18, 2018 | October 10, 2018 | June 10, 2019 | 75-20 | |
| Chad Readler | United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit | June 7, 2018 | October 10, 2018 | March 6, 2019 | 52-47 | |
| Eric Murphy | United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit | June 7, 2018 | October 10, 2018 | March 7, 2019 | 52-46 | |
| Jonathan Kobes | United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit | June 7, 2018 | August 22, 2018 | December 11, 2018 | 51-50 | |
| Joshua Wolson | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania | May 10, 2018 | July 11, 2018 | May 2, 2019 | 65-33 | |
| John Sinatra | United States District Court for the Western District of New York | May 10, 2018 | August 1, 2018 | December 4, 2019 | 75-18 | |
| Ryan Nelson (Idaho) | United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit | May 10, 2018 | July 11, 2018 | October 11, 2018 | 51-44 | |
| Corey Maze | United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama | May 15, 2018 | October 17, 2018 | June 12, 2019 | 62-34 | |
| Lewis Liman | United States District Court for the Southern District of New York | May 15, 2018 | August 1, 2018 | December 19, 2019 | 64-29 | |
| Rachel Kovner | United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York | May 15, 2018 | August 1, 2018 | October 16, 2019 | 88-3 | |
| Eric Komitee | United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York | May 15, 2018 | August 1, 2018 | December 3, 2019 | 86-4 | |
| Diane Gujarati | United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York | May 15, 2018 | August 1, 2018 | September 10, 2020 | 99-0 | |
| Gary R. Brown | United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York | May 15, 2018 | No hearings held | December 19, 2019 | Voice vote | |
| Mary Kay Vyskocil | United States District Court for the Southern District of New York | May 15, 2018 | August 1, 2018 | December 19, 2019 | 91-3 | |
| Roy Altman | United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida | May 7, 2018 | June 20, 2018 | April 4, 2019 | 66-33 | |
| Richard Hertling | United States Court of Federal Claims | May 7, 2018 | October 24, 2018 | June 10, 2019 | 69-27 | |
| Julius Richardson | United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit | May 7, 2018 | June 20, 2018 | August 16, 2018 | 81-8 | |
| T. Kent Wetherell | United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida | May 7, 2018 | October 17, 2018 | July 10, 2019 | 78-15 | |
| Rodney Smith (Florida) | United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida | May 7, 2018 | October 17, 2018 | June 12, 2019 | 78-18 | |
| Rodolfo Ruiz | United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida | May 7, 2018 | June 20, 2018 | May 2, 2019 | 90-8 | |
| Tom Barber | United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida | May 7, 2018 | October 17, 2018 | June 12, 2019 | 77-19 | |
| Richard Sullivan (New York) | United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit | May 7, 2018 | August 1, 2018 | October 11, 2018 | 79-16 | |
| David Morales (Texas federal judge) | United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas | April 12, 2018 | June 6, 2018 | April 10, 2019 | 56-41 | |
| Emin Toro | United States Tax Court | April 10, 2018 | May 9, 2019 | August 1, 2019 | Voice vote | |
| John O'Connor (Oklahoma) | United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma | April 10, 2018 | July 11, 2018 | |||
| Sarah Daggett Morrison | United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio | April 12, 2018 | October 10, 2018 | June 11, 2019 | 89-7 | |
| Jonathan Katchen | United States District Court for the District of Alaska | April 12, 2018 | July 2018 | |||
| J.P. Hanlon | United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana | April 12, 2018 | June 6, 2018 | October 11, 2018 | Voice vote | |
| Kenneth Bell (North Carolina) | United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina | April 12, 2018 | August 22, 2018 | May 22, 2019 | 55-43 | |
| Stephen Clark (Missouri) | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri | April 12, 2018 | July 11, 2018 | May 22, 2019 | 53-45 | |
| Andrew Brasher | United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit | November 21, 2019 | December 4, 2019 | February 11, 2020 | 52-43 | |
| Holly Brady | United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana | April 10, 2018 | June 6, 2018 | April 10, 2019 | 56-42 | |
| Raúl Arias-Marxuach | United States Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit | November 30, 2020 | December 16, 2020 | February 4, 2021 | ||
