For other versions of this document, see http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS-RL31868 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Order Code RL31868 U.S. Circuit and District Court Nominations by President George W. Bush During the 107th-109th Congresses Updated January 23, 2007 Denis Steven Rutkus Specialist in American National Government Government and Finance Division Kevin M. Scott Analyst in American National Government Government and Finance Division Maureen Bearden Information Research Specialist Knowledge Services Group U.S. Circuit and District Court Nominations by President George W. Bush During the 107th - 109th Congresses Summary During his presidency, as of the final adjournment of the 109th Congress, 51 of President George W. Bush's 68 nominees to the U.S. circuit courts of appeals received Senate confirmation. Of the 17 nominees not confirmed, the nominations of three were withdrawn by the President, and the remaining 14 were returned at the end of a Congress; however, four of the 14, after having their nominations returned at the end of the 109th Congress, were renominated at the start of the 110th Congress. None of President Bush's circuit nominees has been rejected in a Senate confirmation vote. Two were defeated in committee votes, in the 107th Congress, although both were renominated in the 108th Congress, where one was confirmed. In the 108th Congress, the Senate could not agree to close debate on 10 circuit court nominees. Following controversy over the propriety of filibusters on judicial nominations, a compromise was reached in the 109th Congress which resulted in confirmation votes for five of the 10 nominees. The other five, however, failed to gain confirmation. Two of the 10 nominees were given temporary recess appointments by President Bush. After the appointment of one of these nominees expired at the end of the Congress, he was not renominated in the 109th Congress. The other recess appointee, prior to the expiration of his appointment, was renominated in the 109th Congress and subsequently confirmed. Of President Bush's 237 nominees to the U.S. district courts, through the end of the 109th Congress, 206 were confirmed (185 in the first Congress in which they were nominated). Of the 31 not confirmed, the nominations of three were withdrawn, and the other 28 were returned at the end of the 109th Congress. Twenty-four of the 28 had been renominated in the 110th Congress, as of January 19, 2007. None of President Bush's district court nominees was defeated in a committee vote or rejected in a Senate confirmation vote. President Bush's circuit nominees, like those of most other recent Presidents, have had more difficulty than his district nominees in receiving Senate confirmation. As of the close of the 109th Congress, 75.0% of his circuit nominees had been confirmed, compared with 86.9% of his district nominees. The average (mean) time elapsed between first nomination and confirmation for his circuit nominees was 366 days, more than twice as much as the corresponding time interval of 171 days for district nominees. With recent presidencies, the average time taken for circuit nominees to be confirmed has risen steadily -- from an average time of 68 days, 104 days, 249 days, and 366 days, respectively for the circuit nominees of Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, William J. Clinton, and George W. Bush. With recent presidencies, a steady, but less dramatic rise has also occurred in the average time taken for district nominees to be confirmed. This report will be updated upon the final adjournment of the 110th Congress. Contents Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 The Judicial Appointment Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Structure and Contents of the Nominee and Nominations Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Nominee Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Nominations Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Statistical Findings from the Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Circuit Court Nominees During the Presidency of George W. Bush . . . . . . 10 Nominees Failing to Receive Senate Votes after Unsuccessful Cloture Motions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Recess Appointments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Nominees Defeated in Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Length in Time of the Appointment Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 President Bush's Circuit Court Nominations During Particular Congresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 The 107th Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 The 108th Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 The 109th Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 District Court Nominees During the Presidency of George W. Bush . . . . . 20 Confirmed Nominees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Withdrawn Nominees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 President Bush's District Court Nominations During Particular Congresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 The 107th Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 The 108th Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 The 109th Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Comparison of President Bush's Circuit Court Nominations with His District Court Nominations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Comparison of President Bush's Circuit and District Nomination Statistics with Those of Other Recent Presidents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Number of Nominees, Number Confirmed, and Percent Confirmed . 28 Circuit Court Nominations: Average Number of Days from Nomination to Confirmation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 District Court Nominations: Average Number of Days from Nomination to Confirmation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Circuit Court Nominees: Average Number of Days from Nomination to Final Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 District Court Nominees: Average Number of Days from Nomination to Final Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Appendix 1: President George W. Bush's Nominees to the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals, 107th-109th Congresses (January 20, 2001-December 9, 2006) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Appendix 2. President George W. Bush's Nominations to the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals During the 107th Congress (January 20, 2001-November 20, 2002) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Appendix 3. President George W. Bush's Nominations to the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals During the 108th Congress (January 7, 2003-December 8, 2004) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Appendix 4. President George W. Bush's Nominations to the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals During the 109th Congress (January 4, 2005 - December 9, 2006) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Appendix 5: President George W. Bush's Nominees to the U.S. District Courts, 107th-109th Congresses (January 20, 2001-December 9, 2006) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Appendix 6. President George W. Bush's Nominations to the U.S. District Courts During the 107th Congress (January 20, 2001-November 20, 2002) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Appendix 7. President George W. Bush's Nominations to the U.S. District Courts During the 108th Congress (January 7, 2003-December 8, 2004) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Appendix 8. President George W. Bush's Nominations to the U.S. District Courts During the 109th Congress (January 4, 2005-December 9, 2006) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 List of Figures Figure 1. U.S. Circuit Court Nominations: Average Number of Days from Nomination to Confirmation, 95th Congress to 109th Congress (January 20, 1977 - December 9, 2006) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Figure 2. U.S. District Court Nominations: Average Number of Days from Nomination to Confirmation, 95th Congress to 109th Congress (January 20, 1977 - December 9, 2006) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Figure 3. Average Time to Disposition, Confirmed and Unconfirmed Nominees to the U.S. Courts of Appeals, by President (January 20, 1977 - December 9, 2006) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Figure 4. Average Time to Disposition, Confirmed and Unconfirmed Nominees to the U.S. District Courts, by President (January 20, 1977 - December 9, 2006) 38 List of Tables Table 1. Mean and Median Number of Days Elapsed from First Nomination to Disposition of Last Nomination for President George W. Bush's Nominees to U.S. Circuit or District Court Judgeships (January 20, 2001 - December 9, 2006) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Table 2. Number of Congresses in Which Persons Were Nominated by President George W. Bush to U.S. Circuit or District Court Judgeships (January 20, 2001 - December 9, 2006) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Table 3. U.S. Circuit and District Court Nominees of Five Most Recent Presidents (January 20, 1977 - December 9, 2006): Total and Per Year Number of Nominees, Total and Per Year Number Confirmed, and Percent of Total Confirmed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 U.S. Circuit and District Court Nominations by President George W. Bush During the 107th-109th Congresses Introduction In recent years, the process by which lower federal court judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate has been of increasing interest to Congress. In order to provide Congress with a continuing overview of this process, this report provides statistics on all of President George W. Bush's nominations to U.S. courts of appeals and U.S. district courts during the 107th, 108th, and 109th Congresses, and any actions taken on these nominations by the Senate Judiciary Committee and the full Senate.1 U.S. courts of appeals review appeals from federal trial court opinions and are empowered to review and enforce the orders of many administrative agencies. Cases presented to these courts are generally considered by judges sitting in three-member panels. Altogether, 179 permanent appellate court judgeships are authorized by law. Courts within the courts of appeals system are often called "circuit courts," because they are divided into 12 geographic circuits and an additional nationwide circuit having specialized subject matter jurisdiction. In this report, nominations to U.S. courts of appeals judgeships are referred to as "circuit court nominations." U.S. district courts are the trial courts of general federal jurisdiction. Each state has at least one district court, while some states have as many as four. There are 678 district court judgeships authorized by law, including those for the District of Columbia, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.2 1 This report is in keeping with earlier CRS reports which tracked actions taken on judicial nominations by other recent Presidents. See CRS Report 98-510, Judicial Nominations by President Clinton During the 103rd-106th Congresses, by Denis Steven Rutkus, and CRS Report 93-395, President [George H. W.] Bush's Judicial Nominations During the 101st- 102nd Congresses, by Denis Steven Rutkus. 2 The 678 total consists of 667 permanently authorized judgeships and 11 "temporary" judgeships (which, pursuant to statute, temporarily increase the number of judgeships for specified judicial districts, with these districts reverting back to the permanently authorized number of judgeships at a future time fixed by the statute -- typically, when, after a specified number of years, a judgeship in the district is vacated). All but four of the 678 judgeships entail lifetime appointments. The four exceptions are the one judgeship each in Guam and the Northern Marianas, and the two in the Virgin Islands, to which judges are appointed for 10-year terms. CRS-2 President Bush's nominations to these two court systems are listed in eight appendix tables at the end of this report -- Appendices 1-4 for circuit court nominations, and Appendices 5-8 for district court nominations. Appendices 1 and 5 list all the persons nominated by President Bush during his presidency, as of December 9, 2006,3 to the circuit and district courts, respectively. The other six tables list all of the circuit and district court nominations made by President Bush during each Congress, -- Appendices 2, 3, and 4 for circuit court nominations in the 107th, 108th, and 109th Congresses, respectively; and Appendices 6, 7, and 8 for district court nominations in the same respective Congresses. Appendices 1-8, it should be emphasized, account for every instance in which a district or circuit court nomination was made, including renominations of individuals to the same judgeship. As discussed below, some of President Bush's nominees were nominated to a circuit or district judgeship more than once within a Congress, or nominated to the judgeship in more than one Congress. Accordingly, discussion in this report regarding the number of nominations made by President Bush to the circuit or district courts counts not only the initial nomination of a person to a judgeship but any renominations as well. By contrast, discussion regarding the actual number of persons nominated (or nominees) counts individual nominees only once, even if they were nominated to the same judgeship more than once. Within the text of this report are various statistical tables and bar graphs, using data derived from Appendices 1-8. Table 1 presents, for President Bush's circuit and district nominees, the average and median number of days that elapsed from their first nomination to disposition of their last nomination. Table 2 breaks down the total number of persons nominated by President Bush to circuit and district court judgeships by the number of Congresses in which they were nominated. Table 3 provides statistics comparing President Bush's judicial nominations with those of his four immediate predecessors in the White House. Table 3 shows, among other things, the total number of persons nominated by President Bush -- as well as by each of the four previous Presidents -- to district and circuit court judgeships and the number and percentage of them who were confirmed. Figures 1 and 2 show, for circuit and district nominations respectively, the average number of days that elapsed from nomination date to confirmation, during each Congress from the 95th to the 109th, indicating which presidency coincided in time with each Congress. Figures 3 and 4 show, respectively, for the circuit and district court nominees of the five most recent Presidents, the average number of days that elapsed from their first nomination to final disposition of their last nomination. The following text provides (1) a brief overview of the principal steps in the judicial appointment process; (2) a more detailed description of the structure and contents of Appendices 1-8 and the methodology used in gathering the tabular data; and (3) a discussion of selected appointment statistics for circuit and district court nominees and nominations in the 107th, 108th, and 109th Congresses, which are derived from, or presented in, the appendices.4 3 December 9, 2006, is the date of final adjournment of the 109th Congress. 4 The statistics include total number of nominees to district and circuit judgeships; number of nominees confirmed; number of nominations (including re-nominations of nominees); (continued...) CRS-3 This report focuses on judicial nominations made by the President and on Senate actions taken on the nominations by the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate. On rare occasions, appointments to federal courts also have been made without submitting a nomination to the Senate, when a President exercises his constitutional power to make "recess appointments." Specifically, Article II, Section 2, clause 3 of the Constitution of the United States empowers the President to "fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session."5 President Bush thus far during his presidency has made two recess appointments to circuit courts and none to district courts.6 The Judicial Appointment Process Under the Constitution of the United States, the President and the Senate share the responsibility for filling vacancies within the federal judiciary.7 While it is the President who nominates persons to fill federal judgeships, the appointment of each nominee also requires Senate confirmation. Although not mentioned in the Constitution, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary also plays an important role midway in the process -- after the President selects, but before the Senate as a whole considers, the nominee. The process for making lifetime appointments to U.S. district court and circuit courts of appeals judgeships entails the same formal steps as those involved in the 4 (...continued) number receiving committee hearings, committee votes, and Senate or other final action; and average time taken to conduct hearings, committee votes, and Senate votes on the nominations. Careful distinction is made in the text between number of nominations (including renominations) and number of persons actually nominated. 5 See CRS Report RS21308, Recess Appointments: Frequently Asked Questions, by Henry B. Hogue. 6 On Jan. 26, 2004, President Bush recess-appointed Charles W. Pickering Sr. of Mississippi to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Judge Pickering's appointment expired on Dec. 8, 2004, at the end of the second session of the 108th Congress, and he retired. On Feb. 20, 2004, President Bush recess-appointed William H. Pryor Jr. of Alabama to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Pryor's recess appointment was to last until the end of the first session of the 109th Congress; however, before that appointment expired, Judge Pryor was renominated by President Bush and confirmed by the Senate on June 9, 2005. For more information on judicial recess appointments, see CRS Report RS22039, Federal Recess Judges, by Louis Fisher; CRS Report RL33009, Recess Appointments: A Legal Overview, by T.J. Halstead; and Henry B. Hogue, "The Law: Recess Appointments to Article III Courts," Presidential Studies Quarterly, vol. 34, Sept. 2004, pp. 656-673. 7 Article II, Section 2, clause 2 of the Constitution provides that the President "shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint ... Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law...." CRS-4 appointment of justices to the Supreme Court.8 The process officially begins when the President selects someone to fill a judicial vacancy, submitting a nomination in writing to the Senate. Usually on the same day it is received by the Senate, the nomination is referred to the Committee on the Judiciary (the Senate committee having jurisdiction over district and circuit, as well as most other federal, court nominations). The Judiciary Committee then holds a hearing on the nomination. The committee subsequently meets to vote on whether to report the nomination to the full Senate. A committee vote to report (even a vote to report with an unfavorable recommendation) sends the nomination forward to be considered by the Senate as a whole, while a vote against reporting (historically, a very rare occurrence) prevents the nomination from going forward, and in effect defeats the nomination in committee. The final step in the appointment process occurs when the Senate votes to confirm or disapprove the nomination. A vote to confirm requires a simple majority of Senators present and voting. If the Senate votes in the negative on whether to confirm, the nomination is defeated, and a resolution of disapproval is forwarded to the President. As with nominations in general, judicial nominations sometimes fail to advance through each procedural step in the appointment process. After referral to committee, a nomination might not receive a hearing or, after receiving a hearing, might not receive a committee vote on whether it should be reported. Even if favorably reported by committee, the nomination might not receive a vote by the Senate on whether to confirm. A nomination, for instance, will not, under Senate rules, receive a vote on whether to confirm if some Senators oppose taking such a vote and a "super-majority" of three-fifths of the full membership of the Senate fails to vote in favor of a motion to close debate on the nomination.9 If it fails to receive a Senate vote, the nomination ultimately will be either withdrawn by the President or returned to the President by the Secretary of the Senate upon a Senate adjournment or recess of more than 30 days.10 8 See CRS Report RL31989, Supreme Court Appointment Process: Roles of the President, Judiciary Committee, and Senate, by Denis Steven Rutkus; and CRS Report RL31980, Consideration of Presidential Nominations: Committee and Floor Procedure, by Elizabeth Rybicki. 9 See CRS Report RL32878, Cloture Attempts on Nominations, by Richard S. Beth and Betsy Palmer. 10 Rule XXXI, paragraph 6, Standing Rules of the Senate, provides, in part, that "if the Senate shall adjourn or take a recess for more than thirty days, all nominations pending and not finally acted upon at the time of taking such adjournment or recess shall be returned by the Secretary to the President and shall not again be considered unless they shall again be made to the Senate by the President." CRS-5 Structure and Contents of the Nominee and Nominations Tables The tables at the end of this report, Appendices 1-8, were generated from a CRS database of nomination dates and actions created by Kevin M. Scott, CRS Analyst in American National Government.11 The data for the CRS database were collected primarily from the Presidential Nominations database in the Legislative Information System of the U.S. Congress (LIS)12 and from daily editions of volumes 147-152 of the Congressional Record (for the years 2001-2006). Nominee Tables As noted previously, Appendices 1 and 5 list, alphabetically, the names of all persons nominated by George W. Bush during his presidency (through the end of the 109th Congress) to the circuit courts and to the district courts. These tables show the following for each nominee: ! how often and when the person was nominated to a particular judgeship; ! dates of committee hearings and committee action on all nominations; ! whether and when the nominee was confirmed; ! if confirmed, the number of days that elapsed between the date of the first nomination and the confirmation; ! the outcome of the person's most recent nomination, if the final disposition was not one of confirmation;13 ! if not confirmed, the number of days that elapsed between the date of the person's first nomination and the final outcome of the person's most recent nomination. The tables at the end also present, for all confirmed nominees, the average number of days that elapsed between their first nomination and their confirmation, and for all unconfirmed nominees, the average number of days that elapsed between their first nomination and final disposition of their most recent nomination. 11 The database was created in part with the benefit of earlier nominations research (conducted for previous versions of this report) by Mitchel A. Sollenberger, former CRS Analyst in American National Government. 