"Trump makes historic mark on federal bench in first year – and 2018 could be bigger"

[Paladin]

One of the most transformative years in the federal judiciary began with uncertainty and ends on a political high note for President Trump.

The White House, after winning confirmation for Neil Gorsuch to fill the Supreme Court seat held by the late conservative icon Antonin Scalia, has moved with record speed to fill vacancies on the lower federal courts – a surefire way for a president to help cement his legacy.

As of mid-December, 19 of Trump's 66 total nominees this year have been confirmed by the Senate.

By comparison, then-President Barack Obama had made only 26 choices – including Justice Sonia Sotomayor – half of whom were confirmed by mid-December 2009.

The impact under Trump is especially being felt on the appellate level, which could act as insurance of sorts if those judges are more inclined to support his policies as they face legal challenge across the country.

"The importance of this dramatic reshaping of the entire federal court system cannot be overstated," said former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a Fox News contributor. "While it is easy to focus on the U.S. Supreme Court, lower and appellate court judges will make decisions that impact ordinary Americans on a daily basis for decades to come."

<snip>

Yet, with 143 current vacancies -- almost half of them considered "judicial emergencies" with shorthanded courts and heavy caseloads -- more opportunities await the new president in the new year.

More at: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017...be-bigger.html

[IVC]

That's what we need and more of it.

With the filibuster gone, the most important battle will be this November to make sure we keep the Senate.

[CCWFacts]

Yet, with 143 current vacancies -- almost half of them considered "judicial emergencies" with shorthanded courts and heavy caseloads -- more opportunities await the new president in the new year.

I think there are half a dozen vacancies here on the 9th CCA. If Trump could fill them, it would tip the court from strongly liberal to balanced. We would then have good odds with 3-judge panels, and we would have very good odds of winning en bancs. Having a realistic chance of winning an en banc changes the game theory situation quite a lot for us. I don't know why there's delay in filling these. It sure would be nice to get them filled sooner than later.

[Blade Gunner]

Flush out the 9th circuit especially the 9th court of appeals.

[randomBytes]

Senate Repubs need to get on with their job - before Nov. or they may have squandered this opportunity

[mit31]

There are currently 6 vacancies in the 9th Circuit. There are 2 nominations that have been with the Senate since Jan and Feb, and it looks like they are averaging a ~2 month confirmation time so I expect them to be approved soon.

One of those vacancies just took place (3 March). There is another planned vacancy in August, for a total of 7.

There are currently 6 Bush appointees, 9 Clinton appointees, and 7 Obama appointees (and one languishing Carter appointee!). Trump would need to replace 11 non-Bush appointees just to break us even, but that does seem likely given current vacancies, and time remaining on his term, provided the Senate stays red. For Ex, one of the vacancies is for O'Scannlain (Reagan), and another is for Pregerson (Carter), so that will only be a pick up of one.