On The Bench: Week of March 1, 2024

The Senate made encouraging progress on judicial nominations this week. As of this writing, the Senate has confirmed 4 Article III nominees: Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Becerra (S.D. Fla.), David Leibowitz (S.D. Fla.), Magistrate Judge Melissa Damian (S.D. Fla.), and Magistrate Judge Julie Sneed (M.D. Fla.). All four confirmations were to vacancies that had been designated judicial emergencies by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

Also this week, the Senate Judiciary Committee held an executive business meeting on Thursday. The Committee advanced 5 Article III nominees to the floor: Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen (D. Utah), Magistrate Judge Susan Bazis (D. Neb.), Ernest Gonzalez (W.D. Tex.), Magistrate Judge Kelly Rankin (D. Wyo.), and Magistrate Judge Leon Schydlower (W.D. Tex.).

As of February 29, there are 82 Article III vacancies, 51 of which are current. There are 27 pending nominees: 12 waiting for floor votes, 5 waiting to be reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 10 waiting for hearings before the Committee. To date, 181 Article III judges have been confirmed during the Biden-Harris Administration.