The Federal Vacancy Count 12#28#2017

Kozinski was mentioned during the wave of sexual assault and misconduct allegations during late 2017. On December 14, Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Sidney Thomas began a review of the misconduct allegations against Kozinski. To read more, click here. Kozinski announced his immediate retirement on December 18, 2017.^[6] Kozinski's decision to retire created the fifth vacancy on the court. The current vacancy warning level of this court is orange. Under current law, the court has a total of 29 active judicial positions.

Carson earned his B.B.A. from Texas Tech University and his J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law. The current vacancy warning level of this court is green. Under current law, the court has seven active judicial positions with no vacancies. Carson was nominated to fill a seat that will become vacant next year.

She received her B.S. degree from Pennsylvania State University in 1978, her Master of Education degree from Temple University in 1980, and her J.D. degree from the Temple University School of Law in 1983.^[8] The current vacancy warning level of this court is red. Under current law, the court has 10 active judicial positions with five current vacancies.

Connolly earned his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, his M.Sc. from the London School of Economics, and his J.D. from Duke University School of Law.^[8] The current vacancy warning level of this court is red. Under current law, the court has four active judicial positions with two current vacancies.

Dooley received her undergraduate degree in 1985 from Cornell University. She was awarded a J.D. from the University of Connecticut, School of Law in 1988.^[11] The current vacancy warning level of this court is yellow. Under current law, the court has eight active judicial positions with one current vacancy.

Giampietro earned his B.A. and his J.D. from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.^[8] The current vacancy warning level of this court is yellow. Under current law, the court has five active judicial positions with one current vacancy.

Horan earned her undergraduate degree from Pennsylvania State University and her J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. Horan worked as an attorney and as a partner at Murrin, Taylor, Flach and Horan. The current vacancy warning level of this court is red. Under current law, the court has 10 active judicial positions with five current vacancies.

Kenney earned his undergraduate degree from Villanova University and his J.D. from Temple University.^[13] The current vacancy warning level of this court is yellow. Under current law, the court has 22 active judicial positions with four current vacancies.

Noreika earned her B.S. from Lehigh University, her M.A. from Columbia University, and her J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Pittsburgh.^[8] The current vacancy warning level of this court is red. Under current law, the court has four active judicial positions with two current vacancies.

Otake earned her B.S., cum laude, from Georgetown University and her J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law.^[8] The current vacancy warning level of this court is orange. Under current law, the court has four active judicial positions with one current vacancy.

Jung earned his bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, from Vanderbilt University in 1980. He earned his J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1983.^[8] The current vacancy warning level of this court is yellow. Under current law, the court has 15 active judicial positions with three current vacancies.

Grasz was nominated by President Donald Trump (R) on August 3, 2017, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit vacated by William Riley. Hearings on Grasz's nomination were held before the Senate Judiciary Committee on November 1, 2017.^[7][9][16]

Grasz was confirmed on a recorded 50-48 vote of the U.S. Senate on December 12, 2017. He will join the court upon taking his judicial oath and receipt of his judicial commission. Currently, the vacancy warning level for the Eighth Circuit is set at yellow. The court currently has two vacancies, one of which will be filled after Grasz receives his commission.

He was appointed to the Texas Supreme Court by Republican Governor Rick Perry and took office on August 24, 2005. President Donald Trump (R) nominated Willett to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit on October 3, 2017.^[7][9] On December 13, 2017, the United States Senate confirmed Willett to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit on a recorded vote of 50-47. He will join the Fifth Circuit upon taking his judicial oath and receipt of his judicial commission.^[18] The vacancy warning level for the Fifth Circuit is yellow. The court has four vacancies out of its seventeen posts. Two of those vacancies will be filled when Willett and James Ho receive their judicial commissions.

Until his confirmation, Ho was a partner at the Dallas, Texas-based office of Gibson, Dunn, and Crutcher LLP, where he served as co-chair of the firm's appellate and constitutional law practice group. He was previously Solicitor General of Texas from 2008-2010, law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas from 2005-2006, and law clerk to Judge Jerry E. Smith on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit from 1999-2000. President Donald Trump (R) nominated Ho to a vacancy on the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit on October 16, 2017.^[7] On December 14, 2017, the United States Senate confirmed Ho to a seat on the Fifth Circuit on a recorded vote of 53-43. He will join the Fifth Circuit upon taking his judicial oath and receipt of his judicial commission. The vacancy warning level for the Fifth Circuit is yellow. The court has four vacancies out of its seventeen posts. Two of those vacancies will be filled when Ho and Don Willett receive their judicial commissions.