This week brought another new record with the confirmation of the 21st circuit court judge since Inauguration Day: this marks the most confirmed circuit judges ever at this point in a presidency. In addition, President Trump is just one judge shy of equaling the current record for the most circuit judges confirmed in the first two years of a presidency (22 by President George H.W. Bush).
The White House is continuing to select excellent nominees, Senator Grassley and the Senate Judiciary Committee are continuing to steadily process those nominees, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is keeping his promise to prioritize the confirmation of circuit judges.
Here is this week’s update on federal judicial nominations:
Current and known future vacancies: 177
Courts of Appeals: 22
District/Specialty Courts*: 155
Pending nominees for current and known future vacancies: 85
Courts of Appeals: 10
District/Specialty Courts: 75
* Includes the Court of Federal Claims and the International Trade Court
Court of Appeals Nominees Awaiting Senate Judiciary Committee Hearings
| Nominee (Circuit) | Nomination Date | Days Pending | Both Blue Slips Returned? | Judiciary Committee Hearing Date |
| Britt Grant (11th) | 4/12/2018 | 36 | Yes | 5/23/2018 |
| David Porter (3rd) | 4/12/2018 | 36 | No | Not yet scheduled |
| Paul Matey (3rd) | 4/12/2018 | 36 | No | Not yet scheduled |
| Richard Sullivan (2nd) | 5/7/2018 | 11 | No | Not yet scheduled |
| Jay Richardson (4th) | 5/7/2018 | 11 | Yes | Not yet scheduled |
| Marvin Quattlebaum (4th) | 5/7/2018 | 11 | Yes | Not yet scheduled |
| Ryan Nelson (9th) | 5/15/2018 | 3 | No | Not yet scheduled |
Court of Appeals Nominees Awaiting Senate Judiciary Committee Votes
| Nominee (Circuit) | Nomination Date | Days Pending | Judiciary Committee Hearing Date |
| Andrew Oldham (5th) | 2/15/2018 | 92 | 4/25/2018 |
| Ryan Bounds (9th) | 9/7/2017 | 253 | 5/9/2018 |
Court of Appeals Nominees Awaiting Senate Floor Votes
| Nominee (Circuit) | Nomination Date | Days Pending | Date Reported to Senate Floor |
| Mark Bennett (9th) | 2/15/2018 | 92 | 5/10/2018 |
Nominees Awaiting Floor Votes: 34
District/Specialty Courts: 33
Nominees Confirmed by the Senate: 39
Supreme Court: 1
Courts of Appeals: 21
District/Specialty Courts: 17