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 12/23/24.
First Circuit
One vacancy as result of William J. Kayatta Jr. assuming senior status, 10/31/24 (Obama). Julia M. Lipez nominated to fill this vacancy, 6/4/24.
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.
Fourth Circuit
One vacancy as result of James A. Wynn assuming senior status, TBD (Obama). Ryan Young Park nominated to fill this vacancy, 7/8/24. (Nomination withdrawn 12/13/24.)
Sixth Circuit
One vacancy as result of Jane Branstetter Stranch assuming senior status, TBD (Obama). Karla M. Campbell nominated to fill this vacancy, 6/4/24.
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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
Two vacancies. One vacancy as result of Timothy Burgess assuming senior status, 12/31/21 (G.W. Bush). One vacancy as result of resignation of Joshua M. Kindred, 7/8/24 (Trump).
Western District of Arkansas
One vacancy as result of Paul K. Holmes III assuming senior status, 11/10/21 (Obama).
Southern District of California
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.
Middle District of Florida
Three 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). One vacancy as result of Timothy J. Corrigan assuming senior status, 11/4/24.
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.
Southern District of Indiana
One vacancy as result of Jane E. Magnus-Stinson assuming senior status, 7/1/24 (Obama).
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
Three 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). One vacancy as result of Lance M. Africk assuming senior status, 10/1/24 (G.W. Bush).
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
Four 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). One vacancy as result of Ronnie L. White retiring, 7/31/24 (Obama).
District of Montana
One vacancy as result of Dana L. Christensen assuming senior status, TBD (Obama). Danna Rae Jackson nominated to fill this vacancy, 4/30/24.
Southern District of New York
One vacancy as result of Lorna G. Schofield assuming senior status, 12/31/24 (Obama). Sarah Netburn nominated to fill this vacancy, 4/30/24.
Western District of New York
One vacancy as result of Frank P. Geraci Jr. assuming senior status, 4/1/23 (Obama). Meredith A. Vacca nominated to fill this vacancy, 5/14/24..
Western District of North Carolina
Two vacancies. One vacancy as result of Robert J. Conrad Jr. assuming senior status, 5/17/23 (G.W. Bush). One vacancy as result of Frank D. Whitney assuming senior status, 12/1/24 (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 South Carolina
One vacancy as result of Robert B. Harwell assuming senior status, 6/4/24 (G.W. Bush).
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
Three 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). One vacancy as result of Lee H. Rosenthal assuming senior status, 12/1/24 (H.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).
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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