| David Porter (Third Circuit) | United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit | April 12, 2018 | June 6, 2018 | October 11, 2018 | 50-45 | |
| Paul Matey | United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit | April 12, 2018 | November 13, 2018 | March 12, 2019 | 54-45 | |
| Mary McElroy | United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island | April 12, 2018 | No hearing held | September 11, 2019 | Voice vote | |
| Patrick Wyrick | United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma | April 11, 2018 | May 23, 2018 | April 9, 2019 | 53-47 | |
| Allen Winsor | United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida | April 10, 2018 | May 23, 2018 | June 19, 2019 | 54-44 | |
| Lance Walker | United States District Court for the District of Maine | April 10, 2018 | June 6, 2018 | October 11, 2018 | Voice vote | |
| Wendy W. Berger | United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida | April 11, 2018 | October 17, 2018 | July 24, 2019 | 54-37 | |
| Pamela A. Barker | United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio | April 12, 2018 | October 10, 2018 | June 12, 2019 | 91-5 | |
| Britt Grant | United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit | April 11, 2018 | May 23, 2018 | July 31, 2018 | 52 - 46 | |
| Shana Frost Matini | Superior Court of the District of Columbia | February 5, 2018 | July 16, 2019 | August 1, 2019 | Voice vote | |
| Kelly Higashi | Superior Court of the District of Columbia | February 5, 2018 | July 12, 2018 | |||
| Mark Bennett (Hawaii) | United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit | February 12, 2018 | April 11, 2018 | July 10, 2018 | 72 - 27 | |
| Michael Scudder | United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit | February 15, 2018 | March 21, 2018 | May 14, 2018 | 90 - 0 | |
| Eric Tostrud | United States District Court for the District of Minnesota | February 15, 2018 | April 11, 2018 | September 6, 2018 | ||
| Peter Phipps | United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit | May 13, 2019 | June 5, 2019 | July 16, 2019 | 56-40 | |
| Thomas Kleeh | United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia | February 15, 2018 | April 25, 2018 | October 11, 2018 | 65-30 | |
| Nancy E. Brasel | United States District Court for the District of Minnesota | February 15, 2018 | April 11, 2018 | August 28, 2018 | ||
| Amy St. Eve | United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit | February 15, 2018 | March 21, 2018 | May 14, 2018 | 91 - 0 | |
| Andrew Oldham | United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit | February 15, 2018 | April 25, 2018 | July 18, 2018 | 50 - 49 | |
| Charles Williams (Iowa) | United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa | February 15, 2018 | March 21, 2018 | September 6, 2018 | 79 - 12 | |
| Michael Truncale | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas | January 23, 2018 | April 25, 2018 | May 14, 2019 | 49-46 | |
| Wendy Vitter | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana | January 23, 2018 | April 11, 2018 | May 16, 2019 | 52-45 | |
| Robert Summerhays | United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana | January 24, 2018 | April 11, 2018 | September 6, 2018 | Voice vote | |
| Maureen Ohlhausen | United States Court of Federal Claims | January 23, 2018 | May 9, 2018 | October 2018 | ||
| Dominic Lanza | United States District Court for the District of Arizona | January 23, 2018 | March 7, 2018 | September 6, 2018 | 60 - 35 | |
| Jeremy Kernodle | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas | January 23, 2018 | May 9, 2018 | October 11, 2018 | Voice vote | |
| Courtney Dunbar Jones | United States Tax Court | January 24, 2018 | December 11, 2018 | August 1, 2019 | Voice vote | |
| J. Campbell Barker | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas | January 23, 2018 | May 9, 2018 | May 1, 2019 | 51-47 | |
| Alan Albright | United States District Court for the Western District of Texas | January 24, 2018 | April 25, 2018 | September 6, 2018 | ||
| Joseph Falvey | United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims | January 23, 2018 | April 26, 2018 | |||
| John Nalbandian | United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit | January 23, 2018 | March 7, 2018 | May 15, 2018 | 53-45 | |
| Joel Carson | United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit | December 20, 2017 | February 14, 2018 | May 15, 2018 | 77 - 21 | |
| Maryellen Noreika | United States District Court for the District of Delaware | December 20, 2017 | February 14, 2018 | August 1, 2018 | ||
