Friday, March 6, 2020

Frontrunners Emerge For New Vacancy On Influential Appeals Court

Conservatives are seizing the opportunity created by a vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit Thursday, culling a shortlist of prospective nominees for a panel frequently called the second most powerful court in the nation.

The frontrunners for the vacancy created by Judge Thomas B. Griffith's retirement are acting associate attorney general Claire Murray, deputy White House counsel Kate Todd, and U.S. District Judge Justin Walker, according to sources who have worked on judicial confirmations for the Trump administration.

The D.C. Circuit's unique jurisdiction makes the court the primary venue for high stakes disputes over agency regulations and the separation of powers.

Four of the nine justices served on the D.C. Circuit before their elevation to the High Court.

Processing the nomination is sure to be a top priority for the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has consistently delivered appeals court nominees to the full Senate at a rapid clip.

As of this writing, there are only two vacancies on the federal appeals courts: the D.C. Circuit seat and a Mississippi seat on the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Approximately two dozen Republican-appointed appeals court judges are eligible for "Senior status," a form of quasi-retirement that allows judges to leave active service while retaining the right to participate in cases.

https://freebeacon.com/issues/frontrunners-emerge-for-new-vacancy-on-influential-appeals-court/

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