U.S. Senate confirms two nominees to lifetime federal judgeships

The U.S. Senate on Nov. 1 confirmed two of President Joe Biden’s (D) federal judicial nominees to lifetime Article III judgeships:

1. Beth Robinson, to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, by a vote of 51-45
2. Toby Heytens, to the United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, by a vote of 53-43

To date, 28 of Biden’s appointees have been confirmed. For historical comparison since 1981, the following list shows the date by which the past six presidents had 28 Article III judicial nominees confirmed by the Senate:

1. President Donald Trump (R) – March 5, 2018
2. President Barack Obama (D) – June 7, 2010
3. President George W. Bush (R) – Dec. 20, 2001
4. President Bill Clinton (D) – Nov. 20, 1993
5. President George H.W. Bush (R) – April 27, 1990
6. President Ronald Reagan (R) – Nov. 18, 1981

As of this writing, four Article III nominees are awaiting a confirmation vote from the U.S Senate, six nominees are awaiting a Senate Judiciary Committee vote to advance their nominations to the full Senate, and 22 nominees are awaiting a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

Additional reading:

• Judicial vacancies during the Biden administration
• Judicial vacancies in federal courts
• Current federal judicial vacancies

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