| Chad F. Kenney, Sr. | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania | December 20, 2017 | May 9, 2018 | October 11, 2018 | Voice vote | |
| Marilyn J. Horan | United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania | December 20, 2017 | February 15, 2018 | September 6, 2018 | ||
| Gordon Giampietro | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin | December 20, 2017 | ||||
| Kari A. Dooley | United States District Court for the District of Connecticut | December 20, 2017 | March 7, 2018 | September 6, 2018 | ||
| Colm Connolly | United States District Court for the District of Delaware | December 20, 2017 | February 14, 2018 | August 1, 2018 | ||
| Jill Otake | United States District Court for the District of Hawaii | December 20, 2017 | March 7, 2018 | August 1, 2018 | ||
| William Jung | United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida | December 21, 2017 | February 14, 2018 | September 6, 2018 | ||
| James Sweeney (Indiana) | United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana | November 1, 2017 | January 10, 2018 | August 28, 2018 | ||
| Carmen Guerricagoitia McLean | Superior Court of the District of Columbia | October 30, 2017 | July 19, 2018 | January 2, 2019 | Voice vote | |
| James Ho | United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit | October 16, 2017 | November 15, 2017 | December 14, 2017 | 53-43 | |
| Kurt Engelhardt | United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit | October 5, 2017 | January 10, 2018 | May 9, 2018 | 62-34 | |
| Don Willett | United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit | October 3, 2017 | November 15, 2017 | December 13, 2017 | 50-47 | |
| Barry Ashe | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana | January 8, 2018 | January 10, 2018 | August 28, 2018 | ||
| Daniel Domenico | United States District Court for the District of Colorado | October 2, 2017 | January 24, 2018 | April 9, 2019 | 57-42 | |
| Gregory Maggs | United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces | October 2, 2017 | November 14, 2017 | January 29, 2018 | ||
| Stuart Kyle Duncan | United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit | October 2, 2017 | November 29, 2017 | April 24, 2018 | 50 - 47 | |
| Howard Nielson | United States District Court for the District of Utah | September 28, 2017 | January 10, 2018 | May 22, 2019 | 51-47 | |
| Ryan Holte | United States Court of Federal Claims | September 28, 2017 | February 14, 2018 | June 10, 2019 | 60-35 | |
| Matthew Petersen | United States District Court for the District of Columbia | September 11, 2017 | December 14, 2017 | December 18, 2017 | ||
| David Counts | United States District Court for the Western District of Texas | September 11, 2017 | September 7, 2016 | January 11, 2018 | 96 - 0 | |
| Brett Talley | United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama | September 7, 2017 | October 17, 2017 | January 3, 2018 | ||
| Fernando Rodriguez Jr. | United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas | September 7, 2017 | November 29, 2017 | June 5, 2018 | 96-0 | |
| Jeff Mateer | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas | September 7, 2017 | January 3, 2018 | |||
| Emily Coody Marks | United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama | September 7, 2017 | October 17, 2017 | August 1, 2018 | ||
| Matthew Kacsmaryk | United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas | September 7, 2017 | December 13, 2017 | June 19, 2019 | 52-46 | |
| Rebecca Grady Jennings | United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky | September 7, 2017 | November 15, 2017 | April 12, 2018 | ||
| John Broomes | United States District Court for the District of Kansas | September 7, 2017 | November 15, 2017 | April 12, 2018 | ||
| Jeffrey Beaverstock | United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama | September 7, 2017 | October 17, 2017 | August 1, 2018 | ||
| Stan Baker | United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia | September 7, 2017 | December 13, 2017 | August 28, 2018 | ||
| Terry F. Moorer | United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama | January 8, 2018 | January 18, 2018 | August 28, 2018 | ||
| Karen Gren Scholer | United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas | September 7, 2017 | September 7, 2016 | March 5, 2018 | 95 - 0 | |
| Rainey Ransom Brandt | Superior Court of the District of Columbia | September 7, 2017 | July 16, 2019 | August 2, 2019 | Voice vote | |
| Deborah Israel | Superior Court of the District of Columbia | September 7, 2017 | October 22, 2019 | November 21, 2019 | Voice | |