12 Available at [http://www.congress.gov/nomis/search.html]. The Presidential Nominations database, covering the 97th through the 109th Congresses, provides for each nomination the name of the nominee, nominee's state of residence, appointive position, date of nomination, hearing date, date of committee vote, date of Senate action, and type of Senate vote (including roll call vote numbers). 13 For each nominee not confirmed as of the close of the 109th Congress, his or her last nomination was either (1) returned to the President when the Senate adjourned for, or took a recess of, more than 30 days, or (2) withdrawn by the President. Columns in Appendices 1 and 5 indicate the last nominations of nominees which were returned or withdrawn, the dates of such actions, and the Congress in which the actions occurred. CRS-6 Appendices 1 and 5 show all of the persons nominated by President Bush to the circuit and district courts. These tables, however, do not provide comprehensive information on committee and full Senate actions taken on these individuals' nominations -- such as Senate procedural votes and roll call votes on their nominations, where Senate votes were by roll call. Detailed information of this sort is provided in Appendices 2-4 (for circuit nominations) and 6-8 (for district nominations). Nominations Tables The first six years of the presidency of George W. Bush roughly coincided in time with three Congresses -- the 107th Congress (2001-2002), the 108th (2003-2004), and the 109th (2005-2006). Six tables list all of the circuit and district court nominations made by President Bush during each of the three Congresses, and any committee or Senate actions taken on the nominations. Appendices 2, 3, and 4 provide this information for circuit court nominations in the 107th, 108th, and 109th Congresses, respectively, and Appendices 6, 7, and 8 do so for district court nominations in the same respective Congresses.14 Nominations in all six of these tables are listed in chronological order according to the date on which each nomination was received by the Senate. The tables show how far along each nomination progressed in the appointment process and how many days elapsed in the process. The procedural progress of each nomination is shown by separate columns which indicate, respectively, the date on which any of the following occurred: ! the Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the nomination; ! the Judiciary Committee voted to report or take other action on the nomination; ! the Senate voted for confirmation, or some other action occurred. In the "final action" column, a date by itself indicates that the Senate confirmed the nominee by voice vote or by unanimous consent. A confirmation date with a vote tally underneath indicates that Senate confirmation was by a roll call vote. This column also shows the final disposition of nominations failing to receive Senate confirmation. An entry of "Returned, 11/20/02," for example, indicates that the nomination was returned to the President on November 20, 2002 (upon the final adjournment of the 107th Congress).15 An entry of "Withdrawn 03/19/01," as another example, indicates that, on that date, the nomination was withdrawn by the 14 Appendix 2 excludes from its listing nine circuit court nominations submitted at the start of the 107th Congress by outgoing President William J. Clinton. These nominations were submitted at the very beginning of the 107th Congress but in the final weeks of President Clinton's second term. All nine of these nominations were withdrawn by President Bush on Mar. 19, 2001, although one of the nine nominees, Roger L. Gregory of Virginia, was renominated by President Bush on May 9, 2001, and confirmed by the Senate on July 20, 2001. 15 Each such return occurs pursuant to Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6, which, as explained earlier, provides for nominations to be returned to the President if the Senate adjourns or takes a recess for more than 30 days. CRS-7 President.16 The dates and roll call votes of other procedural actions affecting nominations, such as motions to close debate, also have been entered in the "final action" column. The tables also show, for each nomination, the length of time that passed before a committee hearing, committee vote, or final action took place. For each nomination, separate columns present the number of days which elapsed between the Senate's receipt of the nomination and the dates on which it received a hearing, committee vote, or Senate vote. Also, at the bottom of each of these three columns, the tables show the average number of days which elapsed between the President's submission of judicial nominations to the Senate and the dates on which the nominations received hearings, committee votes, or Senate votes. Each elapsed time average is shown in two forms -- as the mean number, and as the median number, of elapsed days.17 Although the arithmetic mean is the true "average" number, it has the disadvantage of being skewed by extremely high or low values in a distribution of numbers. "Loosely speaking," one statistician has noted, "the median corresponds more closely than the mean to the middle of a distribution [of a group of numbers]. It is unaffected by extreme values."18 16 A President may withdraw a nomination for any number of reasons. The Mar. 19, 2001, withdrawal by President Bush of nine nominations submitted earlier by President William J. Clinton, mentioned in a table note to Appendix 2, was in keeping with the usual practice of incoming Presidents to withdraw pending nominations submitted by their predecessors. Presidents also sometimes withdraw their own nominations. A President might do so, for example, if the Senate committee to which the nomination has been referred either has voted against reporting the nomination to the Senate, or has made clear its intention not to act on the nomination; if the nomination, even if reported, is likely to face substantial opposition on the Senate floor; or if the nominee has requested that the nomination be withdrawn. By the end of the 109th Congress, President Bush had withdrawn three of his circuit nominations and three of his district court nominations. See, in Appendix 3, the Jan. 7, 2003, circuit court nomination of Miguel A. Estrada, which, at the nominee's request, was withdrawn by the President on Sept. 4, 2003, following seven unsuccessful votes in the Senate by Estrada supporters to close debate on the nomination; in Appendix 4, the Feb. 14, 2005, circuit court nomination of Henry W. Saad, which was withdrawn on Mar. 27, 2006, and the Sept. 29, 2005, circuit court nomination of James H. Payne, which was withdrawn on Mar. 7, 2006; in Appendix 7, the Jan. 7, 2003, district nomination of Frederick W. Rohlfing III, which was withdrawn on May 6, 2004; and, in Appendix 8, the Feb. 14, 2005, district nomination of Daniel P. Ryan, which was withdrawn on Mar. 30, 2006, and the Feb. 14, 2006, district nomination of Jerome A. Holmes, which was withdrawn on May 4, 2006. 17 The mean number is the sum of the number of elapsed days for all of the nominations in question divided by the number of those nominations. The median number is either (1) the elapsed number of days for the nomination in the middle of the distribution of all the nominations in question, with an equal number of the nominations having longer elapsed times than that nomination, and an equal number of nominations having shorter elapsed times; or (2) the mean of the elapsed number of days for the two nominations in the middle of the distribution if there is no one middle nomination. 18 William H. Greene, Econometric Analysis, 5th ed. (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2003), p. 847. For an introduction to median versus mean and arguments surrounding when each should be used, see chapter 3 in Alan Agresti and Barbara Finlay, Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences, 3rd ed. (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1997). CRS-8 The time averages presented in Appendices 2-4 and Appendices 6-8 are calculated from time-elapsed data for specific nominations, as opposed to overall time an individual might have been in nominee status. Thus, in the case of an individual nominated twice to the same judgeship, time-elapsed data are counted separately for each nomination -- rather than, for instance, measuring the time between a nominee's first nomination and any action (hearing, committee vote, or Senate vote) on the nominee's second nomination. A nomination not receiving a committee hearing, committee vote, or Senate vote is excluded from the calculation of average time between the nomination date and this particular procedural step. Also, three nominations in which nominees received hearings were, nevertheless, excluded from the calculations of average time between nomination and hearing because the hearings in all three instances preceded the nomination dates.19 As noted above, some individuals were nominated more than once to a judgeship within the same Congress. Appendix 2 includes 20 circuit court nominations, submitted by President Bush during the 107th Congress, between May 9 and August 2, 2001, which the Senate returned to the President on August 3, 2001, at the start of the Senate's August 2001 recess, pursuant to Senate Rule XXXI.20 Appendix 6 includes 20 district court nominations submitted by President Bush during the107th Congress, between June 18 and August 2, 2001, which the Senate returned at the start of its August 2001 recess. When the Senate reconvened on September 4, 2001, President Bush renominated all 40 of the individuals involved.21 Similarly, footnotes to the initial 20 circuit and 20 district court nominations that were returned to the President indicate that the nominees in question were later renominated. In the 108th and 109th Congresses, several additional nominees were renominated at least once in the same Congress. In the 108th Congress, three individuals were nominated twice.22 19 In Appendix 2, see circuit court nomination of Sharon Prost on Sept. 4, 2001; in anticipation of this nomination, the Judiciary Committee held a hearing for Ms. Prost on Aug. 27, 2001. In Appendix 5, see district court nominations of Reggie B. Walton and Terry L. Wooten on Sept. 4, 2001; in anticipation of these nominations, the Judiciary Committee held a hearing for Walton on Aug. 22, 2001, and a hearing for Wooten on Aug. 27, 2001. 20 As noted earlier, Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6, provides that nominations pending in the Senate at the time that the Senate adjourns or takes a recess of more than 30 days shall be returned to the President. Usually, but not always, the Senate, before starting a recess of more than 30 days, waives this rule by unanimous consent, allowing pending nominations to remain in "status quo" and continue to be pending in the Senate after it reconvenes. Sometimes, however, when Rule XXXI, paragraph 6, is not waived, nominations, pursuant to the rule, are returned to the President and can only be considered again if they are resubmitted by the President. 21 Footnotes to each of these "resubmitted" nominations are provided, indicating that the nominees had been nominated earlier to the same judgeships. 22 In the 108th Congress, as Appendix 3 reveals, three persons were nominated more than once to circuit judgeships; Claude A. Allen of Virginia was nominated to the Fourth Circuit on Apr. 28, 2003, and Jan. 20, 2004; Charles W. Pickering Sr. of Mississippi was nominated to the Fifth Circuit on Jan. 7, 2003, and Feb. 6, 2004; William H. Pryor Jr. of Alabama was nominated to the Eleventh Circuit on Apr. 9, 2003, and Mar. 12, 2004. For both Pickering and Pryor, the second nomination in the 108th Congress was to a life term to the position to which they had been recess-appointed earlier in that same Congress. CRS-9 In the 109th Congress, five individuals were nominated three times following returns as the Senate went into recess in August and again in September.23 Several of President Bush's judicial nominees also have been nominated in more than one Congress. Appendix 3, for example, shows that the first 14 circuit court nominations in the 108th Congress were of individuals previously nominated in the 107th Congress. Likewise, Appendix 7 shows that the first 15 district court nominations in the 108th Congress were of individuals previously nominated in the 107th Congress.24 More recently, in the 109th Congress, President Bush's first 20 judicial nominations were all resubmissions from the 108th Congress. Submitted on February 14, 2005, the 20 resubmissions involved 12 circuit nominees and eight district court nominees who had earlier nominations returned to the President at the final adjournment of the 108th Congress.25 Moreover, six of the 12 circuit nominees had been nominated in two prior Congresses -- in the 107th as well as in the 108th -- as had two of the eight district court nominees.26 23 See, in Appendix 4, the Feb. 14, 2005, Sept. 5, 2006, and Nov. 15, 2006, nominations of Terrence W. Boyle of North Carolina to the Fourth Circuit, William G. Myers III of Idaho to the Ninth Circuit, and William J. Haynes II, of Virginia, also to the Fourth Circuit; the Dec, 16, 2005, Sept. 5, 2006, and Nov. 15, 2006, nominations of N. Randy Smith of Idaho to the Ninth Circuit; and the Feb. 8, 2006, Sept. 5, 2006, and Nov. 15, 2006, nominations of Michael B. Wallace of Mississippi to the Fifth Circuit. 24 All of these resubmitted nominations are footnoted in Appendices 3 and 7 to indicate that the persons involved also had been nominated in the 107th Congress. 25 All of the nominations returned at the end of the 108th Congress which were resubmitted in the 109th Congress have footnotes in Appendices 3 and 7 to indicate that fact. 26 See in Appendices 2 and 3 the circuit court nominations in the 107th and 108th Congresses of Terrence W. Boyle, Priscilla R. Owen, Richard A. Griffin, David W. McKeague, Susan B. Neilson, and Henry W. Saad. See in Appendices 6 and 7 the district court nominations in the 107th and 108th Congresses of Thomas L. Ludington and James C. Dever III. CRS-10 Statistical Findings from the Tables Circuit Court Nominees During the Presidency of George W. Bush Between January 20, 2001, and December 9, 2006, 51 of President George W. Bush's 68 nominees to the U.S. circuit courts received Senate confirmation.27 Of the 17 nominees not confirmed, the nominations of three were withdrawn by the President,28 and the remaining 14 were returned at the end of a Congress.29 Four of the 14, after having their nominations returned at the end of the 109th Congress, were renominated at the start of the110th Congress.30 Nominees Failing to Receive Senate Votes after Unsuccessful Cloture Motions. None of President Bush's circuit court nominees has been rejected by the Senate on a vote of whether to confirm. However, in the 108th Congress, in the face of significant opposition to their nominations on the Senate 27 Appendix 1 identifies all of President Bush's confirmed circuit court nominees and their confirmation dates, as of Dec. 9, 2006, listing the nominees in alphabetical order. 28 See, in Appendix 3, the Jan. 7, 2003, nomination of Miguel A. Estrada of Virginia and, in Appendix 4, the Feb. 14, 2005, nomination of Henry W. Saad of Michigan and the Sept. 29, 2005, nomination of James H. Payne of Oklahoma -- all three of which subsequently were withdrawn by President Bush. 29 The nominations of eight of the 14 were returned at the end of a Congress and not resubmitted in a subsequent Congress. Specifically, the Oct. 8, 2001, nomination of William H. Steele of Alabama (in Appendix 2) was returned to the President at the end of the 107th Congress and not resubmitted in a subsequent Congress. The Jan. 7, 2003, nomination of Carolyn B. Kuhl of California, the Jan. 7, 2003, and Feb. 6, 2004, nominations of Charles W. Pickering Sr. of Mississippi, and the Jan. 20, 2004, nomination of Claude A. Allen of Virginia (all in Appendix 3) were returned to the President at the end of the 108th Congress and not resubmitted in the 109th Congress. The Nov. 15, 2006,i nominations of Terrence W. Boyle of North Carolina, William G. Myers III of Idaho, William J. Haynes II of Virginia, and Michael B. Wallace of Mississippi (all in Appendix 4) were returned at the end of the 109th Congress, and subsequent news accounts reported that all four nominees had asked the President that they not be renominated in the 110th Congress. See Neil A. Lewis, "Bush Drops Plans to Renominate 3 Judges," New York Times, Jan. 10, 2007, p. A18, and Seth Stern, "Fifth Circuit Nominee Takes Himself Out of the Running," CQ Today, Dec. 26, 2006, available at [http://www.cq.com]. The nominations of two of the 14 (see in Appendices 1 and 4, the June 28, 2006, nominations to the Sixth Circuit of Raymond M. Kethledge of Michigan and Stephen J. Murphy II, both of Michigan), after being returned at the end of the 109th Congress, were reportedly, as of Jan. 9, 2007, under consideration for renomination in the 110th Congress. See Ed Whelan, "Re: Court of Appeals Nominations," Bench Memos, Jan. 9, 2007, available at [http://bench.nationalreview.com]. The nominations of four of the 14, as discussed in the next footnote, after being returned at the end of the 109th Congress, were resubmitted at the beginning of the 110th Congress. 30 As of Jan. 19, 2007, the four persons renominated to circuit judgeships in the 110th Congress were Thomas M. Hardiman, Peter D. Keisler, and Debra A. Livingston (all renominated on Jan. 9, 2007), and N. Randy Smith (renominated on Jan. 16, 2007). See Appendices 1 and 4. CRS-11 floor, 10 circuit court nominees failed to receive final Senate votes after one or more motions to close debate on their nominations proved unsuccessful.31 Subsequently, in the 109th Congress, following controversy over the propriety of filibusters on judicial nominations, a compromise was reached in the Senate,32 which resulted in confirmation votes for five of those 10 circuit nominees.33 The five others among the 10, however, ultimately failed to gain confirmation: the nomination of one of the five was withdrawn in the 108th Congress (after seven unsuccessful votes on motions to close debate);34 the nominations of two were returned at the end of the 108th Congress and were not followed by renomination in the 109th Congress;35 a renomination of the fourth was withdrawn in the 109th Congress;36 and the fifth nominee was renominated in the 109th Congress but was not renominated at the beginning of the 110th Congress.37 Recess Appointments. Two of the 10 circuit nominees on whom the Senate could not agree to close debate in the 108th Congress were, later in that Congress, given temporary recess appointments by President Bush. After the recess appointment of one of these nominees expired at the end of the 108th Congress, he was not re- nominated by President Bush in the 109th Congress.38 Prior to the expiration of the 31 The Senate can close debate by passing a cloture motion, which requires a super-majority of three-fifths of the Senate, or 60 Members, voting in favor. During the 108th Congress, the 10 nominations on which the Senate voted, on one or more occasions, not to close debate were the Jan. 7, 2003, nominations of Miguel Estrada of Virginia, Richard A. Griffin of Michigan, Carolyn B. Kuhl of California, David W. McKeague of Michigan, Priscilla R. Owen of Texas, Charles W. Pickering Sr. of Mississippi, and Henry W. Saad of Michigan; the Apr. 9, 2003, nomination of William H. Pryor Jr. of Alabama; the May 15, 2003, nomination of William G. Myers III of Idaho; and the July 25, 2003, nomination of Janice R. Brown of California. On each of these occasions, as Appendix 3 shows, the number of votes needed to close debate fell short of 60. 32 For an account of how this compromise was reached, as well as of the details of the compromise, see David Nather, "The Centrists Strike Back," CQ Weekly, vol. 63, May 30, 2005, p. 1420. 33 See, in Appendix 4, the Feb. 14, 2005, nominations of Richard A. Griffin, David W. McKeague, Priscilla R. Owen, William H. Pryor Jr., and Janice R. Brown -- all subsequently confirmed. 34 See, in Appendix 3, the Jan. 7, 2003, nomination of Miguel A. Estrada. 35 See, in Appendix 3, the Jan. 7, 2003, nominations of Carolyn B. Kuhl and Charles W. Pickering Sr. 36 See, in Appendix 4, the Feb. 14, 2005, nomination of Henry W. Saad. 37 See, in Appendix 1, the nominations of William G. Myers III. Myers was renominated three times in the 109th Congress, with each nomination returned to the President upon a Senate recess of more than 30 days (the last return occurring at the final adjournment of the 109th Congress). Media accounts at the opening of the 110th Congress reported that President George W. Bush did not intend to resubmit Myers in the 110th Congress. See Keith Perine, "Bush Pulls Plug on Doomed Judicial Nominations, but Differences Remain," CQ Today News, Jan. 9, 2007, available at [http://www.cq.com]. 38 On Jan. 16, 2004, between the first and second sessions of the 108th Congress, Charles W. Pickering Sr. of Mississippi (whose nomination in the 107th Congress had been rejected by (continued...) CRS-12 other nominee's recess appointment, he was renominated by President Bush in the 109th Congress and subsequently confirmed by the Senate.39 Nominees Defeated in Committee. Two of President Bush's circuit nominations were defeated in committee votes. These defeats occurred when the Senate Judiciary Committee, in the 107th Congress, voted not to report their nominations to the Senate.40 The two nominees were renominated by President Bush in the 108th Congress and this time were reported out favorably by the Judiciary Committee.41 However, they (along with eight other circuit nominees) failed to receive final Senate votes in the 108th Congress, after motions to close debate on their nominations proved unsuccessful. Ultimately, one of the two nominees was renominated in the 109th Congress and confirmed by the Senate in a 55-43 roll call vote.42 The other nominee was given a temporary recess appointment by President between the first and second sessions of the 108th Congress; at the end of that Congress, his recess appointment expired, and he was not renominated by President Bush in the 109th Congress.43 Length in Time of the Appointment Process. Appendix 1 reveals that President Bush's circuit court nominees have varied considerably in how quickly they have advanced through the appointment process.44 For some who were nominated 38 (...continued) the Senate Judiciary Committee) was recess appointed to the Fifth Circuit by President Bush. The appointment expired on Dec. 8, 2004, at the end of the second session of the 108th Congress. Judge Pickering retired at that time and was not renominated by President Bush in the 109th Congress. In Appendix 3, see the Jan. 7, 2003, and Feb. 6, 2004, nominations of Judge Pickering, both of which were returned to the President on Dec. 8, 2004. 39 On Feb. 20, 2004, during a recess within the second session of the 108th Congress, William H. Pryor Jr. of Alabama was recess appointed to the Eleventh Circuit by President Bush. The appointment was to expire at the end of the Senate's first session in the 109th Congress, the sine die adjournment of which occurred on Dec. 22, 2005. However, on Feb. 14, 2005, early in the 109th Congress, Pryor was renominated by President Bush and confirmed on June 9, 2005, more than six months before his recess appointment would have expired. See, in Appendix 3, the Apr. 9, 2003, and Mar. 12, 2004, nominations of Pryor, both of which were returned to the President on Dec. 8, 2004, and, in Appendix 4, the Feb. 14, 2005, nomination, which was confirmed. 