What’s in the Pipeline for Judicial Vacancies? – April 27 Update
We continue to follow the important changes underway behind the bench at the Federal Circuit and in several district courts where significant numbers of patent infringement cases are pending. A number of long-serving judges have retired or taken senior status, and new judges have been or are being selected to fill those vacancies. The chart below summarizes the status of the vacancies.
Thus far in 2012, a total of 14 judicial nominees had been confirmed, signaling a thawing in the previously glacial pace of judicial confirmations. The trend continues this week. On April 26, 2012, two more federal judges were confirmed by the Senate. By a vote of 97-2, the Senate confirmed Houston federal prosecutor Gregg Jeffrey Costa as a federal district judge for the Southern District of Texas. On the same day, by voice vote, the Senate also confirmed U.S. Magistrate Judge David Campos Guaderrama as a federal district court judge for the Western District of Texas. We will update this chart periodically as the nomination process moves forward for various nominees.
Contact Information
If you have any questions regarding this alert, please contact—
Michael Simons msimons@akingump.com 512.499.6253 Austin |