| Greg Katsas | United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit | September 7, 2017 | October 17, 2017 | November 28, 2017 | 50-48 | |
| Elizabeth Branch | United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit | September 7, 2017 | December 13, 2017 | February 27, 2018 | 73-23 | |
| Ryan Bounds | United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit | September 7, 2017 | May 9, 2018 | July 19, 2018 | ||
| Michael Juneau | United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana | January 8, 2018 | October 11, 2018 | 54-41 | ||
| Patrick J. Urda | United States Tax Court | August 3, 2017 | June 12, 2018 | August 28, 2018 | ||
| Robert Wier | United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky | August 3, 2017 | November 15, 2017 | June 5, 2018 | 95-0 | |
| Holly Lou Teeter | United States District Court for the District of Kansas | August 3, 2017 | October 17, 2017 | August 1, 2018 | ||
| Terry A. Doughty | United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana | August 3, 2017 | November 1, 2017 | March 6, 2018 | 98 - 0 | |
| A. Marvin Quattlebaum Jr. | United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit | May 7, 2018 | June 20, 2018 | August 16, 2018 | 62-28 | |
| Elizabeth Ann Copeland | United States Tax Court | August 3, 2017 | June 12, 2018 | August 28, 2018 | ||
| Steven Grasz | United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit | August 3, 2017 | November 1, 2017 | December 12, 2017 | 50-48 | |
| Donald Coggins Jr. | United States District Court for the District of South Carolina | August 3, 2017 | June 21, 2016 | November 16, 2017 | 96-0 | |
| Michael B. Brennan (Wisconsin) | United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit | August 3, 2017 | May 10, 2018 | 49-46 | ||
| Annemarie Carney Axon | United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama | July 19, 2017 | September 20, 2017 | June 6, 2018 | 83-11 | |
| Liles Burke | United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama | January 8, 2018 | October 11, 2018 | 55-40 | ||
| Eli Richardson | United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee | January 8, 2018 | October 11, 2018 | 52-43 | ||
| Thomas Parker (Tennessee) | United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee | July 13, 2017 | September 6, 2017 | January 10, 2018 | 98 - 0 | |
| Mark Norris | United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee | January 8, 2018 | October 11, 2018 | 51-44 | ||
| William M. Ray, II | United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia | January 8, 2018 | October 11, 2018 | 54-41 | ||
| Charles B. Goodwin | United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma | January 8, 2018 | August 28, 2018 | 52 - 42 | ||
| Thomas Farr | United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina | July 13, 2017 | September 20, 2017 | |||
| William L. Campbell Jr. | United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee | July 13, 2017 | September 6, 2017 | January 9, 2018 | 97 - 0 | |
| Tilman E. Self III | United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia | July 13, 2017 | October 4, 2017 | March 5, 2018 | 85-11 | |
| Michael L. Brown (Georgia) | United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia | July 13, 2017 | September 20, 2017 | January 11, 2018 | 92 - 0 | |
| Joshua Deahl | District of Columbia Court of Appeals | June 29, 2017 | October 22, 2019 | November 21, 2019 | Voice vote | |
| Stephanos Bibas | United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit | June 19, 2017 | October 4, 2017 | November 2, 2017 | 53-43 | |
| Claria Horn Boom | United States District Courts for the Eastern District of Kentucky and Western District of Kentucky | June 12, 2017 | November 15, 2017 | April 10, 2018 | 96 - 1 | |
| Ralph Erickson | United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit | June 7, 2017 | July 25, 2017 | September 28, 2017 | 95-1 | |
| Allison Eid | United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit | June 7, 2017 | September 20, 2017 | November 2, 2017 | 56-41 | |
| Amanda Meredith | United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims | June 7, 2017 | July 19, 2017 | August 3, 2017 | Voice vote | |
| Michael P. Allen | United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims | June 7, 2017 | July 19, 2017 | August 3, 2017 | Voice vote | |
| Joseph Toth | United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims | June 7, 2017 | July 19, 2017 | August 3, 2017 | Voice vote | |
| Stephen Schwartz (United States Court of Federal Claims) | United States Court of Federal Claims | June 7, 2017 | July 25, 2017 | December 8, 2020 | 49-47 | |
