Vacancies & Nominations
Listed below are current U.S. appellate and district court vacancies, and nominees to fill these vacancies. New nominations are listed within 24 hours of announcement by the White House.
Nominess not acted on in the previous 117th Congress (2021-22) do not carry over to the 118th Congress (2023-24). They need to be renominated. Those who have been renominated as well as those nominated for the first time are reflected in the listings below.
For biographical information on current nominees, click here. For biographical information on present and past confirmed judges, click here.
For a masterlist of judicial confirmations, click here.
By tradition, when a president submits a nomination to fill a district court vacancy (similarly for U.S. Attorneys and U.S. Marshals), the Senate Judiciary Committee then sends a "blue slip" to the nominee's home state senators seeking their views on the nomination. If one or both of them disapproves or fails to return the blue slip, then the likelihood is that the nomination will not be reported out of committee. Under current procedure, this senatorial veto power does not generally apply to appellate court nominees. Nominees reported out of committee are subject to confirmation (or rejection) by the full Senate.
VACANCIES AND NOMINATIONS PENDING IN THE 118th CONGRESS (2023-24)
(Appointing president of each court vacancy in parentheses; nominees listed in bold)
UPDATED 4/10/24.
First Circuit
One vacancy as result of Jeffrey R. Howard assuming senior status, 3/31/22 (G.W. Bush). Seth Robert Aframe nominated to fill this vacancy, 10/4/23.
Third Circuit
One vacancy as result of retirement of Joseph A. Greenaway Jr., 6/15/23 (Obama). Adeel Abdullah Mangi nominated to fill this vacancy, 11/27/23.
Sixth Circuit
One vacancy as result of Julia Smith Gibbons assuming senior status, TBD (G.W. Bush). Kevin G. Ritz nominated to fill this vacancy, 3/21/24.
Seventh Circuit
One vacancy as result of Ilana Diamond Rovner assuming senior status, TBD (G.H.W. Bush). Nancy L. Maldonado nominated to fill this vacancy, 2/27/24.
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Northern District of Alabama
One vacancy as result of resignation of Abdul K. Kallon, 8/31/22 (Obama).
Middle District of Alabama
One vacancy as result of elevation of Andrew L. Brasher, 2/11/20 (Trump).
District of Alaska
One vacancy as result of Timothy Burgess assuming senior status, 12/31/21 (G.W. Bush).
District of Arizona
Two vacancies. One vacancy as result of Douglas L. Rayes assuming senior status, 6/1/24 (Obama). Krissa M. Lanham nominated to fill this vacancy, 2/28/24. One vacancy as result of James Alan Soto assuming senior status, 7/1/24 (Obama). Angela M. Martinez nominated to fill this vacancy, 2/27/24.
Western District of Arkansas
One vacancy as result of Paul K. Holmes III assuming senior status, 11/10/21 (Obama)
Eastern District of California
One vacancy as result of Kimberly J. Mueller assuming senior status 9/17/24 (Obama). Dena M. Coggins nominated to fill this vacancy, 2/8/24.
Central District of California
One vacancy as result of George H. Wu assuming senior status, 11/3/23 (G.W. Bush).
Southern District of California
Two vacancies: One vacancy as result of William Q. Hayes assuming senior status, 8/1/21 (G.W. Bush). Rebecca Suzanne Kanter nominated to fill this vacancy, 2/3/24. One vacancy as result of Gonzalo P. Curiel seeking senior status, 9/7/23 (Obama).
District of Columbia
Two vacancies. One vacancy as result of elevation of Florence Y. Pan to DC Circuit, 9/20/22. Sparkle L. Sooknanan nominated to fill this vacancy, 2/27/24. One vacancy as result of Beryl A. Howell assuming senior status, 2/1/24 (Obama). Amir H. Ali nominated to fill this vacancy, 2/3/24.
District of Connecticut
One vacancy as result of elevation of Sarah A.L. Merriam to 2nd Circuit, 9/15/22. Sarah French Russell nominated to fill this vacancy, 10/4/23.
Middle District of Florida
Two vacancies. One vacancy as result of Charlene Edwards-Honeywell assuming senior status, 12/4/23 (Obama). One vacancy as result of Brian J. Davis assuming senior status, 12/30/23 (Obama).
Southern District of Florida
One vacancy as result of Robert N. Scola Jr. assuming senior status, 10/31/23 (Obama). Detra Shaw-Wilder nominated to fill this vacancy, 3/21/24.
Northern District of Illinois
One vacancy created by Rebecca R. Pallmeyer assuming senior status, 8/1/24 (Clinton). Georgia N. Alexakis nominated to fill this vacancy, 2/28/24.
