Vacancies & Nominations

Listed below are current U.S. appellate and district court vacancies. 

Nominations by the president in the 119th Congress (2025-2027) to fill these vacancies will be noted as they occur. Nominations pending at the end of the 118th Congress (2023-2025) have expired. 

For biographical information on current nominees, click here. For biographical information on present and past confirmed judges, click here. 

For a master list 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 disapprove or fail 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 CURRENTLY PENDING IN THE U.S. COURTS
(Appointing president of each court vacancy given in parentheses. Nominees included in bold. Future vacancies for which nominees have been named included in the listing.)

UPDATED 3/4/26.

Eighth Circuit
One vacancy as result of Duane Benton assuming senior status, TBD (G.W. Bush). Justin D. Smith nominated to fill this vacancy, 3/2/26.

Court of International Trade
One vacancy as result of resignation of Stephen A Vaden, 7/7/25 (Trump). Kara Marie Westercamp nominated to fill this vacancy, 3/2/26.

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Northern District of Alabama
One vacancy as result of David R. Proctor assuming senior status, 1/1/26 (G.W. Bush).

District of Alaska
One vacancy as result of resignation of Joshua M. Kindred, 7/8/24 (Trump).

Western District of Arkansas
One vacancy as result of  Susan O. Hickey assuming senior status, TBD (Obama. John T. Shepherd nominated to fill this vacancy, 1/29/26.

Southern District of California
One vacancy as result of William Q. Hayes assuming senior status, 8/1/21 (G.W. Bush). 

District of Connecticut
One vacancy as result of death of Jeffrey A. Meyer, 1/12/25 (Obama).

Middle District of Florida
One vacancy as result of Timothy J. Corrigan assuming senior status, 11/2/24 (G.W. Bush).
 
Northern District of Georgia
One vacancy as result of retirement of Timothy C. Batten Sr., 5/23/25 (G.W. Bush).

District of Kansas
Three vacancies. One vacancy as result of Julie A. Robinson assuming senior status, 1/14/22 (G.W. Bush). Anthony J. Powell nominated to fill this vacancy, 3/2/26. One vacancy as result of Daniel D. Crabtree assuming senior status, 8/11/25 (Obama). Anthony W. Mattivi nominated to fill this vacancy, 3/2/26. One vacancy as result of Eric F. Melgren assuming senior status, 9/1/25 (G.W. Bush). Jeffrey M. Kuhlman nominated to fill this vacancy, 3/2/26.

Eastern District of Louisiana
Two vacancies. One vacancy as result of Sarah S. Vance assuming senior status, 1/16/24 (Clinton). Anna St. John nominated to fill this vacancy, 1/29/26. One vacancy as result of Lance M. Africk assuming senior status, 10/1/24 (G.W. Bush).

District of Maine
One vacancy as result of Nancy Torresen assuming senior status, 10/11/25 (Obama).

District of Massachusetts
Two vacancies. One vacancy as result of Nathaniel M. Gorton assuming senior status, 5/31/25 (H.W. Bush). One vacancy as result of Dennis F. Saylor assuming senior status, 7/31/25 (G.W. Bush).

Eastern District of Michigan
One vacancy as result of retirement of Sean F. Cox, 7/27/25 (G.W. Bush).

District of New Mexico
One vacancy as result of James O. Browning assuming senior status, 2/1/26 (G.W. Bush).

District of Montana
One vacancy as result of Susan P. Watters assuming senior status, 6/8/26 (Obama). Kathleen S. Lane nominated to fill this vacancy, 3/2/26.

Southern District of New York
Three vacancies. One vacancy as result of Lorna G. Schofield assuming senior status, 12/31/24 (Obama). One vacancy as result of Valerie E. Caproni assuming senior status, 1/7/25 (Obama). One vacancy as result of Cathy Seibel assuming senior status, 11/3/25 (G.W. Bush).
 
Northern District of Ohio
One vacancy as result of Patricia A. Gaughan assuming senior status, 10/1/23 (Clinton).

Southern District of Ohio
One vacancy as result of Michael H. Watson assuming senior status, 11/1/25 (G.W. Bush).

Northern District of Oklahoma
One vacancy as result of Gregory K. Frizzell assuming senior status, 3/1/25 (G.W. Bush).

Eastern District of Oklahoma
One vacancy as result of Ronald A. White assuming senior status, 1/27/26 (G.W. Bush).

Eastern District of Pennsylvania
One vacancy as result of retirement of Mitchell S. Goldberg, 9/19/25 (G.W. Bush).

District of South Carolina
One vacancy as result of Robert B. Harwell assuming senior status, 6/4/24 (G.W. Bush). Sheria Akins Clarke nominated to fill this vacancy, 3/2/26.

Northern District of Texas
Three vacancies. One vacancy as result of Barbara M.G. Lynn assuming senior status, 5/15/23 (Clinton). One vacancy as result of David C. Godbey assuming senior status, 9/17/25 (G.W. Bush). One vacancy as result of Jane J. Boyle assuming senior status, 10/1/25 (G.W. Bush).

Southern District of Texas
Four vacancies. 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). One vacancy as result of Andrew S. Hanen assuming senior status, 1/2/25 (G.W. Bush). One vacancy as result of Richardo H. Hinojosa assuming senior status, 5/21/25 (Reagan).

Western District of Texas
Two vacancies  One vacancy as result of resignation of Lee Yeakel III, 5/1/23 (G.W. Bush). Andrew B. Davis nominated to fill this vacancy, 1/29/26. One vacancy as result of David C. Guaderrama assuming senior status, 5/27/23 (Obama). Christopher R. Wolfe nominated to fill this vacancy, 1/29/26.

District of Virgin Islands
One vacancy as result of Wilma A. Lewis assuming senior status, 2/15/25 (Obama). Evan Rikhye nominated to fill this vacancy, 3/2/26.for a term of 10 years.

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