| Trevor McFadden | United States District Court for the District of Columbia | June 7, 2017 | June 28, 2017 | October 30, 2017 | 84-10 | |
| Timothy J. Kelly | United States District Court for the District of Columbia | June 7, 2017 | June 28, 2017 | September 5, 2017 | 94-2 | |
| Dabney Friedrich | United States District Court for the District of Columbia | June 7, 2017 | July 25, 2017 | November 27, 2017 | 97-3 | |
| David C. Nye | United States District Court for the District of Idaho | May 8, 2017 | June 21, 2016 | July 12, 2017 | 100-0 | |
| Scott Palk | United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma | May 8, 2017 | April 20, 2016 | October 26, 2017 | 79-16 | |
| Damien Schiff | United States Court of Federal Claims | May 8, 2017 | June 14, 2017 | |||
| Amy Coney Barrett | Supreme Court of the United States | September 29, 2020 | October 12-15, 2020 | October 26, 2020 | 52-48 | |
| Kevin Newsom | United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit | May 8, 2017 | June 14, 2017 | August 1, 2017 | 66-31 | |
| John K. Bush | United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit | May 8, 2017 | June 14, 2017 | July 20, 2017 | 51-47 | |
| David Stras | United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit | May 8, 2017 | November 29, 2017 | January 30, 2018 | 56-42 | |
| Joan Larsen | United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit | May 8, 2017 | September 6, 2017 | October 31, 2017 | 60-38 | |
| Jonathan Pittman | Superior Court of the District of Columbia | March 9, 2017 | September 12, 2017 | January 25, 2018 | Voice vote | |
| Amul Thapar | United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit | March 21, 2017 | April 26, 2017 | May 25, 2017 | 52-44 | |
| Neil Gorsuch | Supreme Court of the United States | January 31, 2017 | March 20-23, 2017 | April 7, 2017 | 54-45 |
Supreme Court nominees appointed by Trump
Amy Coney Barrett
- See also: Supreme Court vacancy, 2020
Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed as the 115th associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court by a vote of 52-48-0 on October 26, 2020.
President Donald Trump (R) nominated Barrett to succeed Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the U.S. Supreme Court on September 29, 2020.
On October 22, 2020, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-0 along party lines to report Barrett's nomination to the Senate floor for a vote. The Judiciary Committee had held four days of confirmation hearings from October 12 to 15, 2020.
Trump said the following regarding Barrett's nomination: "Her qualifications are unsurpassed — unsurpassed — and her record is beyond reproach."[4]
When Barrett was nominated, she was serving as a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. She was appointed to that court by President Trump (R). Before that, Barrett was a professor of law at Notre Dame Law School.
Brett Kavanaugh
- See also: Supreme Court vacancy, 2018: An overview
Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed as the 114th associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court by a vote of 50-48-1 on October 6, 2018.
President Donald Trump nominated Kavanaugh to succeed Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy on the U.S. Supreme Court on July 9, 2018.
On September 28, 2018, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11-10 along party lines to report Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Senate floor for a vote.[5] The Judiciary Committee had held four days of confirmation hearings from September 4 to 7, 2018, and an additional fifth day of hearings on September 27, 2018, regarding allegations of past sexual misconduct by Kavanaugh which he denied.
Trump said the following regarding Kavanaugh's nomination:
| “ | Judge Kavanaugh has impeccable credentials, unsurpassed qualifications, and a proven commitment to equal justice under the law. A graduate of Yale College and Yale Law school, Judge Kavanaugh currently teaches at Harvard, Yale, and Georgetown. Throughout legal circles, he is considered a judge’s judge, a true thought leader among his peers. He is a brilliant jurist with a clear and effective writing style, universally regarded as one of the finest and sharpest legal minds of our time. And just like justice Gorsuch, he excelled as a clerk for Justice Kennedy.[6][7] | ” |
When Kavanaugh was nominated, he was serving as a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals on the D.C. Circuit. He was appointed by President George W. Bush (R). Prior to his appointment, Kavanaugh served in the Bush administration.