40 See, in Appendix 2, the Sept. 4, 2001, nominations of Priscilla R. Owen of Texas and Charles W. Pickering Sr., of Mississippi, both to the Fifth Circuit. In the case of both nominations, the committee defeated successive motions to report favorably, to report without recommendation, and to report unfavorably (doing so with the Pickering nomination on Mar. 14, 2002, and with the Owen nomination on Sept. 5, 2002). 41 See, in Appendix 3, the Jan. 7, 2003, nominations of Priscilla R. Owen and Charles W. Pickering Sr. 42 See, in Appendix 4, the Feb. 14, 2005, nomination of Priscilla R. Owen. 43 See above footnote regarding the Jan. 16, 2004, recess appointment of Charles W. Pickering Sr. of Mississippi to the Fifth Circuit by President Bush. 44 Specifically, it will be noted, the table shows, among other things, the number of days that elapsed from the date of each nominee's first nomination to the date of the final disposition (continued...) CRS-13 more than once to a circuit judgeship, the elapsed time between first nomination and final disposition on a subsequent nomination has extended over two or more Congresses. For other individuals, though, the overall appointment process was much briefer. Specifically, Appendix 1 shows that, during the course of his presidency, 20 of George W. Bush's 68 circuit court nominees have been nominated in two or more Congresses -- with 14 nominated in two Congresses, and six nominated in three successive Congresses. Of the six nominated in three Congresses, four have been confirmed,45 one was withdrawn,46 and the nomination of the sixth person was returned at the end of the 109th Congress and was not resubmitted at the beginning of the 110th Congress.47 Confirmed Nominees. The longest interval between first nomination and confirmation for a Bush circuit nominee was 1,477 days -- slightly more than four years.48 The least amount of elapsed time for a circuit nominee between first nomination and confirmation was 63 days.49 The bottom rows of Appendix 1 show 44 (...continued) of the nominee's last nomination, as of the end of the 109th Congress. 45 See the nominations of: Priscilla R. Owen to the Fifth Circuit on May 9, 2001, and Sept. 4, 2001 (both in 107th Congress), Jan. 7, 2003 (108th Congress), and Feb. 14, 2005 (109th Congress) -- the last confirmed on May 25, 2005; David W. McKeague to the Sixth Circuit on Nov. 8, 2001 (107th Congress), Jan. 7, 2003 (108th Congress), and Feb. 14, 2005 (109th Congress) -- the last confirmed on June 9, 2004; Susan B. Neilson to the Sixth Circuit on Nov. 8, 2001 (107th Congress), Jan. 7, 2003 (108th Congress), and Feb. 14, 2005 (109th Congress) -- - the last confirmed on Oct. 27, 2005; and Richard A. Griffin to the Sixth Circuit on June 26, 2002 (107th Congress), Jan. 7, 2003 (108th Congress), and Feb. 14, 2005 (109th Congress) -- the last confirmed on June 9, 2005. 46 See the nominations of Henry W. Saad to the Sixth Circuit on Nov. 8, 2001 (107th Congress), Jan. 8, 2003 (108th Congress), and Feb. 14, 2005 (109th Congress). The last nomination was withdrawn on Mar. 27, 2006. 47 See the nominations of Terrence W. Boyle to the Fourth Circuit on May 9, 2001, and Sept. 4, 2001 (both in the 107th Congress), Jan. 7, 2003 (108th Congress), and Feb. 14, 2005, Sept. 5, 2006, and Nov. 15, 2006 (all in the 109th Congress). 48 See again, in Appendix 1, nominee Priscilla R. Owen, first nominated on May 9, 2001, and confirmed on May 25, 2005. The circuit nominees with the next highest number of days elapsed between their first nomination and confirmation were the other three nominees, mentioned above, who were confirmed after being nominated in three straight Congresses: Susan B. Neilson (1,449 days -- first nominated Nov. 8, 2001), David W. McKeague (1,309 days -- first nominated Nov. 8, 2001), and Richard A. Griffin (1,079 days -- first nominated June 26, 2002). 49 See in Appendix 1 the nomination of Bobby E. Shepherd to the Eighth Circuit on May 18, 2006, which was confirmed on July 20, 2006. The circuit nominees with the next-fewest number of days of elapsed time between their first (and only) nomination and confirmation were Michael A. Chagares to the Third Circuit (69 days -- nominated Jan. 25, 2006), William J. Riley to the Eighth Circuit (71 days -- nominated May 23, 2001), and Roger L. Gregory to the Fourth Circuit (72 days -- nominated May 9, 2001). It should be noted that Gregory had been nominated twice earlier by President William J. Clinton -- with the (continued...) CRS-14 that for President Bush's 51 circuit nominees confirmed, the average elapsed time between first nomination and final disposition was 366 days. This average, or mean, was arrived at by summing the number of days between first nomination and confirmation for all 51 nominees in question, and then dividing by 51. However, the median elapsed time (i.e., the time interval for the nominee in the midpoint of the distribution of the 51 confirmed nominees) was significantly less -- 216 days. In other words, for 25 of the 51 confirmed circuit nominees, the elapsed time between first nomination and confirmation was less than 216 days; for one nominee, in the midpoint of the distribution, the elapsed time was exactly 216 days;50 and for 25 others, the elapsed time was more than 216 days.51 Withdrawn or Returned Nominees. As discussed above,52 17 other circuit court nominees, as of the end of the 109th Congress, saw their most recent nominations withdrawn by the President or returned to the President. Among the 17 nominees, the most elapsed time between first nomination and final disposition of last nomination was 2,040 days,53 whereas the least elapsed time for this interval was 87 days.54 The mean elapsed time for the relatively small number of nominees in this category was 710 days, and the median elapsed time was 407 days.55 President Bush's Circuit Court Nominations During Particular Congresses 49 (...continued) second nomination occurring in the last days of the Clinton presidency -- and that President Bush, upon assuming office, withdrew that second nomination, only to renominate Gregory himself on May 9, 2001. However, Appendix 1 lists the May 9, 2001, nomination as not the second or third, but the first and only nomination, of Gregory, because it is a table devoted exclusively to President Bush's circuit court nominees. 50 See, in Appendix 1, the nomination of Michael J. Melloy to the Eighth Circuit. Melloy was first nominated on July 10, 2001. That nomination was returned by the Senate on August 3, 2001. Melloy was renominated on Sept. 4, 2001, and confirmed on Feb. 11, 2002 -- a nomination-to-confirmation time interval of 216 days. 51 The mean (366 days) was much higher than the median (216 days) because the amount of time elapsed between certain nominees' first nominations and their confirmation dates was markedly higher than nearly all other nominees. See in particular nominees Priscilla R. Owen (elapsed time 1,477 days), Susan B. Neilson (1,449 days), David W. McKeague (1,309 days), and Richard A. Griffin (1,079 days). 52 See, earlier in the body of this report, the first paragraph after the heading "Circuit Court Nominees During the Presidency of George W. Bush." 53 See, in Appendix 1, the first nomination of Terrence W. Boyle to the Fourth Circuit on May 9, 2001, and the return of his sixth, and last, nomination on Dec. 9, 2006 -- 2,040 days later. 54 See, in Appendix 1, the first, nomination of Thomas M. Hardiman to the Third Circuit on Sept. 13, 2006, which was returned to the President on Dec. 9, 2006, 87 days later. Hardiman was renominated to the Third Circuit on Jan. 9, 2007. 55 See, in Appendix 1, the nomination of William H. Steele to the Eleventh Circuit. Steele was nominated on Oct. 9, 2001, and that nomination was returned to the President on Nov. 20, 2002 -- a time interval of 407 days. CRS-15 The following are among the key statistical findings concerning President Bush's circuit court nominations during particular Congresses, and the actions and amount of time taken on them. The 107th Congress. President Bush submitted a total of 52 circuit court nominations to the Senate during the 107th Congress. Twenty of the 52 nominations, however, were resubmissions (i.e., renominations of persons nominated earlier in the Congress). The resubmissions occurred when 20 circuit nominations, which had been returned by the Senate to President Bush at the beginning of the Senate's August 2001 recess, were resubmitted as new nominations upon the Senate's reconvening in September 2001. Hence, 32 individuals were nominated by President Bush to circuit judgeships during the 107th Congress. Of these 32 individuals, 17 were confirmed by the Senate (14 by roll call votes),56 and 15 saw their nominations returned to the President at the final adjournment of the 107th Congress. Of the 15 nominees not confirmed, 12 did not receive a Judiciary Committee hearing; one received a committee hearing but not a committee vote;57 and two were defeated in committee when the Judiciary Committee voted not to report their nominations.58 The President renominated 14 of the 15 unconfirmed nominees at the start of the 108th Congress.59 For circuit nominations that received committee hearings, committee votes, or Senate confirmation votes in the 107th Congress, the average (mean) numbers of days that elapsed between the date the nomination was received in the Senate and the aforementioned actions were as follows: ! For 19 of the 20 circuit nominations receiving committee hearings,60 an average of 176 days elapsed between the date a nomination was received in the Senate and the holding of a hearing; the briefest time 56 The closest roll call was the 55-44 vote, on Nov. 19, 2002, confirming Dennis Shedd of South Carolina to the Fourth Circuit; the second-closest was the 64-35 vote, on July 31, 2002, confirming D. Brooks Smith of Pennsylvania to the Third Circuit. In all the other roll call votes on whether to confirm circuit court nominations, the Senate voted unanimously in favor of confirmation, except for one roll call, in which one "nay" vote was recorded. See Appendix 2. 57 See, in Appendix 2, the Sept. 4, 2001, nomination of Miguel A. Estrada to the D.C. Circuit. 58 See, in Appendix 2, the Sept. 4, 2001, nominations of Priscilla R. Owen and Charles W. Pickering Sr., both to the Fifth Circuit. 59 The Oct. 9, 2001, nomination of William H. Steele to the Eleventh Circuit, in Appendix 2, was returned to the President at the final adjournment of the 107th Congress on Nov. 20, 2002. Steele was not re-nominated in the 108th Congress. Table notes in Appendix 3 identify the 14 other circuit nominees who were renominated in the 108th Congress, after their earlier nominations were returned to the President at the end of the 107th Congress. 60 A 20th circuit court nomination also received a committee hearing, but it was excluded from the calculation of average elapsed time between date of nomination and committee hearing because its hearing date preceded its nomination date. See, in Appendix 2, the Sept. 24, 2001, nomination of Sharon Prost, in anticipation of which the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing, on Aug. 27, 2001. CRS-16 elapsing from Senate receipt to committee hearing was nine days, and the longest time was 387 days. ! For the 19 circuit nominations receiving committee votes, an average of 194 days elapsed between Senate receipt and committee vote; the briefest time elapsing from Senate receipt to committee vote was two days,61 and the longest time (for two nominations) was 436 days. ! For the 17 circuit nominations receiving final Senate votes (all in favor of confirmation), an average of 210 days elapsed between Senate receipt and final Senate vote; the briefest time elapsing from Senate receipt to Senate confirmation vote was 17 days, and the longest time was 441 days. For the 35 circuit nominations that were not confirmed, an average of 204 days elapsed between Senate receipt and final action; the briefest time elapsing was one day, and the longest time was 442 days. The 108th Congress. President Bush submitted a total of 37 circuit court nominations to the Senate during the 108th Congress. Three of the 37 nominations, however, were renominations of persons nominated earlier in the Congress.62 Hence, 34 individuals were nominated by President Bush to circuit judgeships during the 108th Congress. The 34 individuals nominated by President Bush to circuit judgeships during the 108th Congress included 14 who had first been nominated in the 107th Congress and then resubmitted. Of the 34 nominees, 18 (including five of the resubmissions) were confirmed by the Senate (14 by roll call votes),63 the nomination of one was withdrawn by the President during the first session of the 108th Congress, and the nominations of 15 were returned at the Congress's final adjournment. All but one of 61 The nomination which received a committee vote just two days after its receipt by the Senate was a resubmission of an earlier nomination to the same judgeship. See, in Appendix 2, the Sept. 4, 2001, nomination of Sharon Prost of the District of Columbia to the District of Columbia Circuit. A hearing was held on Aug. 27, 2001, in anticipation of Ms. Prost's renomination, paving the way for a committee vote after Senate receipt of the nomination without the need for a hearing first. 62 See in Appendix 3 the nomination of Charles W. Pickering Sr. to the Fifth Circuit on Jan. 7, 2003, followed by his renomination on Feb. 6, 2004; of Claude A. Allen to the Fourth Circuit on Apr. 28, 2003, followed by his renomination on Jan. 20, 2004; and of William H. Pryor Jr. to the Eleventh Circuit on Apr. 9, 2003, followed by his renomination on Mar. 12, 2004. 63 The closest roll call vote on whether to confirm was the 52-41 vote, on Apr. 29, 2003, confirming Jeffrey S. Sutton of Ohio to the Sixth Circuit; the second-closest was the 58-41 vote, on Apr. 1, 2003, confirming Timothy M. Tymkovich of Colorado to the Tenth Circuit. Substantial, though lesser, numbers of votes against confirmation were cast in the 66-25 vote on May 5, 2003, to confirm Deborah L. Cook of Ohio to the Sixth Circuit; the 70-27 vote on June 24, 2004, to confirm Diane S. Sykes of Wisconsin to the Seventh Circuit; and the 74-19, vote on Mar. 13, 2003, to confirm Jay S. Bybee of Nevada to the Ninth Circuit. In the 10 other roll call confirmation votes for circuit nominees, the Senate voted in favor of confirmation unanimously or with one "nay" vote recorded. See Appendix 3. CRS-17 the 34 nominees received a hearing (31 during the 108th Congress, two during the prior Congress),64 and 30 were reported out of committee, all favorably. Of the 16 circuit nominees not confirmed, one did not receive a committee hearing; no committee vote was taken on three others; and 12 did not receive final Senate votes. In the case of 10 of the 12 nominees, cloture motions filed to close debate on their nominations failed to receive the required 60 votes.65 Two of the 10 nominations on which motions to close debate failed were of the two persons who had been defeated in the Senate Judiciary Committee in the 107th Congress.66 The nomination of one of the other 10 nominees was withdrawn by the President, after seven unsuccessful motions were made in the Senate to close debate on the nomination.67 For circuit nominations that received committee hearings, committee votes, or Senate confirmation votes in the 108th Congress, the average (mean) numbers of days that elapsed between the date the nomination was received in the Senate and the aforementioned actions were as follows: ! For the 31 circuit nominations receiving hearings, an average of 145 days elapsed between the date the nomination was received in the Senate and the holding of a hearing; the briefest time elapsing from Senate receipt to committee hearing was (for three nominations) 22 days, and the longest time was 610 days. ! For the 30 circuit nominations receiving committee votes, an average of 173 days elapsed between Senate receipt and committee vote; the 64 Two of the three circuit court nominees during the 108th Congress who did not receive hearings during that Congress -- Miguel Estrada of Virginia and Charles W. Pickering Sr. of Mississippi -- had received hearings during the 107th Congress. The third circuit nominee not to receive a hearing during the 108th Congress, Terrence W. Boyle of North Carolina, had been nominated twice earlier, during the 107th Congress, and had not received a hearing on either of these nominations as well. Between his first nomination on May 9, 2001, in the 107th Congress and the return of his third nomination to the President at the final adjournment of the 108th Congress on Dec. 8, 2004, Boyle was a circuit court nominee for more than three sessions of Congress without receiving a hearing. Subsequently, however, in the 109th Congress, Boyle was nominated to the circuit court a fourth time by President Bush, on Feb. 14, 2005, and received a hearing on this nomination on Mar. 3, 2005. See Appendices 2, 3, and 4. 65 As noted earlier, the 10 nominations on which the Senate voted, on one or more occasions, not to close debate were the Jan. 7, 2003, nominations of Miguel A. Estrada of Virginia, Richard A. Griffin of Michigan, Carolyn B. Kuhl of California, David W. McKeague of Michigan, Priscilla R. Owen of Texas, Charles W. Pickering Sr. of Mississippi, and Henry W. Saad of Michigan; the Apr. 9, 2003, nomination of William H. Pryor Jr. of Alabama; the May 15, 2003, nomination of William G. Myers III of Idaho; and the July 25, 2003, nomination of Janice R. Brown of California. See Appendix 3. 66 See, in Appendix 2 , the Mar. 14, 2002, votes by the Senate Judiciary Committee against reporting the nomination of Charles W. Pickering Sr., and the Sept. 5, 2002, votes by the committee against reporting the nomination of Priscilla R. Owen. 67 See, in Appendix 3, the Jan. 7, 2003, nomination of Miguel A. Estrada, which was withdrawn by the President on Sept. 4, 2003, following seven Senate votes on motions to close debate on the nomination. CRS-18 briefest time elapsing from Senate receipt to committee vote was 23 days, and the longest time 636 days. ! For the 18 circuit nominations which received Senate confirmation votes, an average of 140 days elapsed between Senate receipt and final Senate vote; the briefest time elapsing from Senate receipt to Senate confirmation vote was 65 days, and the longest time was 234 days.68 For the 19 circuit nominations that were not confirmed, an average of 516 days elapsed between Senate receipt and final action, the briefest time elapsing was 212 days, and the longest time was 701 days (for eight nominations). The 109th Congress. President Bush submitted a total of 40 circuit nominations to the Senate during the 109th Congress. Twelve of the nominations, however, were renominations of persons nominated earlier in the Congress. (The renominations followed the return to the President of one nomination at the end of the 1st session of the Congress,69 the return of five nominations at the start of the Senate's August 2006 recess,70 and the return of six nominations when the Senate recessed again for more than 30 days on September 29, 2006.71) Hence, 28 individuals were nominated by President Bush to circuit judgeships during the 109th Congress. The 28 individuals nominated by President Bush to circuit judgeships during the 109th Congress included 12 who were nominated in the 108th Congress and then renominated in the 109th Congress. Seven of the 12 had seen one or more unsuccessful votes on the Senate floor to close debate on their nominations in the 108th Congress. Of the 28 nominees in the 109th Congress, the nominations of 16 (seven of them resubmissions from the 108th Congress) were confirmed by the Senate (all but two by roll call);72 two were withdrawn by the President;73 and 10 were 68 Appendix 3 excludes from the measurement and averaging of times from Senate receipt to final Senate vote the 10 circuit nominations during the 108th Congress on which there were votes on motions to close Senate debate but no final votes on whether to confirm. 69 See in Appendix 4 the return of the Feb. 14, 2005, nomination of Brett M. Kavanaugh, followed by his renomination on Jan. 25, 2006. 70 See in Appendix 4 the return of the Feb. 14, 2005, nominations of Terrence W. Boyle, William J. Haynes II and William G. Myers III, the Dec. 16, 2005, nomination of N. Randy Smith, and the Feb. 8, 2006, nomination of Michael B. Wallace, all of whom were renominated on Sept. 5, 2006. 71 See in Appendix 4 the return of the June 29, 2006, nomination of Peter D. Keisler and the return of the Sept. 5, 2006, nominations of Terrence W. Boyle, William J. Haynes II, William G. Myers III, N. Randy Smith, and Michael B. Wallace, all of whom were renominated on Nov. 15, 2006. 72 On three of the nominations, the roll call votes were relatively close. See in Appendix 4, the 53-45 vote on June 9, 2005, confirming William H. Pryor Jr. of Alabama to the Eleventh Circuit; the 55-43 vote on May 25, 2005, confirming Priscilla R. Owen of Texas to the Fifth Circuit; and the 56-43 vote on June 8, 2005, confirming Janice R. Brown of California to the Ninth Circuit. On three other roll call votes, there was less, but still (continued...) CRS-19 returned at the end of the Congress. Two of the 28 nominees were nominated twice in the 109th Congress;74 five were nominated three times.75 Twenty-four of the 28 circuit nominees in the 109th Congress had received hearings (either in the 109th or in the prior Congress), and the nominations of 21 had been reported out of committee, all favorably. Of the 10 nominees returned to the President at the end of the 109th Congress, three did not receive a hearing, while the other seven received hearings on at least one of their nominations in the 109th Congress. For circuit nominations that received committee hearings, committee votes, or Senate confirmation votes in the 109th Congress, the average (mean) numbers of days that elapsed between the date the nomination was received in the Senate and the aforementioned actions were as follows: ! For the 17 circuit nominations receiving hearings in the 109th Congress,76 an average of 76 days elapsed between the date the nomination was received in the Senate and the holding of a hearing; the briefest time elapsing from Senate receipt to committee hearing was 15 days, and the longest time was 512 days. ! For the 20 circuit nominations receiving committee votes, an average of 87 days elapsed between Senate receipt and committee vote; the 72 (...continued) substantial, recorded opposition to confirmation. See in Appendix 4 the 73-24 vote on June 14, 2005, confirming Thomas B. Griffith to the District of Columbia Circuit; the 57-36 vote on May 26, 2006, confirming Brett M. Kavanaugh to the District of Columbia Circuit; and the 67-30 vote on July 25, 2006, confirming Jerome A. Holmes to the Tenth Circuit. On the eight other roll call votes, the Senate voted unanimously in favor of confirmation. Two other nominees, Neil M. Gorsuch (Tenth Circuit) and Bobby Shepherd (Eighth Circuit), were confirmed in an en bloc voice vote on July 20, 2006. 73 See in Appendix 4 the Feb. 14, 2005, nomination of Henry W. Saad of Michigan to the Sixth Circuit (withdrawn on Mar. 27, 2006), and the Sept. 29, 2005, nomination of James H. Payne of Oklahoma to the Tenth Circuit (withdrawn on Mar. 7, 2006). 74 See in Appendix 4 the Feb. 14, 2005, and Jan. 25, 2006, nominations of Brett M. Kavanaugh of Maryland to the District of Columbia Circuit and the June 29, 2006, and Nov. 15, 2006, nominations of Peter D. Keisler to the District of Columbia Circuit. 