some highlights..

Assistant Attorney General Beth Williams Delivers Remarks on Judicial Nominations to American Academy of Appellate Lawyers’ 2018 Spring Meeting

New Orleans, LA ~ Saturday, April 14, 2018

As of today, the President has nominated 102 individuals to serve on the federal bench, with 32 confirmations. Of those 102 nominees, 27 are to the circuit courts of appeals. We’ve confirmed 14. That’s as many new appellate court judges as President Obama and Bush at this point in their presidency—combined.

His colleague on the Fifth Circuit, Judge Jim Ho, was born in Taiwan and learned English from Sesame Street.

Still, not every confirmation has been easy. The partisan divide in Washington is stark, and it is reflected in the 51-49 breakdown of the Senate. The procedural obstruction has been unprecedented, with filibusters for of every single one of the 14 circuit nominees brought up for confirmation. That means often 30 hours of floor time needed for each individual nomination. This is despite the fact that many of our nominees have enjoyed bipartisan support

As of this morning, we calculate that there are 155 judicial seats that are either open or are expected to be soon. That’s a big number,

and we should all be troubled by it. It represents more than vacant chambers and empty courtrooms.

And urge your Senators to make confirming judges a priority. Good judges are in everyone’s best interest.

www.justice.gov/opa/speech/assistant-attorney-general-beth-williams-delivers-remarks-judicial-nominations-american