On The Bench: Week of December 7, 2023

The Senate made limited progress on judicial nominations this week. As of this writing, the Senate has confirmed 2 Article III nominees: Judge Irma Ramirez (5th Cir.) and Judge Loren AliKhan (D.D.C.). With only one scheduled work week remaining this calendar year, the Biden Administration and Senate is 26 Article III confirmations behind President Trump’s total after three years.

On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held an executive business meeting where it advanced two nominees: Sara Hill (N.D. Okla.) and John Russell (N.D. Okla.). Both nominees are now eligible for vote by the full Senate.

As of December 7, there are 92 Article III vacancies, 62 of which are current. There are 32 pending nominees: 19 waiting for floor votes, 6 waiting to be reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 7 waiting for hearings before the Committee. To date, 161 Article III judges have been confirmed during the Biden-Harris Administration.