75 See, in Appendix 4, the Feb. 14, 2005, Sept. 5, 2006, and Nov. 15, 2006, nominations of Terrence W. Boyle of North Carolina to the Fourth Circuit, William G. Myers III of Idaho to the Ninth Circuit, and William J. Haynes II, of Virginia, also to the Fourth Circuit; the Dec, 16, 2005, Sept. 5, 2006, and Nov. 15, 2006, nominations of N. Randy Smith of Idaho to the Ninth Circuit; and the Feb. 8, 2006, Sept. 5, 2006, and Nov. 15, 2006, nominations of Michael B. Wallace of Mississippi to the Fifth Circuit. 76 Seven other circuit court nominees in the109th Congress had received hearings earlier, on nominations referred to the Judiciary Committee in the 108th Congress. In addition to those seven, Brett M. Kavanaugh received hearings in both the 108th and 109th Congresses. See Appendix 1. CRS-20 briefest time elapsing from Senate receipt to committee vote was 16 days,77 and the longest time was 248 days. ! For the 16 circuit nominations which received Senate confirmation votes, an average of 115 days elapsed between Senate receipt and final Senate vote; the briefest time elapsing from Senate receipt to Senate confirmation vote was 63 days, and the longest time was 255 days. For the 24 circuit nominations that were not confirmed, an average of 159 days elapsed between Senate receipt and final action; the briefest time elapsing was 24 days, and the longest time was 535 days. District Court Nominees During the Presidency of George W. Bush During the presidency of George W. Bush -- from January 20, 2001, through December 9, 2006 -- 206 of his 237 nominees to the U.S. district courts received Senate confirmation. Of the 31 nominees not confirmed, the nominations of three were withdrawn by the President,78 and the other 28 were returned at the end of the 109th Congress.79 (As of January 19, 2007, 24 of the 28 were renominated to the same district court judgeships in the 110th Congress, while one other was nominated again, but this time to a circuit judgeship.)80 None of President Bush's district nominees has been defeated in a committee vote or rejected in a Senate confirmation vote. An examination of Appendix 5 reveals that President Bush's district court nominees have varied considerably in how quickly they have advanced through the appointment process. Of the 237 individuals nominated by the President to district judgeships (as of the end of the 109th Congress), 216 were nominated in only one Congress (with 187 confirmed in their respective Congresses, 28 returned at the end of the 109th Congress, and one withdrawn in the same Congress as his first 77 This calculation is the time from receipt of the second nomination of N. Randy Smith to the Ninth Circuit. The committee vote on Sept. 21, 2006, came 279 days after the first nomination on Dec. 16, 2005. If this nomination is excluded, the shortest interval from nomination to committee vote in the 109th Congress was 31 days. 78 See, in Appendices 5 and 7, the Jan. 7, 2003, nomination of Frederick W. Rohlfing III to the District of Hawaii (withdrawn on May 6, 2004), and in Appendices 5 and 8 the Feb. 14, 2005, nomination of Daniel P. Ryan to the Eastern District of Michigan (withdrawn on Mar. 30, 2006) and the Feb. 14, 2006, nomination of Jerome A. Holmes to the Northern District of Oklahoma (withdrawn on May 4, 2006). 79 See, in Appendix 8, the 28 nominations with the listing of "Returned 12/09/06" in the "Final Action" column. 80 See notes in Appendices 5 and 8 that identify nominees who were renominated in the 110th Congress. The district court nominee in the 109th Congress who was renominated in the 110th Congress to a circuit judgeship was Leslie Southwick (initially nominated to Southern District of Mississippi, then nominated to the Fifth Circuit). CRS-21 nomination).81 Of the remaining 21 individuals, 19 were nominated in two Congresses,82 and two were nominated in three Congresses.83 Nineteen of the 21 nominated in more than one Congress were confirmed; 18 in the second Congress in which they were nominated, one in the third Congress in which he was nominated.84 The other two nominees whose nominations were submitted in more than one Congress were withdrawn by the President.85 Confirmed Nominees. Of President Bush's 206 confirmed district court nominees, 187 were confirmed within the same Congress in which they were first nominated, with 19 confirmed in a subsequent Congress. The most elapsed time for a district court nominee between first nomination and confirmation was 1,365 days, almost three years and nine months.86 The least amount of elapsed time for a district nominee between first nomination and confirmation was 56 days.87 The bottom rows of Appendix 5 show that for President Bush's 206 district court nominees confirmed as of December 9, 2006, the average, or mean, elapsed time between first nomination and confirmation was 171 days, whereas the median elapsed time (i.e., the time interval for the nominee in the midpoint of the distribution of the 206 confirmed nominees) was 134 days. 81 See in Appendices 5 and 8 the Feb. 14, 2006, nomination of Jerome A. Holmes to the Northern District of Oklahoma; Holmes was withdrawn on May 4, 2006, and nominated to the Tenth Circuit that same day. 82 Examination of Appendix 5 reveals that 13 individuals were nominated to district judgeships in both the 107th and 108th Congresses, and that six others were nominated to district judgeships in both the 108th and 109th Congresses. 83 The two were James C. Dever (first nominated to the Eastern District of North Carolina on May 22, 2002, and ultimately confirmed on Apr. 28, 2005), and Thomas L. Ludington (first nominated to the District of Eastern Michigan on Sept. 12, 2002, and whose third nomination was confirmed on June 8, 2006). See Appendix 5. 84 See, in Appendix 5, nominee James C. Dever III, first nominated on May 22, 2002, in the 107th Congress, nominated again on Jan. 7, 2003, in the 108th Congress, and nominated a third time, on Feb. 14, 2005, in the 109th Congress, and who ultimately was confirmed, on Apr. 28, 2005. 85 See, in Appendix 5, nominees Frederick W. Rohlfing III, first nominated on Jan. 23, 2002, in the 107th Congress, and whose second nomination, on Jan. 7, 2003, in the 108th Congress, was withdrawn on May 6, 2004, and Daniel P. Ryan, first nominated on Apr. 28, 2003, in the 108th Congress, whose second nomination on Feb. 14, 2004, in the 109th Congress, was withdrawn, on Mar. 30, 2006. 86 See again, in Appendix 5, nominee Thomas L. Ludington for the Eastern District of Michigan, 1,365 days between first nomination on Sept. 12, 2002, and confirmation on June 8, 2006. The nominees with the next highest number of days elapsed between first nomination and confirmation are James C. Dever III, nominated to the Eastern District of North Carolina, 1,072 days between first nomination on May 22, 2002, and confirmation on Apr. 28, 2005; and Peter Sheridan, nominated to the District of New Jersey, 946 days between first nomination on Nov. 5, 2003, and confirmation on June 8, 2006. 87 See, in Appendix 5, nominee L. Scott Coogler for the Northern District of Alabama, nominated on Mar. 27, 2003, and confirmed on May 22, 2003. Nominees James V. Selna for the Central District of California and Philip P. Simon for the Northern District of Indiana, were both nominated on Jan. 29, 2003, and both confirmed on Mar. 27, 2003 -- an interval of 57 days. CRS-22 Withdrawn Nominees. Three of President Bush's district court nominees saw their nominations withdrawn. One had been nominated in the 107th and 108th Congresses, another in the 108th and 109th Congresses, and one was nominated only in the 109th Congress. The elapsed times between their first nomination and the withdrawal of their final or only nomination were 834 days, 1,067 days, and 79 days, respectively.88 President Bush's District Court Nominations During Particular Congresses The following are among the key statistical findings concerning President Bush's district court nominations during particular Congresses, and the actions and amounts of time taken on them. The 107th Congress. President Bush submitted a total of 118 district court nominations to the Senate during the 107th Congress.89 Twenty of the 118 nominations, however, were resubmissions (renominations). The resubmissions occurred when 20 district nominations, which had been returned by the Senate to President Bush at the beginning of the Senate's August 2001 recess, were resubmitted as new nominations upon the Senate's reconvening in September 2001. Hence, 98 individuals were nominated by President Bush to district judgeships during the 107th Congress. Of these 98 individuals, 83 were confirmed by the Senate (45 by roll call votes),90 after receiving committee hearings and being reported out of committee favorably. The 15 district court nominees who failed to be confirmed saw their nominations returned to the President at the final adjournment of the 107th Congress, with none having received committee hearings or committee votes. (All 15, however, were renominated by President Bush in the 108th Congress, with 12 of the 15 confirmed in that Congress, one withdrawn by the President in that Congress,91 and two confirmed in the 109th Congress.)92 88 See again, in Appendix 5, nominee Frederick W. Rohlfing III for the District of Hawaii, 834 days between first nomination, on Jan. 23, 2002, in the 107th Congress, and withdrawal of second nomination, on May 6, 2004, in the 108th Congress; Daniel P. Ryan for Eastern District of Michigan, 1,067 days between first nomination on Apr. 28, 2003, in the 108th Congress, and withdrawal of second nomination, on Mar. 30, 2006, in the 109th Congress; and Jerome A. Holmes, 79 days between nomination on Feb. 14, 2006, and withdrawal on May 4, 2006. 89 See Appendix 6. 90 In all except one of the roll calls, the Senate voted unanimously in favor of confirmation. The sole roll call in which "nay" votes were cast against a district court nomination was the 67-20 vote, on May 13, 2002, to confirm Paul G. Cassell to the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah. See Appendix 6. 91 See, in Appendix 5 the first nomination of Frederick W. Rohlfing III for the District of Hawaii, in the 107th Congress and his second nomination, and its withdrawal, in the 108th Congress. 92 See in Appendix 5 the nominations in the 107th, 108th, and 109th Congresses -- and (continued...) CRS-23 For district court nominations which received committee hearings, committee votes, or Senate confirmation votes in the 107th Congress, the average (mean) numbers of days that elapsed between the date the nomination was received in the Senate and the aforementioned actions were as follows: ! For 81 district nominations receiving committee hearings, an average of 89 days elapsed between the date a nomination was received in the Senate and the holding of a hearing;93 the briefest time elapsing for a district nomination from Senate receipt to committee hearing was nine days, and the longest time (for three nominations) was 257 days. ! For the 83 district nominations receiving committee votes, an average of 102 days elapsed between Senate receipt and committee vote; the briefest time elapsing from Senate receipt to committee vote was two days,94 and the longest time (for two nominations) was 258 days. ! For the 83 district nominations receiving final Senate votes (all for confirmation), an average of 127 days elapsed between Senate receipt and Senate vote; the briefest time elapsing for a district nomination from Senate receipt to Senate confirmation was 17 days, and the longest time (for three nominations) was 295 days. For the 35 district court nominations that were not confirmed, an average of 51 days elapsed between Senate receipt and final action; the briefest time elapsing was 17 days, and the longest time was 301 days. The 108th Congress. President Bush submitted a total of 96 district court nominations to the Senate during the 108th Congress.95 The number of individuals nominated was also 96, as there were no district judge renominations during the Congress. Of the 96 total, 87 were confirmed (58 by roll call votes), eight saw their nominations returned at the end of the Congress, and the nomination of one was 92 (...continued) ultimate confirmation in the 109th Congress -- of James C. Dever III for the Eastern District of North Carolina and Thomas L. Ludington for the Eastern District of Michigan. 93 Two other district nominations also received hearings; however, they were not included in calculating average time between nomination date and hearing because the individuals' hearings preceded their nomination dates. See, in Appendix 6, the nominations of Reggie B. Walton for the District of South Carolina and Terry L. Wooten for the District Court for the District of Columbia on Sept. 4, 2001, which were preceded by hearings on Aug. 22 and Aug. 27, 2001, respectively. 94 The nomination which received a committee vote just two days after its receipt by the Senate was a resubmission of an earlier nomination to the same judgeship. See the Sept. 4, 2001, nomination of Reggie B. Walton to the District Court for the District of Columbia. A hearing was held on Aug. 22, 2001, in anticipation of Walton's renomination, paving the way for a committee vote after Senate receipt of the nomination without the need for a hearing first. See Appendix 6. 95 See Appendix 7. CRS-24 withdrawn.96 In all but three of the 58 roll calls, the Senate voted unanimously in favor of confirmation.97 All of the 87 nominees who were confirmed received committee hearings and were reported out of committee favorably, except for one, whose nomination was reported out of committee without recommendation.98 Of the nine nominees not confirmed, seven did not receive a hearing, and no committee vote was taken on two others.99 One of the nine district nominees not confirmed, as already noted, was withdrawn by the President, and the other eight were returned to the President at the end of the 108th Congress. Early in the 109th Congress, the President renominated all of these eight returnees. For district court nominations in the 108th Congress which received committee hearings, committee votes, or Senate confirmation votes, Appendix 7 shows that the average (mean) numbers of days that elapsed between date of nomination and the aforementioned actions were as follows:100 ! For the 89 district court nominations receiving hearings during the 108th Congress, an average of 85 days elapsed from Senate receipt of nomination to committee hearing; the briefest time elapsing from Senate receipt to committee hearing was (for three nominations) 22 days, and the longest time was 300 days. ! For the 87 district nominations receiving committee votes, an average of 111 days elapsed from Senate receipt to committee vote; the briefest such time interval (for two district nominations) was 30 days, and the longest time (for two nominations) was 336 days. ! For the 87 district nominations receiving final Senate votes (all for confirmation), an average of 156 days elapsed between Senate receipt and Senate vote; the briefest time elapsing for a district court nomination from Senate receipt to Senate confirmation was 34 days (for three nominations), and the longest time was 524 days. 96 See in Appendix 7 the Jan. 7, 2003, nomination of Frederick W. Rohlfing III to the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii, which was withdrawn by the President on May 6, 2004. 97 In two of the three other roll calls votes, only one "nay" vote was cast against confirmation. However, in the third roll call that was not unanimously in favor of confirmation, a substantial number of "nay" votes were cast. See in Appendix 7 the Jan. 29, 2003, nomination of J. Leon Holmes to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, which was confirmed by the Senate on July 6, 2004, by a 51-46 vote. 98 See, in Appendix 7, the Jan. 29, 2003, nomination of J. Leon Holmes to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, which the Senate Judiciary Committee, on May 1, 2003, voted 10-9 to report without recommendation. 99 Two of the nominees not confirmed were nominated relatively late in the Congress, in September 2004. Although they received committee hearings in November 2004, they were not reported out of committee in the remaining three weeks of the Congress. See, in Appendix 7, the Sept. 7, 2004, nomination of Paul A. Crotty to the Southern District of New York and the Sept. 15, 2004, nomination of J. Michael Seabright to the District of Hawaii. 100 For time interval averages and longest and shortest elapsed times in the confirmation process for district court nominations in the 108th Congress, see Appendix 7. CRS-25 For the nine district court nominations that were not confirmed, an average of 415 days elapsed between Senate receipt and final action; the briefest time elapsing was 84 days, and the longest time was 701 days. The 109th Congress. President Bush submitted a total of 66 district court nominations to the Senate during the109th Congress.101 The number of individuals nominated was also 66, as there were no district judge renominations during the Congress, although eight of the nominees had been nominated previously in the 108th Congress. The nominations of 36 of the 66, including seven of the eight resubmissions from the 108th Congress, were confirmed (eight by roll call);102 two were withdrawn;103 and 28 were returned at the end of the 109th Congress. Fifty of the 66 nominees had received hearings (48 in the 109th Congress, two in the 108th), and the nominations of 49 had been reported out of committee, all favorably. Of the 28 nominees returned at the end of the 109th Congress, 14 awaited hearings, one awaited a committee vote, and 13 awaited Senate floor action. For district court nominations which received committee hearings, committee votes, or Senate confirmation votes in the 109th Congress, the average (mean) numbers of days that elapsed between the date the nomination was received in the Senate and the aforementioned actions were as follows:104 ! For the 48 district nominations receiving committee hearings,105 an average of 105 days elapsed between the date a nomination was received in the Senate and the holding of a hearing; the briefest time elapsing from Senate receipt to committee hearing was 17 days, and the longest time was 442 days. ! For the 48 district court nominations receiving committee votes, an average of 118 days elapsed between Senate receipt and committee vote; the briefest time elapsing from Senate receipt to committee vote was 31 days, and the longest time was 451 days. ! For the 36 district nominations receiving final Senate votes (all for confirmation), an average of 143 days elapsed between Senate receipt and Senate vote; the briefest time elapsing from Senate receipt to Senate confirmation was 56 days, and the longest time was 479 days. 101 See Appendix 8. 102 On all eight roll calls, the Senate voted unanimously in favor of confirmation. 103 See, in Appendix 8, the Feb. 14, 2005, nomination of Daniel P. Ryan (withdrawn on Mar. 30, 2006), and the Feb. 14, 2006, nomination of Jerome A. Holmes (withdrawn on May 4, 2006). 104 For time interval averages and longest and shortest elapsed times in the confirmation process for district court nominations in the 109th Congress, see Appendix 8. 105 Excluded from this average were the Feb. 14, 2005, nominations of J. Michael Seabright and Paul A. Crotty. These nominees had received a hearing earlier, in the previous Congress. CRS-26 For the 30 district court nominations that were not confirmed, an average of 140 days elapsed between Senate receipt and final Senate action; the briefest time elapsing was two days, and the longest time was 409 days. Comparison of President Bush's Circuit Court Nominations with His District Court Nominations Notable differences can be found between President Bush's circuit court nomination statistics and those for his district court nominations. Perhaps most notable, as of the end of the 109th Congress, 75.0% of President Bush's circuit court nominees (51 of 68) had received Senate confirmation, compared with 86.9% (206 of 237) of his district court nominees.106 For President Bush's immediate predecessor in the White House, President Clinton, the confirmation rate for his circuit court nominees (71.4%) was also notably less than for his district court nominees (87.2%). However, such differences in confirmation rates for circuit and district nominees were either slight or nonexistent for the three Presidents prior to Clinton.107 Also, the Senate has tended to take much longer to act on President Bush's circuit court nominees than on his district court nominees. As Table 1, below, shows, the mean number of days elapsing from first nomination to confirmation for circuit nominees, 366 days, was more than twice as much as the corresponding time interval of 171 days for district nominees. Also, the median number of days, from first nomination to confirmation, was 216 days for circuit nominees, 62% longer than the corresponding time interval, of 134 days, for district nominees. For circuit nominees returned to the President or withdrawn, the mean interval of 710 days between date of first nomination and date of disposition of most recent nomination (as of the end of the 109th Congress), was nearly four times the corresponding mean interval of 184 days for district nominees; the median number of days for this time interval for circuit nominees was 407, almost three times higher than the corresponding interval of 149 days for district nominees. Table 1. Mean and Median Number of Days Elapsed from First Nomination to Disposition of Last Nomination for President George W. Bush's Nominees to U.S. Circuit or District Court Judgeships (January 20, 2001 - December 9, 2006) Number of days elapsed Courts to which from first nomination to ... nominated Other final Confirmation disposition a Mean Circuit (N=68) 366 (N=51) 710 (N=17) District (N=237) 171 (N=206) 184 (N=31) 106 These numbers and percentages are derived from the circuit and district nominee lists for President Bush in Appendices 1 and 5, respectively. 107 See Table 3 and related discussion later in this report, concerning comparative judicial nominations statistics for the five most recent Presidents. CRS-27 Median Circuit (N=68) 216 (N=51) 407 (N=17) District (N=237) 134 (N=206) 149 (N=31) Legend: N = Number of nominees. Sources: Appendices 1 and 5 at end of this report. a. The most recent nominations for these nominees were either withdrawn by the President or returned to the President. Another indicator that President Bush's circuit court nominees have tended to spend more time in the confirmation process than have his district court nominees is the number of Congresses in which they have been nominated. Table 2, below, shows that roughly 30% of the persons President Bush nominated to circuit judgeships through the end of the 109th Congress, were nominated in two or more Congresses,108 whereas fewer than 10% of the persons he nominated to district judgeships were nominated in more than one Congress.109 As these percentages suggest, President Bush's usual practice, when his judicial nominees failed to receive Senate confirmation in one Congress, was to renominate them in the next Congress. Table 2. Number of Congresses in Which Persons Were Nominated by President George W. Bush to U.S. Circuit or District Court Judgeships (January 20, 2001 - December 9, 2006) Courts to Total number of Number of Congresses in which nominated which persons nominated nominated One Two Three Circuit 68 (100%) 48 (70.6%) 14 (20.6%) 6 (8.8%) District 237 (100%) 216 (91.1%) 19 (8.0%) 2 (0.8%) Circuit and District 305 (100%) 264 (86.6 %) 33 (10.8%) 8 (2.6%) combined Sources: Appendices 1-8 at end of this report. Comparison of President Bush's Circuit and District Nomination Statistics with Those of Other Recent Presidents The following paragraphs compare selected nominations statistics for the presidency of George W. Bush, during the 107th-109th Congresses, with corresponding statistics for the four previous Presidents. The statistics for President Bush are derived from the tables presented at the end of this report, whereas corresponding statistics for 108 Specifically, 20.6% were nominated in two Congresses, and 8.8% were nominated in three Congresses. 