National Review Bench Memo
Carrie Severino

Next Tuesday, confirmation hearings will begin for Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court. The hearings are expected to run until next Friday.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is adhering to his promise to keep the Senate working this August. Last week, McConnell warned that the Senate would stay in session until another twelve judicial nominees and four executive branch nominees are confirmed. McConnell said, “No more obstruction, no more delays. It’s time to confirm them all.”

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley is also continuing to process nominees, holding a hearing last week for Eighth Circuit nominee Jonathan Kobes.

I applaud both Leader McConnell and Chairman Grassley for putting the Democrat senators’ feet to the fire as they persist with their unprecedented obstruction efforts.

Here is this week’s update on federal judicial nominations:

Current and known future vacancies: 179

Supreme Court: 1

Courts of Appeals: 18

District/Specialty Courts*: 160

Pending nominees for current and known future vacancies: 89

Supreme Court: 1

Courts of Appeals: 8

District/Specialty Courts: 80

* Includes the Court of Federal Claims and the International Trade Court

Court of Appeals Nominees Awaiting Senate Judiciary Committee Hearings

[see chart at link]

Courts of Appeals: 1

District/Specialty Courts: 44

Nominees Confirmed by the Senate: 53

Supreme Court: 1

Courts of Appeals: 26

District/Specialty Courts: 26

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