The Judicial Nominations Blog

This week, the Senate is out of session, with senators back in their home-states due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Pro forma  sessions (to prevent recess appointments) will be held on March 30th and April 2nd. Next week, the Senate will remain in recess.

Vacancies: Courts of Appeals: Current Vacancies: 1  ( ±  0  this week) Future Vacancies: 1   ( ±  0 ) District Courts: Current Vacancies: 72   ( ±  0 ) Future Vacancies: 7   ( ±  0 ) Pending Nominations: Courts of Appeals: Pending before Senate Judiciary Committee without hearing: 0   ( ±  0  this week) Hearings held and still in Committee: 0   ( ±  0 ) Reported out of Committee/Pending on Executive Calendar: 0   ( ±  0 ) District Courts: Pending before Senate Judiciary Committee without hearing: 20   ( ±  0 ) Hearings held and still in Committee: 7   ( ±  0 ) Reported out of Committee/Pending on Executive Calendar: 11   ( ±  0 ) Court of Federal Claims: Pending before Senate Judiciary Committee without hearing: 1   ( ±  0 ) Hearings held and still in Committee: 2   ( ±  0 ) Reported out of Committee/Pending on Executive Calendar: 2   ( ±  0 ) Tax Court: Pending before Senate Finance Committee without hearing: 2   ( ±  0) Heari

This week, the Senate is holding votes on a bill . Floor Action:¹ Sunday: The Senate will vote at 6:00 pm to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to  H.R 748 , the vehicle for the CARES Act. Monday: Upon reconsideration, the Senate will vote at 1:30 pm to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to  H.R 748 . Tuesday: The Senate will continue debating the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to  H.R 748 . Wednesday: The Senate will again vote, this time at 10:30 am, to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to  H.R 748 . Thursday: No votes have been scheduled. Notes: ¹The floor schedule is an approximate guide to when votes may occur. It may not necessarily be completely accurate due to things changing in the Senate during the week.

Vacancies: Courts of Appeals: Current Vacancies: 1  ( ±  0  this week) Future Vacancies: 1   ( ±  0 ) District Courts: Current Vacancies: 72   ( ±  0 ) Future Vacancies: 7   ( ±  0 ) Pending Nominations: Courts of Appeals: Pending before Senate Judiciary Committee without hearing: 0   ( ±  0  this week) Hearings held and still in Committee: 0   ( ±  0 ) Reported out of Committee/Pending on Executive Calendar: 0   ( ±  0 ) District Courts: Pending before Senate Judiciary Committee without hearing: 20   ( +  1 ) Hala Y. Jarbou, of Michigan, to be a United States District Judge for the Western District of Michigan ( officially nominated , March 18, 2020) Hearings held and still in Committee: 7   ( ±  0 ) Reported out of Committee/Pending on Executive Calendar: 11   ( ±  0 ) Court of Federal Claims: Pending before Senate Judiciary Committee without hearing: 1   ( ±  0 ) Hearings held and still in Committee: 2   ( ±  0 ) Reported out of Co

This week, the Senate is holding votes on two bills ,  and the Judiciary Committee will convene   an executive business  meeting . Floor Action:¹ Monday: The Senate will vote at 5:30 pm to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to  H.R. 6172 , the FISA reauthorization bill. Tuesday: The Senate will continue considering H.R. 6172. Wednesday: The Senate will continue considering H.R. 6172, with a vote on final passage possible. The Senate will also consider H.R. 6201 , which relates to Coronavirus disaster relief. Thursday: No votes have been scheduled. On Thursday, the Judiciary Committee will hold an executive session to vote on and/or hold over the following nominations (the number in the parentheses appearing after the nominee's name signifies whether this is the first or second time appearing on the agenda; first-time appearances are typically held over and nominees appearing for the second time usually receive votes): District Court

Vacancies: Courts of Appeals: Current Vacancies: 1  ( ±  0  this week) Future Vacancies: 1   ( ±  0 ) District Courts: Current Vacancies: 72   ( +  1 ) Harry S. Mattice, Jr., Eastern District of Tennessee, senior status, March 10, 2020, 1/5 seats vacant Future Vacancies: 7   ( - 1 ) Pending Nominations: Courts of Appeals: Pending before Senate Judiciary Committee without hearing: 0   ( ±  0  this week) Hearings held and still in Committee: 0   ( ±  0 ) Reported out of Committee/Pending on Executive Calendar: 0   ( ±  0 ) District Courts: Pending before Senate Judiciary Committee without hearing: 19   ( ±  0 ) Hearings held and still in Committee: 7   ( - 3 ) William Scott Hardy, of Pennsylvania, to be a United States District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania ( held over , March 12, 2020) David Cleveland Joseph, of Louisiana, to be a United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana ( held over , March 12, 2020)

This week, the Senate is holding votes on a bill,  and the Judiciary Committee will convene  an executive business  meeting . Floor Action:¹ Monday: The Senate will vote at 5:30 pm to invoke cloture on the Murkowski substitute Amendment  No. 1407 to  S. 2657 , which is the vehicle for Sen. Lisa Murkowski's (R-AK) energy policy bill. If cloture is not invoked on the amendment, then the Senate will immediately vote to invoke cloture on the underlying bill. Tuesday: The Senate will continue considering S. 2657. Wednesday: The Senate will continue considering S. 2657, with a vote on final passage possible. Thursday: The Senate might vote vote on a package to reauthorize certain FISA surveillance programs. On Thursday, the Judiciary Committee will hold an  executive session  to vote on and/or hold over the following nominations (the number in the parentheses appearing after the nominee's name signifies whether this is the first or second time appeari

Vacancies: Courts of Appeals: Current Vacancies: 1  ( ±  0  this week) Future Vacancies: 1   ( +  1 ) Thomas B. Griffith, District of Columbia Circuit, retirement, September 1, 2020, 1/11 seats vacant District Courts: Current Vacancies: 71   ( +  1 ) James V. Selna, Central District of California, senior status, March 3, 2020, 10/28 seats vacant Future Vacancies: 8   ( ±  0 ) Pending Nominations: Courts of Appeals: Pending before Senate Judiciary Committee without hearing: 0   ( ±  0  this week) Hearings held and still in Committee: 0   ( ±  0 ) Reported out of Committee/Pending on Executive Calendar: 0   ( ±  0 ) District Courts: Pending before Senate Judiciary Committee without hearing: 19   ( +  1 ) J. Philip Calabrese, of Ohio, to be a United States District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio ( officially nominated , March 3, 2020) James Ray Knepp II, of Ohio, to be a United States District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio 

This week, the Senate is holding votes on a bill,  and the Judiciary Committee will convene a nominations hearing and  an executive business  meeting . Floor Action:¹ Monday: The Senate will vote at 5:30 pm to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 2657 , which is the vehicle for Sen. Lisa Murkowski's (R-AK) energy policy bill. Tuesday: The Senate will continue considering S. 2657, with amendment votes possible. Wednesday: The Senate will continue considering S. 2657, with amendment votes possible. Thursday: The Senate will continue considering S. 2657, with a vote on final passage possible. On Wednesday, the Judiciary Committee will hold a  nominations hearing  for the following nominees: District Court: John Peter Cronan ,  to be a U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York Thomas T. Cullen ,  to be a U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Virginia Jennifer P. Togliatti ,  to be a U.S. District Judge for the