109 Specifically, 8.0% were nominated in two Congresses, and 0.9% were nominated in three Congresses. CRS-28 the four previous Presidents have been taken from an earlier CRS report.110 These comparative statistics should be interpreted with caution, as they represent the complete presidencies of President George W. Bush's predecessors, but only the first three Congresses of the presidency of George W. Bush. Final confirmation percentages and time elapsed for the current President could change considerably over the next two years. Number of Nominees, Number Confirmed, and Percent Confirmed. Table 3 provides, for each of the five most recent Presidents, the following judicial nomination statistics:111 ! the total number of persons nominated to circuit and district court judgeships; ! the number of persons nominated to these judgeships per year; ! the total number of persons who were confirmed; ! the number of persons who were confirmed per year; and ! the percentage of the total number nominated who were confirmed. The cells in the table, it should be noted, account only for the number of individuals who were nominees, and do not count "re-submitted" nominations made when individuals were renominated to the same judgeship during a particular presidency. Circuit Court Nominees. Table 3 shows that, through the 109th Congress, the total number of persons nominated by President George W. Bush to be circuit judges (68) was less than the number nominated by Presidents Ronald Reagan in eight years (94), William J. Clinton in eight years (91), and more than the number of nominees of Jimmy Carter in four years (61), and his father, George H. W. Bush, in four years (53).112 The number of persons nominated by President Bush per year to be circuit judges (11.3), was lowest among the five Presidents, although only slightly 110 See CRS Report RL31635, Judicial Nomination Statistics: U.S. District and Circuit Courts, 1977-2003, by Denis Steven Rutkus and Mitchel A. Sollenberger. This report provided a comparative look -- from presidency to presidency, from Congress to Congress, and from one congressional session to another -- at, among other things, the number of district and circuit court nominations submitted to the Senate, the number and percentage receiving committee and Senate action, and the average time taken to hold hearings, conduct committee votes, and conduct Senate votes on the nominations. CRS Report RL31635, however, did not compile one kind of judicial nomination statistic contained in the current report on George W. Bush's lower court nominations -- namely, the number of days which elapsed between the first nominations of a President's circuit and district court nominees and the final disposition of their last nomination. 111 Table 3 is an updated and expanded version of Table 2(b) in the previously noted CRS Report RL31635. 112 Presidents Carter, Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and Clinton, it should be noted, were presented with additional opportunities to make circuit court nominations, over and above those created by vacancies of existing judgeships, when Congress passed legislation in 1978, 1984, and 1990 creating, respectively, 34, 24, and 11 new circuit judgeships. By contrast, thus far in George W. Bush's presidency, no legislation has been enacted creating new circuit judgeships. CRS-29 lower than the corresponding numbers for Presidents Clinton (11.4) and Reagan (11.8).113 The total number of persons nominated by George W. Bush who were confirmed (51) was less than the corresponding confirmation numbers for Presidents Reagan (83), Clinton (65) and Carter (56), but more than for George H. W. Bush (42). The per year number of confirmed circuit nominees for the current President Bush (8.5) was slightly above the corresponding number for President Clinton (8.1) and less than those for Presidents Carter (14), George H. W. Bush (10.5), and Reagan (10.4). Over the course of four successive presidencies, Table 3 reveals, the Senate confirmation percentage for a President's circuit court nominees declined -- from 91.8% for Jimmy Carter, 88.3% for Ronald Reagan, and 79.2% for George H. W. Bush, to 71.4% for William J. Clinton. Through the 109th Congress, however, the presidency of George W. Bush had reversed that downward confirmation trend somewhat, with a 75.0% confirmation rate for the President's circuit nominees. District Court Nominees. Through the end of the 109th Congress, Table 3 shows, the total number of President George W. Bush's district court nominees (237) was the median (middle value) among those for the five most recent Presidents: President Clinton had the most district nominees (352), followed by Presidents Reagan (309), the current President Bush (237), Carter (224), and George H. W. Bush (189).114 The per year number of persons nominated by the current President Bush to be district judges (39.5) was second-lowest among the five Presidents, just above the corresponding number for President Reagan (38.6), and below the numbers for Presidents Carter (56), George H. W. Bush (47.3), and Clinton (44). Table 3. U.S. Circuit and District Court Nominees of Five Most Recent Presidents (January 20, 1977 - December 9, 2006): Total and Per Year Number of Nominees, Total and Per Year Number Confirmed, and Percent of Total Confirmed Circuit Court District Court Circuit and District President Nominees Nominees a Combined (Congresses, years) Per Per Per Total Total Total year year year Jimmy Carter N 61 15.3 224 b 56 285 71.3 (95th to 96th, 1977-1980) C 56 14 206 51.5 262 65.5 113 President Carter nominated the most circuit nominees per year (15.3), and George H. W. Bush the second-most (13.3). 114 Presidents Carter, Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and Clinton were presented with additional opportunities to make district court nominations, over and above those created by vacancies of existing judgeships, when Congress passed legislation in 1978, 1984, and 1990 authorizing, respectively, 117, 63, and 86 new district judgeships. By contrast, during George W. Bush's presidency, through the end of the 109th Congress, relatively few new district judgeships, 20, had been authorized, in one piece of legislation enacted in 2002 (P.L. 107-273, 116 Stat. 1758). CRS-30 Circuit Court District Court Circuit and District President Nominees Nominees a Combined (Congresses, years) Per Per Per Total Total Total year year year % 91.8% -- 92.0% -- 91.9% Ronald Reagan N 94 11.8 309 38.6 403 50.4 (97th to 100th, 1981-1988) C 83 10.4 292 36.5 375 46.9 % 88.3% -- 94.5% -- 93.1% George H. W. Bush N 53 13.3 189 47.3 242 60.5 (101st to 102nd, 1989-1992) C 42 10.5 150 37.5 192 48 % 79.2% -- 79.4% -- 79.3% -- William J. Clinton N 91 11.4 352 44 443 55.4 (103rd to 106th, 1993-2000) C 65 8.1 307 38.4 372 46.5 % 71.4% -- 87.2% 84.0% -- George W. Bush N 68 11.3 237 39.5 305 50.8 (107th to 109th, 2001-2006) C 51 8.5 206 34.3 257 42.8 % 75.0% -- 86.9% -- 84.3% -- Note: The cells in this table account only for the number of individuals who were nominees to U.S. circuit and district court judgeships during each of the five most recent presidential administrations. The cells do not count "re-submitted" nominations made when individuals were renominated to the same judgeship during a particular presidency. Legend: N=number of persons nominated by the President; C=number confirmed; %=percent confirmed. a. Includes nominees to the territorial district courts in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. b. Includes one district court nominee whose nomination was submitted by President Carter on Jan. 8 1981, at the start of the 97th Congress, and withdrawn by President Reagan on Jan. 21, 1981. The number of persons nominated by George W. Bush who were confirmed (206) was less than the corresponding confirmation numbers for Presidents Clinton (307), Reagan (292), but the same as Carter (206), and more than for George H. W. Bush (150). The per year number of confirmed district nominees for the current President Bush (34.3) was lowest among those of the five Presidents, below the corresponding numbers for Presidents Reagan (36.5), George H. W. Bush (37.5), and Clinton (38.4), with Jimmy Carter having the highest number (51.5). Table 3 also shows that George W. Bush's confirmation percentage of 86.9% for district court nominees through the end of the 109th Congress was the second lowest for the five Presidents. Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, and William J. Clinton had higher confirmation percentages for their district court nominees (94.5%, 92.0%, and 87.2%, respectively), whereas George H. W. Bush had a lower confirmation percentage (79.4%). CRS-31 Circuit Court Nominations: Average Number of Days from Nomination to Confirmation. Figure 1, below, shows the average number of days that elapsed for circuit court nominations, from nomination date to confirmation, during each Congress from the 95th (starting in January 1977) through the 109th (which adjourned for last time on December 9, 2006). These Congresses spanned the years of the administrations of the five most recent Presidents, from Jimmy Carter to George W. Bush. Each bar in Figure 1 indicates the average number of elapsed days from nomination date to confirmation for a specified Congress, and under each bar is the name of the President whose presidency coincided in time with that Congress. Note: The averages shown in Figure 1 are those only for circuit court nominations which ultimately were confirmed in a particular Congress. Excluded from the calculation of averages were the pendency times in a Congress for nominations that ultimately were not confirmed (i.e., nominations withdrawn by the President or returned to the President at some point in the Congress, with most returns occurring at a Congress's final adjournment). Calculations of time averages for all nominations in a Congress, from nomination date to final disposition (including not only nominations confirmed, but also those withdrawn or returned) would, it is acknowledged, produce higher average times, in cases where unconfirmed nominations were pending for longer times than the average pendency times for confirmed nominations.115 Figure 1. U.S. Circuit Court Nominations: Average Number of Days from Nomination to Confirmation, 95th Congress to 109th Congress (January 20, 1977 - December 9, 2006) 250 200 150 100 50 0 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th108th109th 115 See Table 8 in CRS Report RL31635, Judicial Nomination Statistics: U.S. District and Circuit Courts, 1977-2003. This table presents, by Congress (from the 95th through the 1st session of the 108th) the average number of days elapsing from nomination date to final action for confirmed nominations, unconfirmed nominations, and confirmed and unconfirmed nominations combined. The table shows that, from the 100th to the 108th Congress, the average elapsed time from nomination to final action in a Congress, for circuit as well as district nominations, was usually, but not always, higher for unconfirmed nominations than it was for confirmed nominations. CRS-32 Figure 1 shows, for the circuit nominations of each of the first four Presidents since January 1977 (Carter, Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and Clinton), a consistent pattern -- namely, that the lowest average number of days from nomination to confirmation was recorded in the first Congress during the presidency, and the highest corresponding average was recorded in the last Congress during the presidency. Among the first four Presidents, the most dramatic proportional increase within this pattern was the almost four-fold increase in average number of days from nomination to confirmation during the Reagan presidency, with a 34-day average in the 97th Congress (the first Congress during that presidency) to a 119-day average in the 100th Congress (the last Congress during that presidency). During the years of the first four presidencies, the highest average number of days from nomination to confirmation, 227 days, was recorded in the 106th Congress, the last Congress during the Clinton presidency -- an average more than twice as long as the 103-day average in the 103rd Congress, the first Congress during that presidency. Figure 1 reveals that, thus far, the presidency of the current White House occupant, George W. Bush, has seen a reversal of the pattern just described. For President Bush's circuit court nominations, the lowest average number of days elapsing from nomination to confirmation, 125 days, was recorded not in the first Congress during his presidency (the 107th), but in the 109th Congress. Thus far in the Bush presidency, the highest average number of days elapsing from nomination to confirmation, 210 days, was recorded in the first Congress during his presidency, the 107th Congress. Figure 1 also shows that during every Congress from the 102nd to the 109th, the average nomination-to-confirmation time interval for circuit court nominations has been more than 100 days. Well above this 100-plus average was the 210-day average for George W. Bush's circuit court nominations during the 107th Congress, the first Congress during his presidency. This average, however, can be seen as roughly at the same level as the corresponding time averages for William J. Clinton's circuit court nominations during the 105th and 106th Congresses (212 days and 227 days respectively). The average elapsed time of 125 days between nomination and confirmation for George W. Bush's circuit nominations in the 109th Congress can be seen as being in the same approximate range as the corresponding averages for President Ronald Reagan's circuit nominations in the 100th Congress (119 days), George H. W. Bush's circuit nominations in the 102nd Congress (108 days), and President Clinton's circuit nominations in the 103rd and 104th Congresses (103 and 124 days respectively). District Court Nominations: Average Number of Days from Nomination to Confirmation. Figure 2, below, like the preceding Figure 1 for circuit nominations, shows the average number of days that elapsed for district court nominations, from nomination date to confirmation, during each Congress from the 95th Congress to the 109th Congress. Each bar in Figure 2 indicates the average number of elapsed days from nomination date to confirmation for a specified Congress, and under each bar is the name of the President whose presidency coincided in time with that Congress. Note: The averages shown in Figure 2 are those only for district court nominations which ultimately were confirmed in a particular Congress. Excluded from the calculation of averages were the pendency times in a Congress for CRS-33 nominations that ultimately were not confirmed, but were withdrawn by the President or returned to the President at some point in the Congress. Figure 2. U.S. District Court Nominations: Average Number of Days from Nomination to Confirmation, 95th Congress to 109th Congress (January 20, 1977 - December 9, 2006) Figure 2 shows, among other things, that from the 95th Congress (during the first two years of the Carter presidency) through the 105th Congress (during the fifth and sixth years of the Clinton presidency), the average number of elapsed days from nomination to confirmation for district court nominations per Congress increased significantly -- from a 40-day average in the 95th Congress, to a 165-day average in the 105th. This overall pattern of increase, however, was marked by drops in the nomination-to-confirmation time average during the first two years of a presidency (i.e., with the average dropping from a significantly higher average recorded in the last two years of the previous presidency), only to be followed by increases in the average during the subsequent Congress or Congresses of the successor presidency. The average nomination-to-confirmation time intervals for George W. Bush's district court nominations, during the three Congresses coinciding with his presidency, have all been below the peak average of 165 days, recorded for President Clinton's district nominees in the 105th Congress. Relatively close to that peak, however, was the 156-day average interval recorded for President Bush's confirmed district nominees in the 108th Congress and the 143-day average interval recorded for confirmed district court nominees in the 109th Congress. Comparison of time averages in Figure 2 with those in Figure 1 also reveals that in nine of the 15 Congresses in the 1977-2006 time frame, the average time intervals between nomination and confirmation were less for district than for circuit court nominations.116 For instance, the nomination-to-confirmation average interval for William J. Clinton's district nominations in the 106th Congress was 133 days, compared with 227 days for his circuit nominations in the same Congress; likewise, 116 In one of the 15 Congresses, the 96th, the average time interval between nomination and confirmation was the same for circuit and district court nominations -- 79 days. CRS-34 the average interval for George W. Bush's district nominations in the 107th Congress was 127 days, compared with 210 days for his circuit nominations in the same Congress. This, however, was not the pattern for the two most recent Congresses. In the 108th Congress the average elapsed time between nomination and confirmation for George W. Bush's district nominations (156 days) was higher than for his circuit nominations (140 days), as it was, again, in the 109th Congress (for district court nominations, 143 days; for circuit nominations, 110 days). It should be emphasized, as a caveat, that Figures 1 and 2, in accounting only for nominations confirmed within a Congress, have certain limitations. The figures focus on the elapsed times of nominations, rather than on nominees, and the time which elapsed from their first nomination to confirmation of their most recent nomination. Focusing only on nominations, rather than persons nominated, underestimates how long individuals awaited confirmation. This is particularly true for courts of appeals nominees, whose nominations have been returned at a greater rate than district court nominees under President George W. Bush. Further, failing to account for nominees who never were confirmed may also understate the average time in pendency for judicial nominations. To provide a clearer comparative snapshot, by presidency, of the average time pending for all nominees, Figures 3 and 4 follow. Over the five most recent presidencies, the two figures provide, for circuit and district court nominees, respectively, the average elapsed time from their first nomination to final disposition of their last nomination, separating confirmed and unconfirmed nominees. CRS-35 Circuit Court Nominees: Average Number of Days from Nomination to Final Action. Figure 3, below, shows by President (from Jimmy Carter to George W. Bush) the average number of days elapsed from date of first nomination to final action for circuit nominees confirmed, as well as for those not confirmed.117 Figure 3. Average Time to Disposition, Confirmed and Unconfirmed Nominees to the U.S. Courts of Appeals, by President (January 20, 1977 - December 9, 2006) 800 710 700 600 Average Number of Days 500 439 400 366 319 300 257 249 195 200 104 100 69 68 0 Carter Reagan G.H.W. Bush Clinton G.W. Bush President Confirmed Nominees Unconfirmed Nominees Figure 3 demonstrates that the average time to confirmation for circuit court nominees, after being almost the same for the circuit nominees of Presidents Carter and Reagan, has since risen steadily. The average elapsed time between first nomination and confirmation was 69 days for Carter circuit nominees and 68 days for Reagan nominees. Subsequently, however, with each succeeding presidency, this time average increased significantly. President George H. W. Bush's confirmed nominees to the circuit courts on average waited 104 days to be confirmed (53% longer than President Reagan's confirmed nominees), President Clinton's confirmed circuit nominees on average waited 249 days (139% longer than George H.W. Bush's nominees), and George W. Bush's circuit court nominees waited, on average, 366 days to be confirmed (47% longer than President Clinton's nominees). When using the Reagan and current Bush presidencies as points of reference, Figure 3 shows, George W. Bush's confirmed circuit court nominees have taken, on average, more than five times as long as President Reagan's circuit nominees to be confirmed (366 versus 68 days). 