This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing for a slate of judicial nominees. The March 25 hearing featured three Article III nominees: Sheria Akins Clarke (D.S.C.), Kathleen “Katie” S. Lane (D. Mont.), and Kara Marie Westercamp (Ct. Intl. Trade). The hearing also featured an Article IV nominee, Evan Rikhye (D.V.I.).
No new nominations or vacancies have been announced, leaving the number of pending nominees at 10 and the number of current and known future vacancies at 45.
This week, the Senate confirmed Anna St. John, president and general counsel of the Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute, to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. This brings the current number of Article III confirmations under the second Trump Administration to 34. Of these 34 confirmations, 94% are white and 74% are male.
There are now 35 current Article III vacancies. Six of the District Court vacancies and one Court of International Trade vacancy have a nominee.
Earlier this week, Judge William Osteen Jr. (M.D.N.C.), a George W. Bush appointee, announced he will be taking senior status effective January 2, 2027.
There are 10 future Article III vacancies. Two District Court nominees and one Circuit Court nominee have been named by the Trump Administration to these vacancies.