Neil Gorsuch
- See also: Supreme Court vacancy, 2017: An overview
On January 31, 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch to succeed Justice Antonin Scalia on the U.S. Supreme Court. Scalia was a member of the U.S. Supreme Court for three decades.[8] President Trump said regarding the nomination,[9]
| “ |
I am proud to announce the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch for Justice of the Supreme Court ... This has been the most transparent and most important Supreme Court selection process in the history of our country and I wanted the American people to have a voice in this nomination. Judge Gorsuch has a superb intellect, an unparalleled legal education, and a commitment to interpreting the Constitution according to its text. He will make an incredible Justice as soon as the Senate confirms him. [7] |
” |
Confirmation hearings on Gorsuch's nomination before the Senate Judiciary Committee were held from March 20-23, 2017. On April 3, 2017, voting 11-9 on party lines, the Senate Judiciary Committee reported Neil Gorsuch's nomination to the full U.S. Senate. That same day, Senate Democrats announced that they had a sufficient number of votes to sustain a filibuster against the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court. In anticipation of an expected filibuster, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) indicated that he was prepared to restrict the use of filibusters on Supreme Court nominations, referred to as the nuclear option. The Senate voted on April 6, 2017, to end the use of filibusters on all presidential nominations and proceeded to vote to end debate on the Gorsuch nomination. Gorsuch was confirmed on a recorded 54-45 vote of the Senate on Friday, April 7, 2017, and he received his commission on Monday, April 10, 2017.[10]
Historical context
Appointments by current president
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Joe Biden
Since taking office, President Joe Biden (D) has nominated 211 individuals to federal judgeships on Article III courts. As of April 10, 2024, 193 of the nominees have been confirmed.[11]
Ballotpedia publishes the federal vacancy count report tracking vacancies, nominations, and confirmations to all United States Article III federal courts each month. In the most recent report covering activity in April 2024, there were 44 Article III vacancies in the federal judiciary. To learn more about current vacancies in the federal judiciary, click here.
The following chart from the monthly federal vacancy count report for April 1, 2024, details the number of appointments made by President Biden to each type of Article III federal court since taking office. This chart is updated at the start of each month with new appointments data.
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Appointments since Theodore Roosevelt
The following chart shows the total judgeship appointments made by each president from 1901 to 2021.
The following chart shows the judgeship appointments by court made by each president from 1901 to 2021. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is abbreviated as USCAFC. The U.S. Court of Federal Claims, previously known as the U.S. Court of Claims, is abbreviated USCFC.
The following chart shows the average number of judicial appointments per year in office by presidents from 1901 to 2021.
The chart below shows the number of appeals court judges confirmed by the U.S. Senate through April 1 of the fourth year of each president's term in office. At this point in the term, President Trump had the most appeals court appointments with 51.
The chart below shows the number of district court judges confirmed by the U.S. Senate through April 1 of the fourth year of each president's term in office. At this point in the term, President Bill Clinton had the most district court appointments with 152.