117 The numbers shown in Figure 3 were calculated from a CRS nominations database derived in large part from data available in the Presidential Nominations database in the Legislative Information System of the U.S. Congress (LIS), available at [http://www.congress.gov/nomis/search.html]. Data for the 95th and 96th Congresses were collected from the Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate. CRS-36 For circuit court nominees not confirmed, Figure 3 reveals that the average elapsed time between first nomination and final disposition of last nomination has, by presidency, also risen steadily, since the presidency of Jimmy Carter. Specifically, the average elapsed times for unconfirmed circuit court nominees between first nomination and final disposition of their last nomination was as follows: for nominees of President Carter, 195 days; nominees of President Reagan, 257 days; nominees of President George H.W. Bush, 319 days; nominees of President Clinton, 439 days; and nominees of President George W. Bush, 710 days -- three and a half times longer than the corresponding elapsed time average of 195 days for President Carter's unconfirmed circuit court nominees. The preceding discussion, it should be noted, compares time averages for circuit nominees of four completed presidencies (Carter through Clinton) with those of a presidency (George W. Bush's) which is still in progress. It is, of course, unclear to what extent the time averages for President Bush's circuit nominees, for his presidency after two completed terms, will be affected by Senate consideration of his nominations in the 110th Congress. District Court Nominees: Average Number of Days from Nomination to Final Action. Figure 4, below, shows, by President (from Jimmy Carter to George W. Bush) the average number of days elapsed from date of first nomination to final action for district court nominees confirmed, as well as for those not confirmed.118 Figure 4 demonstrates that the average time to confirmation, after being 70 days both for the district court nominees of President Carter and of President Reagan, rose steadily during the next three presidencies. President George H. W. Bush's confirmed nominees to the district courts on average waited 107 days to be confirmed (52.9% longer than Reagan and Carter district nominees), President Clinton's confirmed district nominees on average waited 133 days to be confirmed (24.3% longer than George H.W. Bush's nominees), and George W. Bush's district court nominees waited 171 days (28.6% longer than Clinton nominees). Viewed from the perspective of the entire 1977-2006 period in question, George W. Bush's district court nominees have taken, on average, almost two and a half times as long as the district nominees of Presidents Carter and Reagan to be confirmed (171 days for Bush versus 70 days for Carter and Reagan nominees). The magnitude of this increase, however, was not as great as the above-discussed 500+% increase in average time taken for George W. Bush's circuit court nominees to be confirmed (366 days) over the average confirmation time taken by President Reagan's circuit nominees (68 days). In other words, over the course of the last four presidencies (Reagan through George W. Bush) there has been a steady rise in the average times taken to confirm 118 The numbers shown in Figure 4, as for Figure 3 above, were calculated from a CRS nominations database derived in large part from data available in the Presidential Nominations database in the Legislative Information System of the U.S. Congress (LIS), available at [http://www.congress.gov/nomis/search.html]. Data for the 95th and 96th Congresses were collected from the Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate. CRS-37 district as well as circuit court nominees; however, circuit nominees have experienced a higher rate of increase in their average confirmation time than have district nominees, ultimately resulting in an average confirmation time during the presidency of George W. Bush (366 days) more than twice as long as the average confirmation time for district court nominees (171 days). For district court nominees not confirmed, Figure 4 shows, there has not been a steady increase, by presidency, in the average elapsed time between first nomination and final disposition of last nomination. Rather, the average elapsed time stayed at about the same level over the course of the Carter, Reagan, and George H. W. Bush presidencies, increased dramatically, by more than 100%, with the Clinton presidency, and then, for the first six years of the presidency of George W. Bush, fell back to about the same level as the average elapsed times of the Carter, Reagan, and George H.W. Bush presidencies. Specifically, the average elapsed times for unconfirmed district court nominees between first nomination and final disposition of their last nomination was as follows: for Carter nominees, 183 days; Reagan nominees, 165 days; nominees of George H.W. Bush, 174 days; Clinton nominees, 400 days; and nominees of George W. Bush, 184 days. Figure 4. Average Time to Disposition, Confirmed and Unconfirmed Nominees to the U.S. District Courts, by President (January 20, 1977 - December 9, 2006) 450 400 400 350 Average Number of Days 300 250 200 183 184 165 174 171 150 133 107 100 70 70 50 0 Carter Reagan G.H.W. Bush Clinton G.W. Bush President Confirmed Nominees Unconfirmed Nominees The preceding discussion, it is useful to remember, compares time averages for the district court nominees of four completed presidencies (Carter through Clinton) with those of a presidency (George W. Bush's) which is still in progress. For the current Bush presidency, the nominations of four individuals in the last month of the 109th Congress, all of whom were returned by the Senate and renominated in the 110th Congress, had a downward effect on the average time in pendency for unconfirmed CRS-38 nominees (184 days).119 It is, of course, unclear to what extent the time averages for President Bush's district nominees, for his presidency after two completed terms, will be affected by Senate consideration of his nominations in the 110th Congress. 119 The four nominations (and districts) were of James E. Rogan (Central California) and Benjamin H. Settle (Western Washington) on Nov. 15, 2006; Frederick J. Kapala (Northern Illinois) on Dec. 5, 2006; and Thomas A. Farr (Eastern North Carolina) on Dec. 7, 2006. All of these nominations were returned on Dec. 9, 2006, and resubmitted to the 110th Congress on Jan. 9, 2007. The lengths of pendency for each nominee, in the 109th Congress, as of Dec. 9, 2006, were 24, 24, four, and two days, respectively. See Appendix 8. Whether these nominees are confirmed or not in the 110th Congress, the overall time between their first nomination in the 109th Congress and final disposition of their last nomination in the 110th Congress can be expected to significantly exceed the pendency lengths of 24, 24, four, and two days listed in Appendix 8. CRS-39 Appendix 1: President George W. Bush's Nominees to the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals, 107th-109th Congresses (January 20, 2001-December 9, 2006) Days Elapsed, Date Name of Nominee Initial Nomination State Circuit Congress Disposition (Nominees Not Confirmed to Disposition In Italics) Committee of Most Nomination Hearinga Final Action Actionb Recent Nomination 04/28/03 10/28/03 -- 12/09/03 Returned Allen, Claude A. VA Fourth 108th 590 01/20/04 -- -- 12/08/04 Returned Bea, Carlos T. CA Ninth 108th 04/11/03 09/03/03 09/25/03 9/29/03 Confirmed 171 Benton, William D. MO Eighth 108th 02/12/04 04/08/04 04/29/04 6/24/04 Confirmed 133 05/09/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned 107th 09/04/01 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned 108th 01/07/03 -- -- 12/08/04 Returned Boyle, Terrence W. NC Fourth 2,040 02/14/05 03/03/05 06/16/05 08/03/06 Returned 109th 09/05/06 -- -- 09/29/06 Returned 11/15/06 -- -- 12/09/06 Returned 108th 07/25/03 10/22/03 11/06/03 12/08/04 Returned Brown, Janice R. CA D.C. 684 109th 02/14/05 -- 04/21/05 06/08/05 Confirmed 107th 05/22/02 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned Bybee, Jay S. NV Ninth 295 108th 01/07/03 02/05/03 02/27/03 03/13/03 Confirmed Callahan, Consuelo M. CA Ninth 108th 02/12/03 05/07/03 05/08/03 05/22/03 Confirmed 99 Chagares, Michael A. NJ Third 109th 01/25/06 03/14/06 03/30/06 04/04/06 Confirmed 69 CRS-40 Days Elapsed, Date Name of Nominee Initial Nomination State Circuit Congress Disposition (Nominees Not Confirmed to Disposition In Italics) Committee of Most Nomination Hearinga Final Action Actionb Recent Nomination Chertoff, Michael NJ Third 108th 03/05/03 05/7/03 05/22/03 06/09/03 Confirmed 96 05/09/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Clement, Edith B. LA Fifth 107th 188 09/04/01 10/04/01 11/01/01 11/13/01 Confirmed 06/22/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Clifton, Richard R. HI Ninth 107th 391 09/04/01 05/09/02 05/16/02 07/18/02 Confirmed Colloton, Steven M. IA Eighth 108th 02/12/03 07/22/03 07/31/03 09/04/03 Confirmed 204 05/09/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned 107th Cook, Deborah L. OH Sixth 09/04/01 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned 726 108th 01/07/03 01/29/03 02/27/03 05/05/03 Confirmed Duncan, Allyson K. NC Fourth 108th 04/28/03 06/25/03 07/10/03 07/17/03 Confirmed 80 05/09/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned 107th Estrada, Miguel A. VA DC 09/04/01 09/26/02 -- 11/20/02 Returned 848 108th 01/07/03 -- 01/30/03 09/04/03 Withdrawn Fisher, D. Michael PA Third 108th 05/01/03 10/15/03 11/06/03 12/09/03 Confirmed 222 Gibbons, Julia S. TN Sixth 107th 10/09/01 04/25/02 05/02/02 07/29/02 Confirmed 293 Gorsuch, Neil M. CO Tenth 109th 05/10/06 06/21/06 07/13/06 07/20/06 Confirmed 71 Gregory, Roger L. VA Fourth 107th 05/09/01 07/11/01 07/19/01 07/20/01 Confirmed 72 107th 06/26/02 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned Griffin, Richard A. MI Sixth 108th 01/07/03 06/16/04 07/20/04 12/08/04 Returned 1,079 109th 02/14/05 -- 05/26/05 06/09/05 Confirmed CRS-41 Days Elapsed, Date Name of Nominee Initial Nomination State Circuit Congress Disposition (Nominees Not Confirmed to Disposition In Italics) Committee of Most Nomination Hearinga Final Action Actionb Recent Nomination 108th 05/10/04 11/16/04 -- 12/08/04 Returned Griffith, Thomas B. UT DC 400 109th 02/14/05 03/08/05 04/14/05 06/14/05 Confirmed Gruender, Raymond W. MO Eighth 108th 09/29/03 01/22/04 03/04/04 05/20/04 Confirmed 234 Hall, Peter W. VT Second 108th 12/09/03 03/10/04 04/01/04 06/24/04 Confirmed 198 Hardiman, Thomas M. c PA Third 109th 09/13/06 11/14/06 -- 12/09/06 Returned 87 06/21/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Hartz, Harris L. NM Tenth 107th 168 09/04/01 10/25/01 11/29/01 12/06/01 Confirmed 108th 09/29/03 11/19/03 03/11/04 12/08/04 Returned 02/14/05 07/11/06 -- 08/03/06 Returned Haynes, William J., II VA Fourth 1,167 109th 09/05/06 -- -- 09/29/06 Returned 11/15/06 -- -- 12/09/06 Returned Holmes, Jerome A. OK Tenth 109th 05/04/06 06/15/06 07/13/06 07/25/06 Confirmed 82 08/02/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Howard, Jeffrey R. NH First 107th 264 09/04/01 04/11/02 04/18/02 04/23/02 Confirmed Ikuta, Sandra S. CA Ninth 109th 02/08/06 05/02/06 05/25/06 06/19/06 Confirmed 131 Jordan, Kent A. DE Third 109th 06/28/06 09/06/06 09/26/06 12/08/06 Confirmed 163 108th 07/25/03 04/27/04 -- 12/08/04 Returned Kavanaugh, Brett M. MD DC 02/14/05 -- -- 12/21/05 Returned 1,036 109th 01/25/06 05/09/06 05/11/06 05/26/06 Confirmed 06/29/06 08/01/06 -- 09/29/06 Returned Keisler, Peter D. c MD DC 109th 163 11/15/06 -- -- 12/09/06 Returned CRS-42 Days Elapsed, Date Name of Nominee Initial Nomination State Circuit Congress Disposition (Nominees Not Confirmed to Disposition In Italics) Committee of Most Nomination Hearinga Final Action Actionb Recent Nomination Kethledge, Raymond M. MI Sixth 109th 06/28/06 -- -- 12/09/06 Returned 164 06/22/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned 107th Kuhl, Carolyn B. CA Ninth 09/04/01 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned 1,265 108th 01/07/03 04/01/03 05/08/03 12/08/04 Returned Livingston, Debra A.c NY Second 109th 06/28/06 -- -- 12/09/06 Returned 164 05/09/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned McConnell, Michael W. UT Tenth 107th 555 09/04/01 09/18/02 11/14/02 11/15/02 Confirmed 107th 11/08/01 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned McKeague, David W. MI Sixth 108th 01/07/03 06/16/04 07/20/04 12/08/04 Returned 1,309 109th 02/14/05 -- 05/26/05 06/09/05 Confirmed 07/10/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Melloy, Michael J. IA Eighth 107th 216 09/04/01 01/24/02 02/07/02 02/11/02 Confirmed Moore, Kimberly A. VA Federal 109th 05/18/06 06/28/06 07/27/06 09/05/06 Confirmed 110 Murphy, Stephen J., II MI Sixth 109th 06/28/06 -- -- 12/09/06 Returned 164 108th 05/15/03 02/05/04 04/01/04 12/08/04 Returned 02/14/05 03/01/05 03/17/05 08/03/06 Returned Myers, William G., III ID Ninth 1,304 109th 09/05/06 -- -- 09/29/06 Returned 11/15/06 -- -- 12/09/06 Returned 107th 11/08/01 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned Neilson, Susan B. MI Sixth 108th 01/07/03 09/08/04 10/04/04 12/08/04 Returned 1,449 109th 02/14/05 -- 10/20/05 10/27/05 Confirmed CRS-43 Days Elapsed, Date Name of Nominee Initial Nomination State Circuit Congress Disposition (Nominees Not Confirmed to Disposition In Italics) Committee of Most Nomination Hearinga Final Action Actionb Recent Nomination 08/02/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned O'Brien, Terrence L. WY Tenth 107th 223 09/04/01 03/19/02 04/11/02 04/15/02 Confirmed 05/09/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned 107th 09/04/01 07/23/02 09/05/02d 11/20/02 Returned Owen, Priscilla R. TX Fifth 1,477 108th 01/07/03 03/13/03 03/27/03 12/08/04 Returned 109th 02/14/05 -- 04/21/05 05/25/05 Confirmed 05/09/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Parker, Barrington D., Jr. CT Second 107th 155 09/04/01 09/13/01 10/04/01 10/11/01 Confirmed Payne, James H. OK Tenth 109th 09/29/05 -- -- 03/07/06 Withdrawn 159 05/25/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned 107th 09/04/01 10/18/01 03/14/02e 11/20/02 Returned Pickering, Charles W., Sr. MS Fifth 1,293 01/07/03 -- 10/02/03 12/08/04 Returned 108th 02/06/04 -- -- 12/08/04 Returned Prado, Edward C. TX Fifth 108th 02/06/03 03/27/03 04/03/03 05/01/03 Confirmed 84 05/21/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Prost, Sharon DC Federal 107th 123 09/04/01 08/27/01 09/06/01 09/21/01 Confirmed 04/09/03 06/11/03 07/23/03 12/08/04 Returned 108th Pryor, William H., Jr. AL Eleventh 03/12/04 -- -- 12/08/04 Returned 792 109th 02/14/05 -- 05/12/05 06/09/05 Confirmed Raggi, Reena NY Second 107th 05/01/02 08/01/02 09/05/02 09/20/02 Confirmed 142 Riley, William J. NE Eighth 107th 05/23/01 07/24/01 08/02/01 08/02/01 Confirmed 71 CRS-44 Days Elapsed, Date Name of Nominee Initial Nomination State Circuit Congress Disposition (Nominees Not Confirmed to Disposition In Italics) Committee of Most Nomination Hearinga Final Action Actionb Recent Nomination 05/09/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned 107th Roberts, John G., Jr. MD DC 09/04/01 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned 729 108th 01/07/03 01/29/03 02/27/03 05/08/03 Confirmed Rogers, John M. KY Sixth 107th 12/19/01 06/13/02 07/11/02 11/14/02 Confirmed 330 107th 11/08/01 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned Saad, Henry W. MI Sixth 108th 01/07/03 07/30/03 06/17/04 12/08/04 Returned 1,600 109th 02/14/05 -- -- 03/27/06 Withdrawn 05/09/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Shedd, Dennis W. SC Fourth 107th 559 09/04/01 06/27/02 11/14/02 11/19/02 Confirmed Shepherd, Bobby E. AR Eighth 109th 05/18/06 06/28/06 07/13/06 07/20/06 Confirmed 63 Smith, D. Brooks PA Third 107th 09/10/01 02/26/02 05/23/02 07/31/02 Confirmed 324 05/22/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Smith, Lavenski R. AR Eighth 107th 419 09/04/01 05/23/02 06/27/02 07/15/02 Confirmed Smith, Milan D., Jr. CA Ninth 109th 02/14/06 04/25/06 05/04/06 05/16/06 Confirmed 91 12/16/05 03/01/06 05/04/06 08/03/06 Returned Smith, N. Randy c, f ID Ninth 109th 09/05/06 -- 09/21/06 09/29/06 Returned 358 11/15/06 -- -- 12/09/06 Returned Steele, William H. AL Eleventh 107th 10/09/01 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned 407 05/09/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned 107th Sutton, Jeffrey S. OH Sixth 09/04/01 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned 720 108th 01/07/03 01/29/03 02/13/03 04/29/03 Confirmed CRS-45 Days Elapsed, Date Name of Nominee Initial Nomination State Circuit Congress Disposition (Nominees Not Confirmed to Disposition In Italics) Committee of Most Nomination Hearinga Final Action Actionb Recent Nomination Sykes, Diane S. WI Seventh 108th 11/14/03 02/11/04 03/11/04 06/24/04 Confirmed 223 05/25/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned 107th Tymkovich, Timothy M. CO Tenth 09/04/01 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned 676 108th 01/07/03 02/12/03 03/06/03 04/01/03 Confirmed Van Antwerpen, Franklin S. PA Third 108th 11/21/03 01/28/04 03/04/04 05/20/04 Confirmed 181 02/08/06 -- -- 08/03/06 Returned Wallace, Michael B. MS Fifth 109th 09/05/06 09/26/06 -- 09/29/06 Returned 304 11/15/06 -- -- 12/09/06 Returned Wesley, Richard C. NY Second 108th 03/05/03 05/22/03 06/05/03 06/11/03 Confirmed 98 g Mean 366.0 Days elapsed, initial nomination to disposition of most recent nomination, confirmed nominees (51 nominees) Medianh 216 g Mean 710.4 Days elapsed, initial nomination to disposition of most recent nomination, nominees not confirmed (17 nominees) Medianh 407 Notes: a. Hearing date listed is the first date the nomination received a hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee. b. Unless otherwise noted, date of committee action is the date the motion to report favorably carried. c. Resubmitted in the 110th Congress on Jan. 9, 2007. As of Jan. 19, 2007, four nominees had been resubmitted in the 110th Congress. d. On September 5, 2002, motion to report Priscilla Owen favorably failed; a motion to report without recommendation failed, and a motion to report unfavorably also failed. Sen. Jon Kyl, "Judge Priscilla Owen," remarks in the Senate, Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 148, pp. S8253-S8255. e. On March 14, 2002, motion to report Charles Pickering Sr. favorably failed; a motion to report without recommendation failed, and a motion to report unfavorably also failed. Sen. Trent Lott, "Nomination of Charles Pickering," remarks in the Senate, Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 148, pp. S1915-S1917. CRS-46 f. N. Randy Smith's nomination of Jan. 9, 2007, was withdrawn by President Bush on Jan. 16, 2007, and renominated to a different seat on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on that same day. g. The "Mean" is the sum of the number of elapsed days for all of the nominations in question divided by the number of those nominations. h. The "Median" is the elapsed time for the nomination that is the "middle case," with an equal number of the nominations having longer elapsed times than that nomination and an equal number of nominations having shorter elapsed times. If there are an even number of nominations, the median is the arithmetic mean of the elapsed times for the two nominations in the middle of the distribution. CRS - 47 Appendix 2. President George W. Bush's Nominations to the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals During the 107th Congress (January 20, 2001-November 20, 2002) Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee State Circuit Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing C Final Action By Senate Action a Action B Action 1 Boyle, Terrence W. d NC Fourth 05/09/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 86 08/03/01 2 Clement, Edith B. d LA Fifth 05/09/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 86 08/03/01 3 Cook, Deborah L. d OH Sixth 05/09/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 86 08/03/01 4 Estrada, Miguel A. d VA DC 05/09/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 86 08/03/01 5 Gregory, Roger L. e VA Fourth 05/09/01 07/11/01 07/19/01 07/20/01 63 71 72 93-1 vote 6 McConnell, Michael W. d UT Tenth 05/09/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 86 08/03/01 7 Owen, Priscilla R. d TX Fifth 05/09/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 86 08/03/01 8 Parker, Barrington D., Jr. d CT Second 05/09/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 86 08/03/01 9 Roberts, John G., Jr. d MD DC 05/09/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 86 08/03/01 CRS - 48 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee State Circuit Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing C Final Action By Senate Action a Action B Action 10 Shedd, Dennis W. d SC Fourth 05/09/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 86 08/03/01 11 Sutton, Jeffrey S. d OH Sixth 05/09/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 86 08/03/01 12 Prost, Sharon d DC Federal 05/21/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 74 08/03/01 13 Smith, Lavenski R. d AR Eighth 05/22/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 73 08/03/01 14 Riley, William J. NE Eighth 05/23/01 07/24/01 08/02/01 08/02/01 62 71 71 97-0 vote 15 Pickering, Charles W., Sr. d MS Fifth 05/25/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 70 08/03/01 16 Tymkovich, Timothy M. d CO Tenth 05/25/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 70 08/03/01 17 Hartz, Harris L. d NM Tenth 06/21/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 43 08/03/01 18 Clifton, Richard R. d HI Ninth 06/22/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 42 08/03/01 19 Kuhl, Carolyn B. d CA Ninth 06/22/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 42 08/03/01 CRS - 49 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee State Circuit Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing C Final Action By Senate Action a Action B Action 20 Melloy, Michael J. d IA Eighth 07/10/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 24 08/03/01 d 21 Howard, Jeffrey R. NH First 08/02/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 1 08/03/01 22 O'Brien, Terrence L. d WY Tenth 08/02/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 1 08/03/01 23 Boyle, Terrence W. e NC Fourth 09/04/01 -- -- Returned -- 442 11/20/02 24 Clement, Edith B. e LA Fifth 09/04/01 10/04/01 11/01/01 11/13/01 30 58 70 99-0 vote 25 Clifton, Richard R. e HI Ninth 09/04/01 05/09/02 05/16/02 Cloture 247 254 317 97-1 vote 07/18/02 07/18/02 98-0 vote 26 Cook, Deborah L. e OH Sixth 09/04/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 442 11/20/02 27 Estrada, Miguel A. e VA DC 09/04/01 09/26/02 -- Returned 387 -- 442 11/20/02 28 Hartz, Harris L. e NM Tenth 09/04/01 10/25/01 11/29/01 12/06/01 51 86 93 99-0 vote 29 Howard, Jeffrey R. e NH First 09/04/01 04/11/02 04/18/02 04/23/02 219 226 231 99-0 vote CRS - 50 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee State Circuit Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing C Final Action By Senate Action a Action B Action 30 Kuhl, Carolyn B. e CA Ninth 09/04/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 442 11/20/02 31 McConnell, Michael W. e UT Tenth 09/04/01 09/18/02 11/14/02 11/15/02 379 436 437 32 Melloy, Michael J. e IA Eighth 09/04/01 01/24/02 02/07/02 02/11/02 142 156 160 91-0 vote 33 O'Brien, Terrence L. e WY Tenth 09/04/01 03/19/02 04/11/02 04/15/02 196 219 223 98-0 vote e 34 Owen, Priscilla R. TX Fifth 09/04/01 07/23/02 Defeated Returned 322 366 442 09/05/02 f 11/20/02 35 Parker, Barrington D. e CT Second 09/04/01 09/13/01 10/04/01 10/11/01 9 30 37 100-0 vote e 36 Pickering, Charles W., Sr. MS Fifth 09/04/01 10/18/01 Defeated Returned 44 191 442 03/14/02 g 11/20/02 02/07/02 37 Prost, Sharon e DC Federal 09/04/01 08/27/01h 09/06/01 09/21/01 i 2 17 97-0 vote 38 Roberts, John G., Jr. e MD DC 09/04/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 442 11/20/02 39 Shedd, Dennis W. e SC Fourth 09/04/01 06/27/02 11/14/02 Cloture 296 436 441 vitiated 11/18/02 11/19/02 55-44 vote CRS - 51 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee State Circuit Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing C Final Action By Senate Action a Action B Action 40 Smith, Lavenski R. e AR Eighth 09/04/01 05/23/02 06/27/02 Cloture 261 296 314 94-3 vote 07/15/02 07/15/02 33 Sutton, Jeffrey S. e OH Sixth 09/04/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 442 11/20/02 34 Tymkovich, Timothy M. e CO Tenth 09/04/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 442 11/20/02 43 Smith, D. Brooks PA Third 09/10/01 02/26/02 05/23/02 07/31/02 169 255 324 64-35 vote 44 Gibbons, Julia S. TN Sixth 10/09/01 04/25/02 05/02/02 Cloture 198 205 293 89-0 vote 07/26/02 07/29/02 95-0 vote 45 Steele, William H. AL Eleventh 10/09/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 407 11/20/02 46 McKeague, David W. MI Sixth 11/08/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 377 11/20/02 47 Neilson, Susan B. MI Sixth 11/08/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 377 11/20/02 CRS - 52 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee State Circuit Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing C Final Action By Senate Action a Action B Action 48 Saad, Henry W. MI Sixth 11/08/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 377 11/20/02 49 Rogers, John M. KY Sixth 12/19/01 06/13/02 07/11/02 11/14/02 176 204 330 50 Raggi, Reena NY Second 05/01/02 08/01/02 09/05/02 09/20/02 92 127 142 85-0 vote 51 Bybee, Jay S. NV Ninth 05/22/02 -- -- Returned -- -- 182 11/20/02 52 Griffin, Richard A. MI Sixth 06/26/02 -- -- Returned -- -- 147 11/20/02 Number of days elapsed from date received in Senate: Meanj 176.0k 194.2 210.1 204.1 Medianl 176.0k 204.0 223.0 86.0 17 confirmed nominations 35 unconfirmed nominations Note: The above table does not include nine circuit court nominations submitted by President William J. Clinton, on either Jan. 3, 2001, or Jan. 4. 