Judicial Nomination Statistics

This book presents statistics regarding procedural actions taken on US district and circuit court nominations for the period January 4, 1977 through 2002. Among other things, the statistics for the 1977-2002 period show: Over the course of five successive presidencies, the senate confirmation percentage for circuit court nominations has declined. The great majority of each President's nominations have either been confirmed or returned. An average of seven nominations per President have been withdrawn. One nomination has been disapproved by a senate vote. The confirmation percentage for district and circuit court nominations combined was greater than 60% for every congressional session from 1977 through 1990, whereas the district and circuit combined confirmation rate has been less than 60% for eight of the last 12 congressional session. The average number of days elapsing between nominations date and final action has been higher for most Congresses in the post-1990 period than for prior Congresses. Starting with the 100th Congress (1987-1988), and in five of the seven Congresses since, an average of more than 100 days has elapsed between nomination dates and committee votes on either district or circuit court nominations, or on both. For almost every Congress in the post-1990 period, the percentages of district and circuit court nominations left pending at the end of the congress were higher than corresponding percentages for the pre-1990 Congresses. The Senate returned substantially more nominations during the 102nd, 106th, and 107th Congresses than during any other Congresses in the 1977-2002 period. The average number of days between nomination date and final action increased in Congresses ending in presidential election years. The vast majority of judicial nominations submitted during the 1977-2002 period received committee hearings and votes, as well as full Senate votes. However, during the 102nd, 106th, and 107th Congresses, there were reductions in the share of nominations receiving committee and Senate action.