Noteworthy events
Senate limits post-cloture debate on presidential nominees, 2019
On April 3, 2019, the Senate voted to change the body's precedent and reduce post-cloture debate allowed on executive nominees below the Cabinet-level and federal district court nominees from 30 hours to 2 hours. Two separate votes on executive nominees and judicial nominees passed 51-48. All but two Senate Republicans—Susan Collins (R-Me.) and Mike Lee (R-Ut.)—voted for the changes, while all Senate Democrats who voted opposed the changes. To enact the changes, the Senate used the nuclear option rather than changing its standing rules.[12]
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said his caucus pursued the change due to obstruction by Senate Democrats. He said, "The all-encompassing, systematic nature of this obstruction is not part of the Senate’s important tradition of minority rights. It is a new departure from that tradition. And this break with tradition is hurting the Senate, hamstringing our duly elected president, and denying citizens the government they elected." He also said that many Democrats privately supported the change and would certainly favor it if they controlled the White House.[13]
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) criticized the change, particularly with regard to judicial nominees. He said, “Two hours for a lifetime appointment is unacceptable. Two hours for a lifetime appointment with huge influence on people’s lives is unacceptable. It’s ridiculous.”[12]
Senate Democrats also said McConnell pursued similar tactics while in the minority. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) said, “[McConnell] seems to have completely forgotten the Obama administration. He led the most famous blockade that’s ever happened in the Senate. And that was the blockade of Merrick Garland … it was shameful.”[14]
McConnell responded by criticizing Senate Democrats for using the nuclear option to lower the cloture threshold from 60 votes to 51 votes in 2013. He said, “I said at the time I didn’t like the way it was done. And I thought maybe the other side would rue the day they did it. Amazingly enough, about a year and a half later I’m majority leader. Funny how these things change, isn’t it?”[12]
Definitions
Nuclear option: The nuclear option, also known as the constitutional option, is a procedure that allows the majority party to change a Senate rule or precedent with a simple majority vote. Normally, the Senate needs a two-thirds vote to invoke cloture on a resolution to change its standing rules.[15] Prior to 2019, the nuclear option was deployed by Senate Majority Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in 2013 to reduce the cloture threshold for presidential nominees other than Supreme Court nominees from 60 votes to 51 votes. In 2017, McConnell used the nuclear option to reduce the cloture threshold for Supreme Court nominees to 51 votes. Read more about the nuclear option here.
Cloture: Cloture is a process that allows senators to end debate on legislation, nominations, resolutions, and other business before the body. Before 1917, debate was not limited by Senate rules, which could allow a small number of senators to delay, or filibuster, priorities supported by a majority of senators. After a filibuster in 1917 impacted the country's ability to arm ships during World War One, the Senate amended its rules to allow debate to be shut off by a two-thirds vote of those senators present to vote. Over time, the threshold for invoking cloture was reduced from two-thirds of the body to three-fifths. In 2013 and 2017, cloture was reduced to a simple majority for presidential nominations, but the three-fifths threshold for legislation stayed in effect. As of 2019, time-limited debate was allowed after cloture was invoked, typically giving minority senators the ability to voice their opposition to a measure or nominee before a final passage vote. Read more about cloture here.
Ballotpedia analysis
On April 5, 2019, Ballotpedia released an analysis of the changes in debate rules and the possible effects on federal judicial vacancies.
To see our full analysis, click here.
See also
- Judicial vacancies during the Trump administration
- Six-month checkup on federal judicial vacancies during Trump's first term
- Current federal judicial vacancies
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Administrative Office of U.S. Courts
- U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee
Footnotes
- ↑ United States Courts, "Judgeship Appointments by President," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Article III judges are appointed by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in accordance with Article III of the United States Constitution. They serve for life.
- ↑ Federal Judicial Center, "Unsuccessful Nominations and Recess Appointments," accessed March 23, 2021
- ↑ WhiteHouse.gov, "Remarks by President Trump Announcing His Nominee for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States," September 26, 2020
- ↑ The Hill, "Judiciary panel approves Kavanaugh, sending nomination to full Senate," September 28, 2018
- ↑ C-SPAN, "Judge Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court Nomination Announcement," July 9, 2018
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ The New York Times, "Justice Antonin Scalia, Who Led a Conservative Renaissance on the Supreme Court, Is Dead at 79," February 13, 2016
- ↑ The White House, "President Donald J. Trump nominates Neil Gorsuch to the United States Supreme Court," January 31, 2017
- ↑ Politico, "Gorsuch confirmation hearing set for March 20," February 16, 2017
- ↑ These figures are limited to Article III judges. Article III judges are appointed by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in accordance with Article III of the United States Constitution. They serve for life.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 The Hill, "GOP triggers 'nuclear option' to speed up Trump picks," April 3, 2019
- ↑ Politico, "Time to Stop the Democrats' Obstruction," April 1, 2019
- ↑ Politico, "Republicans trigger ‘nuclear option’ to speed Trump nominees," April 3, 2019
- ↑ Congressional Research Service, "Eight Mechanisms to Enact Procedural Change in the U.S. Senate," November 13, 2018
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