2001, at the start of the 107th Congress. (For a list of the nine nominations, see p. 15 of CRS Report 98-510 GOV, Judicial Nominations by President Clinton During the 103rd-106th Congresses, by Denis Steven Rutkus.) All nine nominations were withdrawn by President Bush on Mar. 19, 2001, although one of the nine nominees, Roger L. Gregory of Virginia, was renominated by President Bush on May 9, 2001, and confirmed by the Senate on July 20, 2001. a. The "Committee action" date, unless there is a note indicating otherwise, is the date on which the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to report a nomination favorably to the Senate. b. A date standing alone is the date of Senate confirmation. A vote tally underneath the date is the roll call vote by which the nomination was confirmed. The absence of a roll call vote indicates that the nomination was confirmed by voice vote or by unanimous consent. Where final action was not a Senate vote to confirm, the type of final action is specified, along with the date. "Cloture" indicates that the Senate voted on a motion to close debate (with passage of the motion requiring three-fifths of the Senate, or 60 Members, voting in favor). "Cloture vitiated" indicates that the Senate by unanimous consent vitiated (undid) a motion to close debate. "Withdrawn" indicates that a nomination was withdrawn by the President. "Returned" indicates that the Senate returned a nomination to the President (upon a Senate adjournment or recess of more than 30 days). CRS - 53 c. Where a judicial nomination received more than one day of hearings, the "Days from nomination date to:" "Hearing" is the number of days from the nomination date to the first hearing date. d. This was the nominee's first of two nominations to the judgeship. After the nomination was returned to President Bush on Aug. 3, 2001, the individual was renominated on Sept. 4, 2001. e. This was the nominee's second nomination to the judgeship. See the earlier nomination in the 107th Congress. f. The committee vote to report favorably failed (9-10); the vote to report without recommendation failed (9-10); and the vote to report unfavorably failed (9-10). g. The committee vote to report favorably failed (9-10); the vote to report without recommendation failed (9-10); and the vote to report unfavorably failed (9-10). h. On Aug. 27, 2001, during the August recess of the first session of the 107th Congress, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing for Ms. Prost in expectation of her renomination to the circuit court. An earlier nomination of Ms. Prost had been returned to the President at the beginning of the August recess. i. The hearing, on Aug. 27, 2001, preceded the nomination date; therefore, no elapsed time between Senate receipt and hearing date has been calculated. See preceding note. j. The "Mean," or average, is the sum of the number of elapsed days for all of the nominations in question divided by the number of those nominations. Note: Calculation of the mean in the "Hearing" column excluded the time that elapsed between the hearing date and Senate receipt of the Sept. 4, 2001, nomination of Sharon Prost, since the hearing date for that nomination preceded the nomination date. (See two preceding table notes regarding the Prost nomination.) k. Calculation of this time average excluded the times between hearing date and Senate receipt for the September 2001 nomination of Sharon Prost, since her hearing date preceded her nomination date. (See preceding table note "i" regarding the Prost nomination.) l. In each "Median" cell, the number represents (1) the elapsed time for the nomination in the middle of the distribution of all the nominations in question, with an equal number of the nominations having longer elapsed times than that nomination and an equal number of nominations having shorter elapsed times; or (2) the arithmetic mean of the elapsed times for the two nominations in the middle of the distribution if there is no one middle nomination. CRS - 54 Appendix 3. President George W. Bush's Nominations to the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals During the 108th Congress (January 7, 2003-December 8, 2004) Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee State Circuit Received by Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing C Final Action Senate Action a Action B Action 1 Boyle, Terrence W. d NC Fourth 01/07/03 -- -- Returned -- -- 701 12/08/04 e 2 Bybee, Jay S. d NV Ninth 01/07/03 02/05/03 02/27/03 03/13/03 29 51 65 74-19 vote 3 Cook, Deborah L. d OH Sixth 01/07/03 01/29/03 02/27/03 05/05/03 22 51 118 66-25 vote 4 Estrada, Miguel A. d VA DC 01/07/03 -- 01/30/03 Cloture -- 23 240 55-44 vote 03/06/03 Cloture 55-42 vote 03/13/03 Cloture 55-45 vote 03/18/03 Cloture 55-44 vote 04/02/03 Cloture 52-39 vote 05/05/03 CRS - 55 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee State Circuit Received by Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing C Final Action Senate Action a Action B Action Cloture 54-43 vote 05/08/03 Cloture 55-43 vote 07/30/03 Withdrawn 09/04/03 5 Griffin, Richard A. d MI Sixth 01/07/03 06/16/04 07/20/04 Cloture 526 560 701 54-44 vote 07/22/04 Returned 12/08/04 e 6 Kuhl, Carolyn A. d CA Ninth 01/07/03 04/01/03 05/08/03 Cloture 84 121 701 vitiated 07/31/03 Cloture 53-43 vote 11/14/03 Returned 12/08/04 CRS - 56 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee State Circuit Received by Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing C Final Action Senate Action a Action B Action 7 McKeague, David W. d MI Sixth 01/07/03 06/16/04 07/20/04 Cloture 526 560 701 53-44 vote 07/22/04 Returned 12/08/04 e 8 Neilson, Susan B. d MI Sixth 01/07/03 09/08/04 10/04/04 Returned 610 636 701 12/08/04 e 9 Owen, Priscilla R. d TX Fifth 01/07/03 03/13/03 03/27/03 Cloture 65 79 701 52-45 vote 05/01/03 Cloture 52-45 vote 05/08/03 Cloture 53-43 vote 07/29/03 Cloture 53-42 vote 11/14/03 Returned 12/08/04 e CRS - 57 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee State Circuit Received by Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing C Final Action Senate Action a Action B Action 10 Pickering, Charles W., Sr. d MS Fifth 01/07/03 -- 10/02/03 Cloture -- 268 701 54-43 vote 10/30/03 Returned 12/08/04 11 Roberts, John G., Jr. d MD DC 01/07/03 01/29/03 02/27/03 Recommit f 22 51 121 04/30/03 04/30/03 05/08/03 05/08/03 12 Saad, Henry W. d MI Sixth 01/07/03 07/30/03 06/17/04 Cloture 204 527 701 52-46 vote 07/22/04 Returned 12/08/04 e 13 Sutton, Jeffrey S. d OH Sixth 01/07/03 01/29/03 02/13/03 04/29/03 22 37 112 52-41 vote 14 Tymkovich, Timothy M. d CO Tenth 01/07/03 02/12/03 03/06/03 04/01/03 36 58 84 58-41 vote 15 Prado, Edward C. TX Fifth 02/06/03 03/27/03 04/03/03 05/01/03 49 56 84 97-0 vote 16 Callahan, Consuelo M. CA Ninth 02/12/03 05/07/03 05/08/03 05/22/03 84 85 99 99-0 vote 17 Colloton, Steven M. IA Eighth 02/12/03 07/22/03 07/31/03 09/04/03 160 169 204 94-1 vote CRS - 58 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee State Circuit Received by Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing C Final Action Senate Action a Action B Action 18 Chertoff, Michael NJ Third 03/05/03 05/07/03 05/22/03 06/09/03 63 78 96 88-1 vote 19 Wesley, Richard C. NY Second 03/05/03 05/22/03 06/05/03 06/11/03 78 92 98 96-0 vote 20 Pryor, William H., Jr. AL Eleventh 04/09/03 06/11/03 07/23/03 Cloture 63 105 609 53-44 vote 07/31/03 Cloture 51-43 vote 11/06/03 Returned 12/08/04 21 Bea, Carlos T. CA Ninth 04/11/03 09/03/03 09/25/03 09/29/03 145 167 171 86-0 vote 22 Allen, Claude A. VA Fourth 04/28/03 10/28/03 -- Returned 183 -- 225 12/09/03 23 Duncan, Allyson K. NC Fourth 04/28/03 06/25/03 07/10/03 07/17/03 58 73 80 93-0 vote 24 Fisher, D. Michael PA Third 05/01/03 10/15/03 11/06/03 12/09/03 167 189 222 25 Myers, William G., III ID Ninth 05/15/03 02/05/04 04/01/04 Cloture 266 322 573 53-44 vote 07/20/04 Returned 12/08/04 e CRS - 59 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee State Circuit Received by Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing C Final Action Senate Action a Action B Action 26 Brown, Janice R. CA DC 07/25/03 10/22/03 11/06/03 Cloture 89 104 502 53-43 vote 11/14/03 Returned 12/08/04 e 27 Kavanaugh, Brett M. MD DC 07/25/03 04/27/04 -- Returned 277 -- 502 12/08/04 e 28 Gruender, Raymond W. MO Eighth 09/29/03 01/22/04 03/04/04 05/20/04 115 157 234 97-1 vote 29 Haynes, William J., II VA Fourth 09/29/03 11/19/03 03/11/04 Returned 51 164 436 12/08/04 e 30 Sykes, Diane S. WI Seventh 11/14/03 02/11/04 03/11/04 06/24/04 89 118 223 70-27 vote 31 Van Antwerpen, Franklin S. PA Third 11/21/03 01/28/04 03/04/04 05/20/04 68 104 181 96-0 vote 32 Hall, Peter W. VT Second 12/09/03 03/10/04 04/01/04 06/24/04 92 114 198 33 Allen, Claude A. g VA Fourth 01/20/04 -- -- Returned -- -- 323 12/08/04 34 Pickering, Charles W., Sr. h, i MS Fifth 02/06/04 -- -- Returned -- -- 306 12/08/04 35 Benton, William D. MO Eighth 02/12/04 04/08/04 04/29/04 06/24/04 56 77 133 CRS - 60 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee State Circuit Received by Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing C Final Action Senate Action a Action B Action 36 Pryor, William H., Jr. g ,j AL Eleventh 03/12/04 -- -- Returned -- -- 271 12/08/04 e 37 Griffith, Thomas B. UT DC 05/10/04 11/16/04 -- Returned 190 -- 212 12/08/04 e Mean k 144.8 173.2 140.2 516.2 Number of days elapsed from date received in Senate: Median l 84.0 104.5 119.5 573.0 18 confirmed nominations 19 unconfirmed nominations a. The "Committee action" date, unless there is a note indicating otherwise, is the date on which the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to report a nomination favorably to the Senate. b. A date standing alone is the date of Senate confirmation. A vote tally underneath the date is the roll call vote by which the nomination was confirmed. The absence of a roll call vote indicates that the nomination was confirmed by voice vote or by unanimous consent. Where final action was not a Senate vote to confirm, the type of final action is specified, along with the date. "Cloture" indicates that the Senate voted on a motion to close debate (with passage of the motion requiring three-fifths of the Senate, or 60 Members, voting in favor). "Cloture vitiated" indicates that the Senate by unanimous consent vitiated (undid) a motion to close debate. "Withdrawn" indicates that a nomination was withdrawn by the President. "Returned" indicates that the Senate returned a nomination to the President (upon a Senate adjournment or recess of more than 30 days). c. Where a judicial nomination received more than one day of hearings, the "Days from nomination date to:" "Hearing" is the number of days from the nomination date to the first hearing date. d. Resubmission; see earlier nomination(s) in 107th Congress. e. Nominee was renominated in the 109th Congress, on 02/14/2005. f. Senate by unanimous consent agreed to recommit the nomination to the Senate Judiciary Committee. g. Resubmission; see earlier nomination in 108th Congress. h. Resubmission; see three earlier nominations -- one in 108th Congress and two in 107th Congress. i. On 01/16/2004, between the first and second sessions of the 108th Congress, the nominee was appointed to the court by presidential "recess appointment," an appointment which expired on 12/08/2004, at the end of the second session of the 108th Congress. j. On 02/20/2004, during a recess within the second session of the 108th Congress, the nominee was appointed to the court by presidential "recess appointment,"an appointment that was to expire at the end of the first session of the 109th Congress. However, early in the 109th Congress, on 02/14/2005, he was renominated and then, on 06/09/05, confirmed, more than six months before his recess appointment would have expired. k. The "Mean," or average, is the sum of the number of elapsed days for all of the nominations in question divided by the number of those nominations. l. In each "Median" cell, the number represents (1) the elapsed time for the nomination in the middle of the distribution of all the nominations in questions, with an equal number of the nominations having longer elapsed times than that nomination and an equal number of nominations having shorter elapsed times; or (2) the arithmetic mean of the elapsed times for the two nominations in the middle of the distribution if there is no one middle nomination. CRS - 61 Appendix 4. President George W. Bush's Nominations to the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals During the 109th Congress (January 4, 2005 - December 9, 2006) Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee State Circuit Received by Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing C Final Action Senate Action a Action B Action 1 Boyle, Terrence W. d NC Fourth 02/14/05 03/03/05 06/16/05 Returned 17 122 535 08/03/06 e 2 Brown, Janice R. d CA DC 02/14/05 04/21/05 Cloture -- 66 114 65-32 vote 06/07/05 06/08/05 56-43 vote e 3 Griffin, Richard A. d MI Sixth 02/14/05 05/26/05 06/09/05 -- 101 115 95-0 vote 4 Griffith, Thomas B. d UT DC 02/14/05 03/08/05 04/14/05 06/14/05 22 59 120 73-24 vote 5 Haynes, William J., II d VA Fourth 02/14/05 07/11/06 -- Returned 512 -- 535 08/03/06 e d 6 Kavanaugh, Brett M. MD DC 02/14/05 -- Returned -- -- 310 12/22/05 e 7 McKeague, David W. d MI Sixth 02/14/05 05/26/05 06/09/05 -- 101 115 96-0 vote 8 Myers, William G., III d ID Ninth 02/14/05 03/01/05 03/17/05 Returned 15 31 535 08/03/06 e 9 Neilson, Susan B. d MI Sixth 02/14/05 10/20/05 10/27/05 -- 248 255 97-0 vote CRS - 62 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee State Circuit Received by Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing C Final Action Senate Action a Action B Action e 10 Owen, Priscilla R. d TX Fifth 02/14/05 04/21/05 Cloture -- 66 100 81-18 vote 05/24/05 05/25/05 55-43 vote e 11 Pryor, William H., Jr. d AL Eleventh 02/14/05 05/12/05 Cloture -- 87 115 67-32 vote 06/08/05 06/09/05 53-45 vote e 12 Saad, Henry W. MI Sixth 02/14/05 -- Withdrawn -- -- 406 03/27/06 13 Payne, James H. OK Tenth 09/29/05 -- -- Withdrawn -- -- 159 03/07/06 14 Smith, N. Randy ID Ninth 12/16/05 03/01/06 05/04/06 Returned 75 139 230 08/03/06 15 Chagares, Michael A. NJ Third 01/25/06 03/14/06 03/30/06 04/04/06 48 64 69 98-0 vote 16 Kavanaugh, Brett M. f MD DC 01/25/06 05/09/06 05/11/06 Cloture 104 106 121 67-30 vote 05/26/06 05/26/06 57-36 vote 17 Ikuta, Sandra S. CA Ninth 02/08/06 05/02/06 05/25/06 06/19/06 83 106 131 81-0 vote CRS - 63 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee State Circuit Received by Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing C Final Action Senate Action a Action B Action 18 Wallace, Michael B. MS Fifth 02/08/06 -- -- Returned -- -- 176 08/03/06 19 Smith, Milan D., Jr. CA Ninth 02/14/06 04/25/06 05/04/06 05/16/06 70 79 91 93-0 vote 20 Holmes, Jerome A. OK Tenth 05/04/06 06/15/06 07/13/06 07/25/06 42 70 82 67-30 vote 21 Gorsuch, Neil M. CO Tenth 05/10/06 06/21/06 07/13/06 07/20/06 42 64 71 22 Moore, Kimberly A. VA Federal 05/18/06 06/28/06 07/27/06 09/05/06 41 70 110 92-0 vote 23 Shepherd, Bobby E. AR Eighth 05/18/06 06/28/06 07/13/06 07/20/06 41 56 63 24 Jordan, Kent A. DE Third 06/28/06 09/06/06 09/26/06 Cloture 70 90 163 93-0 vote 12/08/06 12/08/06 91-0 vote 25 Kethledge, Raymond MI Sixth 06/28/06 -- -- Returned -- -- 164 12/09/06 26 Livingston, Debra A. g NY Second 06/28/06 -- -- Returned -- -- 164 12/09/06 27 Murphy, Stephen J. MI Sixth 06/28/06 -- -- Returned -- -- 164 12/09/06 28 Keisler, Peter D. MD DC 06/29/06 08/01/06 -- Returned 33 -- 164 09/29/06 29 Boyle, Terrence W. f NC Fourth 09/05/06 -- -- Returned -- -- 92 09/29/06 CRS - 64 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee State Circuit Received by Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing C Final Action Senate Action a Action B Action 30 Haynes, William J., II f VA Fourth 09/05/06 -- -- Returned -- -- 24 09/29/06 31 Myers, William G., III f ID Ninth 09/05/06 -- -- Returned -- -- 24 09/29/06 32 Smith, N. Randy f ID Ninth 09/05/06 -- 09/21/06 Returned -- 16 24 09/29/06 33 Wallace, Michael B. f MS Ninth 09/05/06 09/26/06 -- Returned 21 -- 24 09/29/06 34 Hardiman, Thomas M. g PA Third 09/13/06 11/14/06 -- Returned 62 -- 87 12/09/06 35 Boyle, Terrence W. f NC Fourth 11/15/06 -- Returned -- -- 24 12/09/06 36 Haynes, William J. f VA Fourth 11/15/06 -- Returned -- -- 24 12/09/06 37 Keisler, Peter D. f, g MD DC 11/15/06 -- Returned -- -- 24 12/09/06 38 Myers, William G., III f ID Ninth 11/15/06 -- Returned -- -- 24 12/09/06 39 Smith, N. Randy f, g, h ID Ninth 11/15/06 Returned -- -- 24 12/09/06 40 Wallace, Michael B. f MS Fifth 11/15/06 Returned -- -- 24 12/09/06 CRS - 65 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee State Circuit Received by Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing C Final Action Senate Action a Action B Action Mean i 76.4 87.1 114.7 159.2 Number of days elapsed from date received in Senate: Median j 42 74.5 114.5 89.5 16 confirmed nominations 24 unconfirmed nominations a. The "Committee action" date, unless there is a note indicating otherwise, is the date on which the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to report a nomination favorably to the Senate. b. A date standing alone is the date of Senate confirmation. A vote tally underneath the date is the roll call vote by which the nomination was confirmed. The absence of a roll call vote indicates that the nomination was confirmed by voice vote or by unanimous consent. Where final action was not a Senate vote to confirm, the type of final action is specified, along with the date. "Cloture" indicates that the Senate voted on a motion to close debate (with passage of the motion requiring three-fifths of the Senate, or 60 Members, voting in favor). "Cloture vitiated" indicates that the Senate by unanimous consent vitiated (undid) a motion to close debate. "Withdrawn" indicates that a nomination was withdrawn by the President. "Returned" indicates that the Senate returned a nomination to the President (upon a Senate adjournment or recess of more than 30 days). c. Where a judicial nomination received more than one day of hearings, the "Days from nomination date to:" "Hearing" is the number of days from the nomination date to the first hearing date. d. Resubmission; see earlier nomination(s) in 108th Congress. e. Hearing held on earlier nomination in 108th Congress. f. Resubmission; see earlier nomination(s) in 109th Congress. g. Resubmitted in the 110th Congress on Jan. 9, 2007. As of Jan. 19, 2007, four nominees had been resubmitted in the 110th Congress. h. N. Randy Smith's nomination of Jan. 9, 2007 was withdrawn by President Bush on Jan. 16, 2007 and renominated to a different seat on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on that same day. i. The "Mean," or average, is the sum of the number of elapsed days for all of the nominations in question divided by the number of those nominations. j. In each "Median" cell, the number represents (1) the elapsed time for the nomination in the middle of the distribution of all the nominations in questions, with an equal number of the nominations having longer elapsed times than that nomination and an equal number of nominations having shorter elapsed times; or (2) the arithmetic mean of the elapsed times for the two nominations in the middle of the distribution if there is no one middle nomination. CRS - 66 Appendix 5: President George W. Bush's Nominees to the U.S. District Courts, 107th-109th Congresses (January 20, 2001-December 9, 2006) Days Elapsed, Name of Nominee Date Initial Nomination Districta Congress Disposition to Disposition of (Nominees Not Confirmed Committee Nomination Hearing Final Action Most Recent In Italics) Actionb Nomination 107th 10/10/02 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned Adams, John R. N.OH 123 108th 01/07/03 01/29/03 02/06/03 02/10/03 Confirmed Africk, Lance M. E.LA 107th 01/23/02 03/29/02 04/11/02 04/17/02 Confirmed 84 Altonaga, Cecilia M. S.FL 108th 01/15/03 04/01/03 04/10/03 05/06/03 Confirmed 111 Alvarez, Micaela S.TX 108th 06/16/04 09/08/04 09/30/04 11/21/04 Confirmed 158 Anderson, Percy C.CA 107th 01/23/02 04/11/02 04/18/02 04/25/02 Confirmed 92 08/02/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Armijo, M. Christina NM 107th 96 09/04/01 10/18/01 11/01/01 11/06/01 Confirmed Autrey, Henry E. E.MO 107th 03/21/02 05/24/02 06/13/02 08/01/02 Confirmed 133 Bailey, John P. c N.WV 109th 06/28/06 -- -- 12/09/06 Returned 164 Baker, Valerie L. c C.CA 109th 05/04/06 08/01/06 09/21/06 12/09/06 Returned 219 Barrett, Michael R. S.OH 109th 12/16/05 03/29/06 04/27/06 05/01/06 Confirmed 136 06/20/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Bates, John D. DC 107th 174 09/04/01 10/25/01 11/29/01 12/11/01 Confirmed Batten, Timothy C., Sr. N.GA 109th 09/28/05 02/07/06 02/16/06 03/06/06 Confirmed 159 Baylson, Michael M. E.PA 107th 01/23/02 04/11/02 04/18/02 04/30/02 Confirmed 97 Beistline, Ralph R. AK 107th 11/08/01 02/26/02 03/07/02 03/12/02 Confirmed 124 Benitez, Roger T. S.CA 108th 05/01/03 02/25/04 04/01/04 06/17/04 Confirmed 413 Bennett, Richard D. MD 108th 01/29/03 03/27/03 04/03/03 04/09/03 Confirmed 70 Besosa, Francisco A. PR 109th 05/16/06 08/01/06 09/21/06 09/25/06 Confirmed 132 Bianco, Joseph F. E.NY 109th 07/28/05 11/01/05 11/17/05 12/21/05 Confirmed 146 Blackburn, Robert E. DC 107th 09/10/01 01/24/02 02/07/02 02/26/02 Confirmed 169 CRS - 67 Days Elapsed, Name of Nominee Date Initial Nomination Districta Congress Disposition to Disposition of (Nominees Not Confirmed Committee Nomination Hearing Final Action Most Recent In Italics) Actionb Nomination 08/02/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Bowdre, Karon O. N.AL 107th 96 09/04/01 10/18/01 11/01/01 11/06/01 Confirmed Boyko, Christopher A. N.OH 108th 07/22/04 09/22/04 10/04/04 11/21/04 Confirmed 122 Boyle, Jane J. N.TX 108th 11/24/03 03/10/04 04/01/04 06/17/04 Confirmed 206 Brack, Robert C. NM 108th 04/28/03 06/25/03 07/10/03 07/14/03 Confirmed 77 107th 10/10/02 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned Breen, J. Daniel W.TN 154 108th 01/07/03 02/12/03 03/06/03 03/13/03 Confirmed Browning, James O. NM 108th 04/28/03 07/09/03 07/24/03 07/31/03 Confirmed 94 Bryant, Vanessa L.c CT 109th 01/25/06 09/26/06 -- 12/09/06 Returned 318 Bumb, Renee M. NJ 109th 01/25/06 04/25/06 05/04/06 06/06/06 Confirmed 132 08/02/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Bunning, David L. E.KY 107th 196 09/04/01 12/10/01 02/07/02 02/14/02 Confirmed Burgess, Timothy M. AK 109th 07/28/05 11/01/05 11/17/05 12/21/05 Confirmed 146 Burns, Larry A. S.CA 108th 05/01/03 07/30/03 09/04/03 09/24/03 Confirmed 146 Bury, David C. AZ 107th 09/10/01 02/26/02 03/07/02 03/15/02 Confirmed 186 08/02/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Caldwell, Karen K. E.KY 107th 82 09/04/01 10/04/01 10/18/01 10/23/01 Confirmed 107th 06/19/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Camp, Laurie S. NE 126 107th 09/04/01 10/04/01 10/18/01 10/23/01 Confirmed Campbell, David G. AZ 108th 03/13/03 04/30/03 06/12/03 07/08/03 Confirmed 117 Cardone, Kathleen W.TX 108th 05/01/03 07/09/03 07/17/03 07/28/03 Confirmed 88 107th 10/10/02 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned Carney, Cormac J. C.CA 179 108th 01/07/03 03/12/03 03/20/03 04/07/03 Confirmed 06/19/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Cassell, Paul G. UT 107th 328 09/04/01 03/19/02 05/02/02 05/13/02 Confirmed Castel, P. Kevin S.NY 108th 03/05/03 07/22/03 07/31/03 09/17/03 Confirmed 196 Cebull, Richard F. MT 107th 05/17/01 07/11/01 07/19/01 07/20/01 Confirmed 64 Cercone, David S. W.PA 107th 03/21/02 06/13/02 06/20/02 08/01/02 Confirmed 133 CRS - 68 Days Elapsed, Name of Nominee Date Initial Nomination Districta Congress Disposition to Disposition of (Nominees Not Confirmed