The Enlightenment

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Welcome to The Judiciary at Noon. Take a break from work to get an update on the oft-neglected third branch of the United States government, the judicial branch.

The series covers any updates to the federal judiciary, including any new judges confirmed, any deaths, resignations, or retirements from the courts, and any new vacancies that have occurred. It includes political analysis at the very end. All information spans the previous week.

Confirmations

• Dec. 20, 2024: Benjamin Jerome Cheeks was confirmed to be a judge of the Southern District of California by a vote of 49 to 47.
• Dec. 20, 2024: Serena Raquel Murillo was confirmed to be a judge of the Central District of California by a vote of 49 to 47.

All vacancies in the Central District of California have now been filled.

Vacancies

• Dec. 22, 2024: Judge Stephen Alexander Vaden of the US Court of International Trade was nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to be United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. If confirmed, Judge Vaden will resign from office, opening up a vacancy on the court.

44 vacancies remain on the federal judiciary, a decrease from 46 a week ago.

Retirements, Deaths, and Resignations

No judges retired, died, or resigned for the week spanning December 20 to 26, 2024.

Other

Judges Seated

• Dec. 20, 2024: Sanket Jayshukh Bulsara received his commission to serve as a judge of the Eastern District of New York.

Analysis

That’s it, folks. This Senate has wrapped up its activity and entered its Christmas recess. In one week the new, Republican-majority Senate will convene, placing any remaining Biden judicial nominees on the shelf.

And a number of nominees have in fact been left over. Four Circuit judges were not voted on. Another two district judges were nominated, but never got a hearing. Eight nominees to the District of Columbia Superior Court were not considered, as were two nominees to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.

Once the new Senate comes in, I’ll be right here, discussing the new Republican appointments. Until then, I wish you all Happy Holidays, and a wonderful New Year!

SIGN-OFF

That’s it for this week’s The Judiciary at Noon. This has been Anthony Myrlados.