The Senate has recessed for Thanksgiving break, but not before processing a number of judicial nominees. Five new trial judges were confirmed last week, four to various district courts and one to the Court of International Trade.
The Senate Judiciary Committee for its part held hearings on Wednesday for five nominees, including Thomas L. Kirsch II, who has been nominated to the Seventh Circuit seat vacated by Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Three other nominees have cloture motions pending on the Senate floor, so at least that many should be confirmed after the Senate returns next week.
Below is a full update on the status of President Trump’s judicial nominations.
Current and known future vacancies: 62
Supreme Court: 0
Courts of Appeals: 3
District/Specialty Courts*: 59
Pending nominees for current and known future vacancies: 36
Courts of Appeals: 1
District/Specialty Courts*: 35
Court of Appeals Nominees Awaiting Senate Judiciary Committee Hearings
| Nominee (Circuit) | Original Nomination
Date |
Days Since Original Nomination | Both Blue Slips Returned? | Judiciary Committee Hearing Date |
| Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach (1st)† | Pending | N/A | N/A | Not Yet Scheduled |
†The president announced his intent to nominate Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach on November 13, 2020. His nomination has not yet been formally received by the Senate and is thus not included in the pending-nominee count.
Court of Appeals Nominees Awaiting Senate Judiciary Committee Votes
| Nominee (Circuit) | Original Nomination Date | Days Since Original Nomination | Judiciary Committee Hearing Date |
| Thomas L. Kirsch II (7th) | 11/16/20 | 7 | 11/18/20 |
Court of Appeals Nominees Awaiting Senate Floor Votes
| Nominee (Circuit) | Nomination Date | Days Since Original Nomination | Date Reported to Senate Floor |
| None |
Nominees Awaiting Floor Votes: 9
Courts of Appeals: 0
District/Specialty Courts*: 9
Days Pending
- # of pending nominees originally nominated > 600 days ago: 1
- # of pending nominees originally nominated > 500 days ago: 2
- # of pending nominees originally nominated > 400 days ago: 9
- # of pending nominees originally nominated > 300 days ago: 16
All Nominees (via Judiciary Committee) Confirmed by the Senate during the 116th Congress: 149
Supreme Court: 1
Courts of Appeals: 23
District/Specialty Courts*: 125
All Nominees (via Judiciary Committee) Confirmed by the Senate since Inauguration Day: 234
Supreme Court: 3
Courts of Appeals: 53
District/Specialty Courts*: 178
* Includes the Court of Federal Claims, Territorial Courts, and the International Trade Courts
All Article III Nominees Confirmed by the Senate since Inauguration Day: 227
Supreme Court: 3
Courts of Appeals: 53
District/International Trade Courts: 171