U.S. District Court Nominees Confirmed During the 117th Congress (2021-2022)

U.S. District Court Nominees Confirmed During the 117th Congress (2021-2022)

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INSIGHTi

U.S. District Court Nominees Confirmed
During the 117th Congress (2021-2022)
January 5, 2023
This Insight provides information and analysis related to U.S. district court nominees confirmed during
the 117th Congress (which also corresponds, approximately, to President Biden’s first two calendar years
in office).
For some of the information presented below for the 117th Congress, comparative data is also provided for
the 115th Congress (2017-2018), 111th Congress (2009-2010), and 107th Congress (2001-2002). These
three Congresses correspond approximately to the first two calendar years, respectively, of the Trump,
Obama, and George W. Bush presidencies. The data provided below do not include appointees confirmed
to territorial district courts.
Another Insight provides similar information about U.S. circuit court nominees.
Number and Percentage of Nominees Who Were Confirmed
During the 117th Congress, President Biden nominated 104 individuals to U.S. district court judgeships.
Of the 104 individuals, 68 (65%) were confirmed. In the past, individuals not confirmed during a
particular Congress were often renominated and confirmed during a subsequent Congress.
During the 115th Congress, President Trump nominated 112 individuals to district court judgeships, of
which 53 (47%) were confirmed.
During the 111th Congress, President Obama nominated 78 individuals to district court judgeships, of
which 44 (56%) were confirmed.
During the 107th Congress, President George W. Bush nominated 98 individuals, of which 83 (85%) were
confirmed.
Gender of Confirmed Nominees
As shown by Figure 1, 51 (75%) of the 68 district court nominees confirmed during the 117th Congress
were women and 17 (25%) were men.
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During the 115th Congress, 14 (26%) of 53 district court nominees confirmed were women and 39 (74%)
were men. During the 111th Congress, 24 (55%) of 44 district court nominees confirmed were women and
20 (45%) were men. During the 107th Congress, 17 (20%) of 83 district court nominees confirmed were
women and 66 (80%) were men.
Overall, as of January 1, 2023, less than 40% of all active U.S. district court judges were women.
Specifically, 224 (37%) of 605 active district court judges were women and 381 (63%) were men.
Figure 1. Characteristics of U.S. District Court Nominees Confirmed During the 117th
Congress (2021-2022)

Source: Congressional Research Service compilation of public data.
Race of Confirmed Nominees
Figure 1 also shows the racial background of the 68 district court nominees confirmed during the 117th
Congress. The racial categories used in this report “generally reflect a social definition of race recognized
in this country and [are] not an attempt” by CRS “to define race biologically, anthropologically, or
genetically.” Additionally, for the purpose of this Insight, the Hispanic category is treated as a distinct
nonwhite category. However, individuals who identify as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.
Of the nominees confirmed during the 117th Congress, a plurality were White—specifically, 25 (37%) of
68 nominees. Of the remaining nominees, 15 (22%) were Black; 12 (18%) were Hispanic; 8 (12%) were
Asian American; 2 (3%) were American Indian; and 6 (9%) were biracial.

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During the 115th Congress, 49 (92%) of 53 district court nominees confirmed were White; 1 (2%) was
Black; 1 (2%) was Hispanic; and 2 (4%) were Asian American.
During the 111th Congress, 26 (59%) of 44 district court nominees confirmed were White; 11 (25%) were
Black; 2 (5%) were Hispanic; and 5 (11%) were Asian American.
During the 107th Congress, 71 (86%) of 83 district court nominees confirmed were White; 6 (7%) were
Black; and 6 (7%) were Hispanic.
Overall, as of January 1, 2023, less than one-third of all active U.S. district court judges were nonwhite.
Specifically, 180 (30%) of 605 active district court judges were nonwhite and 425 (70%) were White.
American Bar Association Ratings of Confirmed Nominees
Of the 68 district court nominees confirmed during the 117th Congress, 58 (85%) received a rating of Well
Qualified by the American Bar Association and 10 (15%) received a rating of Qualified.
Of the 53 district court nominees confirmed during the 115th Congress, 33 (62%) received a rating of Well
Qualified, 18 (34%) received a rating of Qualified, and 2 (4%) received a rating of Not Qualified.
Of the 44 district court nominees confirmed during the 111th Congress, 33 (75%) received a rating of Well
Qualified and 11 (25%) received a rating of Qualified.
Of the 83 district court nominees confirmed during the 107th Congress, 58 (70%) received a rating of Well
Qualified, 24 (29%) received a rating of Qualified, and 1 (1%) received a rating of Not Qualified.
Office Held or Employment at Time of Nomination for Confirmed Nominees
Figure 1 shows the type of employment or the office held at the time of nomination for confirmed
nominees during the 117th Congress. Of the 68 confirmed nominees, 21 (31%) were attorneys in private
practice; 19 (28%) were state or local judges; 15 (22%) were U.S. magistrate judges; 3 (4%) were
assistant U.S. attorneys; and 10 (15%) had a different type of employment. For example, Julien X. Neals
served as county counsel and the acting county administrator for Bergen County, New Jersey, at the time
of his nomination to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Nominees Confirmed by United States Judicial District
The map included with Figure 1 shows the specific judicial districts to which district court nominees
were confirmed during the 117th Congress. Overall, nominees were confirmed to 30 different judicial
districts—or 33% of the nation’s 91 districts (excluding three territorial districts).
The five districts with the greatest number of confirmed district court nominees during the 117th Congress
were the District of New Jersey (6 nominees); Central District of California (4 nominees); Eastern District
of Pennsylvania (4 nominees); Southern District of California (4 nominees); and Western District of
Washington (4 nominees). Altogether, the 22 nominees confirmed to these 5 districts represent nearly one-
third of the 68 nominees confirmed during the 117th Congress.

Congressional Research Service
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Author Information

Barry J. McMillion

Analyst in American National Government

Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff
to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of
Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of
information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role.
CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United
States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However,
as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the
permission of the copyright holder if you wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.

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