Four New Nominees

Yesterday afternoon, the White House announced four nominees to the U.S. Courts of Appeal. That leaves just six unfilled vacancies and one pending vacancy on the appeals courts (not counting the 12th seat on the D.C. Circuit). And it will bring to nine the number of circuit court nominees pending in the Senate. That removes the Senate’s last remaining excuse – “not enough nominees” – for the slow pace of circuit court hearings and confirmations this year.

And the nominees are:

Robert J. Conrad, Jr. (NC) for the Fourth Circuit seat vacated by the retirement of James Phillips.

Catharina Haynes (TX) for the Fifth Circuit seat vacated by the retirement of Harold DeMoss.

Shalom D. Stone (NJ) for the Third Circuit seat vacated by Samuel Alito.

John Daniel Tinder (IN) for the Seventh Circuit seat vacated by the retirement of Daniel Manion.