District of Kansas
One vacancy as result of Julie A. Robinson assuming senior status, 1/14/22 (G.W. Bush). Jabri Brooks Wamble nominated to fill this vacancy, 2/28/23. (Nomination withdrawn 5/23/23.)
Eastern District of Louisiana
Two vacancies. One vacancy as result of Eldon E. Fallon assuming senior status, 1/1/24 (Clinton). One vacancy as result of Sarah S. Vance assuming senior status, 1/16/24 (Clinton).
District of Massachusetts
One vacancy as result of Patti B. Saris assuming senior status, TDB (Clinton). Brian E. Murphy nominated to fill this vacancy, 3/21/24.
District of Minnesota
One vacancy as result of Wilhelmina Marie Wright assuming senior status, 2/15/24 (Obama).
Northern District of Mississippi
One vacancy as result of Michael P. Mills assuming senior status, 11/1/21 (G.W. Bush). Scott W. Colom nominated to fill this vacancy, 1/23/23.
Eastern District of Missouri
Three vacancies. One vacancy as result of Rodney W. Sippel assuming senior status, 1/28/23 (Obama). One vacancy as result of Audrey G. Fleissig assuming senior status, 4/14/23 (Obama). One vacancy as result of John A. Ross assuming senior status, 6/9/23 (Obama).
Eastern District of New York
One vacancy as result of Joan Marie Azrack assuming senior status 12/19/24 (Obama). Sanket J. Bulsara nominated to fill this vacancy, 2/8/24.
Southern District of New York
One vacancy as result of Paul G. Gardephe assuming senior status, 8/9/23 (G.W. Bush). Jeannette A. Vargas nominated to fill this vacancy, 3/21/24.
Western District of New York
One vacancy as result of Frank P. Geraci Jr. assuming senior status, 4/1/23 (Obama). Colleen D. Holland nominated to fill this vacancy, 9/11/23.
Western District of North Carolina
One vacancy as result of Robert J. Conrad Jr. assuming senior status, 5/17/23 (G.W. Bush).
Northern District of Ohio
One vacancy as result of Patricia A. Gaughan assuming senior status, 10/1/23 (Clinton).
Northern District of Oklahoma
One vacancy as result of John E. Dowdell assuming senior status, 6/21/21 (Obama). John David Russell nominated to fill this vacancy, 10/24/23.
District of Oregon
One vacancy as result of Ann L. Aiken assuming senior status, 12/29/23 (Clinton). Mustafa Taher Kasubhai nominated to fill this vacancy, 9/18/23.
Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Two vacancies. One vacancy as result of Cynthia M. Rufe assuming senior status, 12/31/21 (G.W. Bush). One vacancy as result of death of Edward G. Smith, 11/27/23 (Obama).
Middle District of Pennsylvania
One vacancy as result of Malachy E. Mannion assuming senior status, 1/3/24 (Obama).
District of South Dakota
Two vacancies. One vacancy as result of Jeffrey L. Viken assuming senior status, 10/1/21 (Obama). Camela C. Theeler nominated to fill this vacancy, 2/8/24. One vacancy as result of Karen E. Schreier assuming senior status, TBD (Clinton). Eric C. Schulte nominated to fill this vacancy, 2/8/24.
Western District of Tennessee
One vacancy as result of John Thomas Fowlkes Jr. assuming senior status, 9/1/22 (Obama).
Northern District of Texas
One vacancy as result of Barbara M.G. Lynn assuming senior status, 5/15/23 (Clinton).
Southern District of Texas
Two vacancies. One vacancy as result of Lynn N. Hughes assuming senior status, 2/12/23 (Reagan). One vacancy as result of Micaela Alvarez assuming senior status, 6/8/23 (G.W. Bush).
Western District of Texas
Two vacancies One vacancy as result of resignation of Lee Yeakel III, 5/1/23 (G.W. Bush). One vacancy as result of David C. Guaderrama assuming senior status, 5/27/23 (Obama).
Eastern District of Washington
One vacancy as result of Salvador Mendoza Jr. elevation to Ninth Circuit (Obama), 9/12/22. Rebecca L. Pennell nominated to fill this vacancy, 3/21/24.
Eastern District of Wisconsin
One vacancy as result of William C. Griesbach assuming senior status, 12/31/19 (G.W. Bush).
District of Wyoming
One vacancy as result of Nancy D. Freudenthal assuming senior status, 6/1/22 (Obama). Kelly Harrison Rankin nominated to fill this vacancy, 1/10/24.
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