Committee Nomination Hearing Final Action Most Recent In Italics) Actionb Nomination Chesler, Stanley R. NJ 107th 01/23/02 09/26/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 Confirmed 295 Clark, Ronald H. E.TX 107th 01/23/02 08/01/02 09/19/02 10/02/02 Confirmed 252 Cogan, Brian M. E.NY 109th 01/25/06 03/29/06 04/27/06 05/04/06 Confirmed 99 Cohn, James I. S.FL 108th 05/01/03 07/09/03 07/17/03 07/31/03 Confirmed 91 Collyer, Rosemary M. DC 107th 08/01/02 10/07/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 Confirmed 105 Conner, Christopher C. M.PA 107th 02/28/02 05/09/02 05/16/02 07/26/02 Confirmed 148 Conrad, Glen E. W.VA 108th 04/28/03 07/30/03 09/04/03 09/22/03 Confirmed 147 108th 04/28/03 -- -- 12/08/04 Returned Conrad, Robert J., Jr. W.NC 731 109th 02/14/05 03/03/05 04/14/05 04/28/05 Confirmed Conti, Joy F. W.PA 107th 01/23/02 05/09/02 05/16/02 07/29/02 Confirmed 187 Coogler, L. Scott N.AL 108th 03/27/03 05/07/03 05/15/03 05/22/03 Confirmed 56 Cooke, Marcia G. S.FL 108th 11/25/03 03/10/04 04/01/04 05/18/04 Confirmed 175 Corrigan, Timothy J. M.FL 107th 05/22/02 07/23/02 07/31/02 09/12/02 Confirmed 113 Covington, Virginia M. H. M.FL 108th 04/20/04 06/16/04 07/20/04 09/07/04 Confirmed 140 108th 09/10/04 -- -- 12/08/04 Returned Cox, Sean F. E.MI 636 109th 02/14/05 05/02/06 05/11/06 06/08/06 Confirmed Crane, Randy S.TX 107th 09/21/01 02/26/02 03/03/02 03/18/02 Confirmed 178 Crone, Marcia A. E.TX 108th 05/01/03 09/03/03 09/25/03 09/30/03 Confirmed 152 108th 09/07/04 11/16/04 -- 12/08/04 Returned Crotty, Paul A. S.NY 216 109th 02/14/05 -- 03/17/05 04/11/05 Confirmed Davis, Legrome D. E.PA 107th 01/23/02 03/19/02 04/11/02 04/18/02 Confirmed 85 Davis, Leonard E. E.TX 107th 01/23/02 04/25/02 05/02/02 05/09/02 Confirmed 106 Delgado-Colon, Aida M. PR 109th 10/25/05 02/07/06 02/16/06 03/06/06 Confirmed 132 Der-Yeghiayan, Samuel N.IL 108th 03/05/03 06/25/03 07/10/03 07/14/03 Confirmed 131 107th 05/22/02 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned Dever, James C., III E.NC 108th 01/07/03 -- -- 12/08/04 Returned 1,072 109th 02/14/05 03/03/05 04/14/05 04/28/05 Confirmed Diamond, Paul S. E.PA 108th 01/20/04 03/24/04 04/01/04 06/16/04 Confirmed 148 CRS - 69 Days Elapsed, Name of Nominee Date Initial Nomination Districta Congress Disposition to Disposition of (Nominees Not Confirmed Committee Nomination Hearing Final Action Most Recent In Italics) Actionb Nomination Donohue, Mary O. c N.NY 109th 06/28/06 -- -- 12/09/06 Returned 164 Dorr, Richard E. W.MO 107th 03/21/02 05/24/02 06/13/02 08/01/02 Confirmed 133 Drell, Dee D. W.LA 108th 01/15/03 03/27/03 04/03/03 04/09/03 Confirmed 84 DuBose, Kristi K. S.AL 109th 09/28/05 11/15/05 11/17/05 12/21/05 Confirmed 84 Duffey, William S., Jr.. N.GA 108th 11/05/03 02/05/04 03/04/04 06/16/04 Confirmed 224 08/02/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Eagan, Clair V. N.OK 107th 82 09/04/01 10/04/01 10/18/01 10/23/01 Confirmed 08/02/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Engelhardt, Kurt D. E.LA 107th 131 09/04/01 10/25/01 11/29/01 12/11/01 Confirmed England, Morrison C., Jr. E.CA 107th 03/21/02 06/13/02 06/20/02 08/01/02 Confirmed 133 107th 09/12/02 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned Erickson, Ralph R. ND 181 108th 01/07/03 02/05/03 02/27/03 03/12/03 Confirmed Farr, Thomas A. c E.NC 109th 12/07/06 -- -- 12/09/06 Returned 2 107th 07/25/02 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned Feuerstein, Sandra J. E.NY 419 108th 01/07/03 07/22/03 07/31/03 09/17/03 Confirmed Figa, Phillip S. CO 108th 06/09/03 09/03/03 09/25/03 10/02/03 Confirmed 115 Filip, Mark R. N.IL 108th 04/28/03 10/28/03 11/06/03 02/04/04 Confirmed 282 Finch, Raymond L. VI 108th 02/21/04 09/08/04 09/30/04 11/21/04 Confirmed 274 Fischer, Dale S. C.CA 108th 05/01/03 10/15/03 10/23/03 10/27/03 Confirmed 179 Fischer, Nora B. c W.PA 109th 07/13/06 09/12/06 09/29/06 12/09/06 Returned 149 Flanagan, Louise W. E.NC 108th 01/29/03 06/25/03 07/10/03 07/17/03 Confirmed 169 Floyd, Henry F. SC 108th 05/15/03 07/30/03 09/04/03 09/22/03 Confirmed 130 08/02/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Friot, Stephen P. W.OK 107th 96 09/04/01 10/18/01 11/01/01 11/06/01 Confirmed Frizzell, Gregory K. c N.OK 109th 06/07/06 09/12/06 09/29/06 12/09/06 Returned 185 107th 08/01/02 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned Frost, Gregory L. S.OH 221 108th 01/07/03 02/05/03 02/27/03 03/10/03 Confirmed Fuller, Mark E. M.AL 107th 08/01/02 10/07/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 Confirmed 105 CRS - 70 Days Elapsed, Name of Nominee Date Initial Nomination Districta Congress Disposition to Disposition of (Nominees Not Confirmed Committee Nomination Hearing Final Action Most Recent In Italics) Actionb Nomination Gardner, James K. E.PA 107th 04/22/02 08/01/02 09/05/02 10/02/02 Confirmed 163 Gelpi, Gustavo A. PR 109th 04/24/06 06/15/06 07/13/06 07/20/06 Confirmed 87 Gibson, Kim R. W.PA 108th 04/28/03 07/30/03 09/04/03 09/23/03 Confirmed 148 Godbey, David C. N.TX 107th 01/23/02 04/25/02 06/13/02 08/01/02 Confirmed 190 Golden, Thomas M. E.PA 109th 01/25/06 03/29/06 04/27/06 05/04/06 Confirmed 99 Gomez, Curtis V. VI 108th 11/25/03 04/08/04 04/29/04 11/21/04 Confirmed 362 08/02/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Granade, Callie V. S.AL 107th 153 09/04/01 12/05/01 12/13/01 02/04/02 Confirmed Greer, J. Ronnie E.TN 108th 04/09/03 05/22/03 06/05/03 06/11/03 Confirmed 63 Griesbach, William C. E.WI 107th 01/23/02 04/11/02 04/18/02 04/25/02 Confirmed 92 07/10/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Gritzner, James E. S.IA 107th 219 09/04/01 01/24/02 02/07/02 02/14/02 Confirmed Guilford, Andrew J. C.CA 109th 01/25/06 05/24/06 06/09/06 06/22/06 Confirmed 148 Guirola, Louis, Jr. S.MS 108th 09/23/03 11/19/03 03/04/04 03/12/04 Confirmed 171 Gutierrez, Philip S. c C.CA 109th 04/24/06 08/01/06 09/21/06 12/09/06 Returned 229 Haddon, Sam E. MT 107th 05/17/01 07/11/01 07/19/01 07/20/01 Confirmed 64 Hanen, Andrew S. S.TX 107th 01/23/02 04/25/02 05/02/02 05/09/02 Confirmed 106 Hardiman, Thomas M. W.PA 108th 04/09/03 05/22/03 06/26/03 10/22/03 Confirmed 196 Harwell, Robert B. SC 108th 01/20/04 04/08/04 04/29/04 06/24/04 Confirmed 156 Hayes, William Q. S.CA 108th 05/01/03 09/03/03 09/25/03 10/02/03 Confirmed 154 08/02/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Heaton, Joe L. W.OK 107th 126 09/04/01 11/07/01 11/29/01 12/06/01 Confirmed Herrera, Judith C. NM 108th 09/23/03 11/12/03 03/04/04 06/03/04 Confirmed 254 107th 08/02/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Hicks, Larry R. NV 95 107th 09/04/01 10/18/01 11/01/01 11/05/01 Confirmed 107th 09/12/02 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned Hicks, S. Maurice, Jr. W.LA 249 108th 01/07/03 04/30/03 05/08/03 05/19/03 Confirmed Hillman, Noel L. NJ 109th 01/25/06 04/25/06 05/04/06 06/08/06 Confirmed 134 CRS - 71 Days Elapsed, Name of Nominee Date Initial Nomination Districta Congress Disposition to Disposition of (Nominees Not Confirmed Committee Nomination Hearing Final Action Most Recent In Italics) Actionb Nomination Holmes, J. Leon E.AR 108th 01/29/03 03/27/03 05/01/03c 07/06/04 Confirmed 524 Holmes, Jerome A. N.OK 109th 02/14/06 -- -- 05/04/06 Withdrawn 79 107th 08/01/02 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned Holwell, Richard J. S.NY 412 108th 01/07/03 07/22/03 07/31/03 09/17/03 Confirmed Hopkins, Virginia E. N.AL 108th 10/14/03 11/19/03 03/04/04 06/15/04 Confirmed 245 Houston, John A. S.CA 108th 05/01/03 09/03/03 09/25/03 10/02/03 Confirmed 154 Hovland, Daniel L. ND 107th 06/26/02 09/26/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 Confirmed 141 Howard, Marcia M. c M.FL 109th 06/06/06 09/06/06 09/29/06 12/09/06 Returned 186 Hudson, Henry E. E.VA 107th 01/23/02 05/23/02 06/13/02 08/01/02 Confirmed 190 Irizarry, Dora L. E.NY 108th 04/28/03 10/01/03 10/30/03 06/24/04 Confirmed 423 Jarvey, John A. c S.IA 109th 06/28/06 09/06/06 09/26/06 12/09/06 Returned 164 08/02/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Johnson, William P. NM 107th 133 09/04/01 10/25/01 11/29/01 12/13/01 Confirmed Johnston, Thomas E. S.WV 109th 09/28/05 02/07/06 02/16/06 03/06/06 Confirmed 159 Jones, John E., III M.PA 107th 02/28/02 05/09/02 05/16/02 07/29/02 Confirmed 151 Jones, Robert C. NV 108th 06/09/03 09/03/03 09/25/03 10/02/03 Confirmed 115 Jonker, Robert J. W.MI 109th 06/28/06 09/19/06 09/29/06 12/09/06 Returned 164 Jordan, Daniel P., III S.MS 109th 04/24/06 06/15/06 -- 07/20/06 Confirmed 87 Jordan, Kent A. DE 107th 07/25/02 09/18/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 Confirmed 112 Jorgenson, Cindy K. AZ 107th 09/10/01 01/24/02 02/07/02 02/26/02 Confirmed 169 107th 07/18/02 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned Junell, Robert A. W.TX 207 108th 01/07/03 01/29/03 02/06/03 02/10/03 Confirmed Kapala, Frederick J. c N.IL 109th 12/05/06 -- -- 12/09/06 Returned 4 Karas, Kenneth M. S.NY 108th 09/18/03 11/19/03 03/04/04 06/03/04 Confirmed 259 Kelly, Walter D., Jr. E.VA 108th 10/31/03 03/10/04 04/01/04 06/23/04 Confirmed 236 Kendall, Virginia M. N.IL 109th 09/28/05 11/15/05 11/17/05 12/21/05 Confirmed 84 Kinkeade, James E. N.TX 107th 07/18/02 09/26/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 Confirmed 119 Klausner, Robert G. C.CA 107th 07/18/02 10/07/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 Confirmed 119 CRS - 72 Days Elapsed, Name of Nominee Date Initial Nomination Districta Congress Disposition to Disposition of (Nominees Not Confirmed Committee Nomination Hearing Final Action Most Recent In Italics) Actionb Nomination Kravitz, Mark R. CT 108th 03/27/03 05/22/03 06/05/03 06/11/03 Confirmed 76 Krieger, Marcia S. DC 107th 09/10/01 12/05/01 12/13/01 01/25/02 Confirmed 137 Kugler, Robert B. NJ 107th 08/01/02 10/07/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 Confirmed 105 Lancaster, Joan E. MN 107th 01/23/02 04/11/02 04/18/02 04/25/02 Confirmed 92 Land, Clay D. M.GA 107th 09/21/01 11/07/01 11/29/01 12/13/01 Confirmed 83 Larson, Stephen G. C.CA 109th 12/15/05 02/15/06 03/02/06 03/16/06 Confirmed 91 Leighton, Ronald B. W.WA 107th 01/23/02 10/07/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 Confirmed 295 Leon, Richard J. DC 107th 09/10/01 01/24/02 02/07/02 02/14/02 Confirmed 157 Linares, Jose L. NJ 107th 08/01/02 10/07/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 Confirmed 105 Lioi, Sara E. c N.OH 109th 07/13/06 09/06/06 09/26/06 12/09/06 Returned 149 107th 09/12/02 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned Ludington, Thomas L. E.MI 108th 01/07/03 -- -- 12/08/04 Returned 1,365 109th 02/14/05 05/02/06 05/11/06 06/08/06 Confirmed Ludlum, Alia M. W.TX 107th 07/11/02 09/18/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 Confirmed 126 Mahan, James C. NV 107th 09/10/01 12/05/01 12/13/01 01/25/02 Confirmed 137 Maloney, Paul L. W.MI 109th 06/28/06 09/19/06 09/29/06 12/09/06 Returned 164 Marra, Kenneth A. S.FL 107th 01/23/02 06/13/02 06/20/02 09/09/02 Confirmed 229 Martinez, Jose E. S.FL 107th 01/23/02 07/23/02 07/31/02 09/13/02 Confirmed 233 Martinez, Philip R. W.TX 107th 10/09/01 12/05/01 12/13/01 02/05/02 Confirmed 119 Martinez, Ricardo S. W.WA 108th 10/14/03 01/22/04 03/04/04 06/15/04 Confirmed 245 Martini, William J. NJ 107th 01/23/02 09/18/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 Confirmed 295 Martone, Frederick J. AZ 107th 09/10/01 11/07/01 11/29/01 12/13/01 Confirmed 94 Mattice, Harry S., Jr. E.TN 109th 07/28/05 09/29/05 10/20/05 10/24/05 Confirmed 88 Mauskopf, Roslynn R. c E.NY 109th 08/02/06 -- -- 12/09/06 Returned 129 Mays, Samuel H., Jr. W.TN 107th 01/23/02 04/25/02 05/02/02 05/09/02 Confirmed 106 McKnight, H. Brent W.NC 108th 04/28/03 07/22/03 07/24/03 07/31/03 Confirmed 94 McVerry, Terrence F. W.PA 107th 01/23/02 06/27/02 07/31/02 09/03/02 Confirmed 223 Miller, Gray H. S.TX 109th 01/25/06 03/14/06 03/30/06 04/25/06 Confirmed 90 CRS - 73 Days Elapsed, Name of Nominee Date Initial Nomination Districta Congress Disposition to Disposition of (Nominees Not Confirmed Committee Nomination Hearing Final Action Most Recent In Italics) Actionb Nomination 07/10/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Mills, Michael P. N.MS 107th 93 09/04/01 09/13/01 10/04/01 10/11/01 Confirmed Minaldi, Patricia H. W.LA 108th 01/15/03 04/01/03 05/01/03 05/06/03 Confirmed 111 Montalvo, Frank W.TX 108th 05/01/03 07/09/03 07/17/03 07/31/03 Confirmed 91 Mosman, Michael W. OR 108th 05/08/03 07/30/03 09/04/03 09/25/03 Confirmed 140 Neff, Janet T. W.MI 109th 06/28/06 09/19/06 09/29/06 12/09/06 Returned 164 O'Grady, Liam c E.VA 109th 08/02/06 -- -- 12/09/06 Returned 129 O'Neill, Lawrence J. c E.CA 109th 08/02/06 09/12/06 09/21/06 12/09/06 Returned 129 Osteen, William L., Jr. c M.NC 109th 09/29/06 -- -- 12/09/06 Returned 71 107th 07/18/02 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned Otero, S. James C.CA 207 108th 01/07/03 01/29/03 02/06/03 02/10/03 Confirmed Ozerden, Halil S. c S.MS 109th 09/05/06 -- -- 12/09/06 Returned 95 08/02/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Payne, James H. N.E.W.OK 107th 82 09/04/01 10/04/01 10/18/01 10/23/01 Confirmed Phillips, Thomas W. E.TN 107th 06/26/02 09/18/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 Confirmed 141 Pratter, Gene E.K. E.PA 108th 11/03/03 01/22/04 03/04/04 06/15/04 Confirmed 225 Proctor, R. David N.AL 108th 05/01/03 07/22/03 07/31/03 09/17/03 Confirmed 139 107th 09/12/02 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned Quarles, William D., Jr. MD 181 108th 01/07/03 02/05/03 02/27/03 03/12/03 Confirmed Reade, Linda R. N.IA 107th 06/26/02 09/26/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 Confirmed 141 08/02/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Reeves, Danny C. E.KY 107th 126 09/04/01 11/07/01 11/29/01 12/06/01 Confirmed Reidinger, Martin K. c W.NC 109th 09/29/06 -- -- 12/09/06 Returned 71 Robart, James L. W.WA 108th 12/09/03 02/11/04 03/11/04 06/17/04 Confirmed 191 Robinson, Julie A. KS 107th 09/10/01 11/07/01 11/29/01 12/11/01 Confirmed 92 Robinson, Stephen C. S.NY 108th 03/05/03 07/22/03 07/31/03 09/17/03 Confirmed 196 Rodgers, Margaret C. N.FL 108th 07/14/03 09/17/03 10/02/03 10/20/03 Confirmed 98 Rodriguez, Xavier W.TX 108th 05/01/03 07/09/03 07/17/03 07/31/03 Confirmed 91 CRS - 74 Days Elapsed, Name of Nominee Date Initial Nomination Districta Congress Disposition to Disposition of (Nominees Not Confirmed Committee Nomination Hearing Final Action Most Recent In Italics) Actionb Nomination Rogan, James E. c C.CA 109th 11/15/06 -- -- 12/09/06 Returned 24 107th 01/23/02 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned Rohlfing, Frederick W., III HI 834 108th 01/07/03 -- -- 05/06/04 Withdrawn Rose, Thomas M. S.OH 107th 01/23/02 04/25/02 05/02/02 05/09/02 Confirmed 106 Royal, C. Ashley M.GA 107th 10/09/01 12/05/01 12/13/01 12/20/01 Confirmed 72 Rufe, Cynthia M. E.PA 107th 01/23/02 04/11/02 04/18/02 04/30/02 Confirmed 97 108th 04/28/03 -- -- 12/08/04 Returned Ryan, Daniel P. E.MI 1,067 109th 02/14/05 -- -- 03/30/06 Withdrawn Sabraw, Dana M. S.CA 108th 05/01/03 07/30/03 09/04/03 09/25/03 Confirmed 147 Sanchez, Juan R. E.PA 108th 11/25/03 02/11/04 03/11/04 06/23/04 Confirmed 211 Sandoval, Brian E. NV 109th 03/01/05 09/29/05 10/20/05 10/24/05 Confirmed 237 Savage, Timothy J. E.PA 107th 03/21/02 05/24/02 06/13/02 08/01/02 Confirmed 133 Saylor, F. Dennis, IV MA 108th 07/30/03 11/12/03 03/04/04 06/01/04 Confirmed 307 Schiavelli, George P. C.CA 108th 01/20/04 04/08/04 04/29/04 06/24/04 Confirmed 156 Schiltz, Patrick J. MN 109th 12/14/05 03/01/06 03/30/06 04/26/06 Confirmed 133 Schneider, Michael H., Sr. E.TX 108th 05/17/04 07/07/04 07/20/04 09/07/04 Confirmed 113 Schroeder, Thomas D. c M.NC 109th 09/29/06 -- -- 12/09/06 Returned 71 Schwab, Arthur J. W.PA 107th 01/23/02 06/27/02 07/31/02 09/13/02 Confirmed 233 108th 09/15/04 11/16/04 -- 12/08/04 Returned Seabright, J. Michael HI 224 109th 02/14/05 -- 03/17/05 04/27/05 Confirmed Selna, James V. C.CA 108th 01/29/03 03/12/03 03/20/03 03/27/03 Confirmed 57 Settle, Benjamin H. c W.WA 109th 11/15/06 -- -- 12/09/06 Returned 24 Sharpe, Gary L. N.NY 108th 04/28/03 10/15/03 10/23/03 01/28/04 Confirmed 275 108th 11/05/03 -- -- 12/08/04 Returned Sheridan, Peter G. NJ 946 109th 02/14/05 04/25/06 05/04/06 06/08/06 Confirmed Simon, Philip P. N.IN 108th 01/29/03 03/12/03 03/20/03 03/27/03 Confirmed 57 Smith, William E. RI 107th 07/18/02 10/07/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 Confirmed 119 Smoak, John R. N.FL 109th 06/08/05 09/29/05 10/20/05 10/27/05 Confirmed 141 CRS - 75 Days Elapsed, Name of Nominee Date Initial Nomination Districta Congress Disposition to Disposition of (Nominees Not Confirmed Committee Nomination Hearing Final Action Most Recent In Italics) Actionb Nomination Southwick, Leslie S.MS 109th 06/06/06 09/19/06 09/29/06 12/09/06 Returned 186 Springmann, Theresa L. N.IN 108th 01/29/03 03/12/03 03/20/03 03/31/03 Confirmed 61 St. Eve, Amy J. N.IL 107th 03/21/02 05/24/02 06/13/02 08/01/02 Confirmed 133 Starrett, Keith S.MS 108th 07/06/04 09/08/04 09/30/04 11/21/04 Confirmed 138 Steele, William H. S.AL 108th 01/07/03 02/12/03 03/06/03 03/13/03 Confirmed 65 Stengel, Lawrence F. E.PA 108th 11/06/03 02/05/04 03/11/04 06/16/04 Confirmed 223 Suko, Lonny R. E.WA 108th 04/28/03 06/25/03 07/10/03 07/15/03 Confirmed 78 Titus, Roger W. MD 108th 06/18/03 09/17/03 10/02/03 11/05/03 Confirmed 140 Townes, Sandra L. E.NY 108th 08/01/03 11/12/03 03/04/04 06/03/04 Confirmed 307 Tydingco-Gatewood, Frances M. GU 109th 04/25/06 07/11/06 08/03/06 08/03/06 Confirmed 100 Van Tatenhove, Gregory F. E.KY 109th 09/13/05 11/01/05 11/17/05 12/21/05 Confirmed 99 107th 10/10/02 -- -- 11/20/02 Returned Varlan, Thomas A. E.TN 154 108th 01/07/03 02/12/03 03/06/03 03/13/03 Confirmed Vitaliano, Eric N. E.NY 109th 10/06/05 11/01/05 11/17/05 12/21/05 Confirmed 76 Wake, Neil V. AZ 108th 10/22/03 01/22/04 03/04/04 03/12/04 Confirmed 142 Walter, John F. C.CA 107th 01/23/02 04/11/02 04/18/02 04/25/02 Confirmed 92 06/20/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned Walton, Reggie B. DC 107th 93 09/04/01 08/22/01 09/06/01 09/21/01 Confirmed Watkins, W. Keith M.AL 109th 09/28/05 11/15/05 11/17/05 12/21/05 Confirmed 84 Watson, Michael H. S.OH 108th 04/06/04 06/04/04 07/08/04 09/07/04 Confirmed 154 White, Jeffrey S. N.CA 107th 07/25/02 09/18/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 Confirmed 112 White, Ronald A. E.OK 108th 05/15/03 09/03/03 09/25/03 09/30/03 Confirmed 138 Whitney, Frank D. W.NC 109th 02/14/06 05/24/06 06/15/06 06/22/06 Confirmed 128 Wigenton, Susan D. NJ 109th 01/25/06 04/25/06 05/04/06 05/26/06 Confirmed 121 Wolfson, Freda L. NJ 107th 08/01/02 09/26/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 Confirmed 105 Wood, Lisa G. c S.GA 109th 06/12/06 09/12/06 09/29/06 12/09/06 Returned 180 Woodcock, John A. ME 108th 03/27/03 05/22/03 06/05/03 06/12/03 Confirmed 77 Wooten, Terry L. SC 107th 06/18/01 -- -- 08/03/01 Returned 143 CRS - 76 Days Elapsed, Name of Nominee Date Initial Nomination Districta Congress Disposition to Disposition of (Nominees Not Confirmed Committee Nomination Hearing Final Action Most Recent In Italics) Actionb Nomination 09/04/01 08/27/01 11/08/01 11/08/01 Confirmed c th Wright, Otis D., II C.CA 109 09/05/06 -- -- 12/09/06 Returned 95 Wu, George H. c C.CA 109th 09/05/06 -- -- 12/09/06 Returned 95 Yeakel, Earl L., III W.TX 108th 05/01/03 06/25/03 07/10/03 07/28/03 Confirmed 88 Zainey, Jay C. E.LA 107th 10/10/01 01/24/02 02/07/02 02/11/02 Confirmed 124 Zouhary, Jack N.OH 109th 12/14/05 02/15/06 03/02/06 03/16/06 Confirmed 92 Meane 170.6 Days elapsed, initial nomination to disposition of most recent nomination, confirmed nominees (206 nominees) Medianf 133.5 Meane 184 Days elapsed, initial nomination to disposition of most recent nomination, nominees not confirmed (31 nominees) Medianf 149 Notes: a. District court nominees in this table include nominees to the territorial district courts in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. b. Unless otherwise noted, date of committee action is the date the motion to report favorably carried. c. Resubmitted in the 110th Congress on Jan. 9, 2007. As of Jan. 19, 2007, 24 nominees had been resubmitted in the 110th Congress. d. Judge Holmes was reported out of committee without recommendation. See Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 149, May 1, 2003, p. D436. e. The "Mean" is the sum of the number of elapsed days for all of the nominations in question divided by the number of those nominations. f. The "Median" is the elapsed time for the nomination that is the "middle case", with an equal number of the nominations having longer elapsed times than that nomination and an equal number of nominations having shorter elapsed times. If there are an even number of nominations, the median is the arithmetic mean of the elapsed times for the two nominations in the middle of the distribution. CRS - 77 Appendix 6. President George W. Bush's Nominations to the U.S. District Courts During the 107th Congress (January 20, 2001-November 20, 2002) Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee District Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing Final Action by Senate Action a Action B Action 1 Cebull, Richard F. MT 05/17/01 07/11/01 07/19/01 07/20/01 55 63 64 93-0 vote 2 Haddon, Sam F. MT 05/17/01 07/11/01 07/19/01 07/20/01 55 63 64 95-0 vote 3 Wooten, Terry L. c SC 06/18/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 46 08/03/01 4 Camp, Laurie S. c NE 06/19/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 45 08/03/01 5 Cassell, Paul G. c UT 06/19/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 45 08/03/01 6 Bates, John D. c DC 06/20/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 44 08/03/01 7 Walton, Reggie B. c DC 06/20/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 44 08/03/01 8 Gritzner, James E. c S.IA 07/10/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 24 08/03/01 9 Mills, Michael P. c N.MS 07/10/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 24 08/03/01 10 Armijo, M. Christina c NM 08/02/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 1 08/03/01 11 Bowdre, Karon O. c N.AL 08/02/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 1 08/03/01 CRS - 78 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee District Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing Final Action by Senate Action a Action B Action 12 Bunning, David L. c E.KY 08/02/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 1 08/03/01 13 Caldwell, Karen K. c E.KY 08/02/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 1 08/03/01 14 Eagan, Clair V. c N.OK 08/02/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 1 08/03/01 15 Engelhardt, Kurt D. c E.LA 08/02/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 1 08/03/01 16 Friot, Stephen P. c W.OK 08/02/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 1 08/03/01 17 Granade, Callie V. c S.AL 08/02/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 1 08/03/01 18 Heaton, Joe L. c W.OK 08/02/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 1 08/03/01 19 Hicks, Larry R. c NV 08/02/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 1 08/03/01 20 Johnson, William P. c NM 08/02/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 1 08/03/01 21 Payne, James H. c N.E.W.OK 08/02/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 1 08/03/01 22 Reeves, Danny C. c E.KY 08/02/01 -- -- Returned -- -- 1 08/03/01 23 Armijo, M. Christina d NM 09/04/01 10/18/01 11/01/01 11/06/01 44 58 63 100-0 vote CRS - 79 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee District Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing Final Action by Senate Action a Action B Action 24 Bates, John D. d DC 09/04/01 10/25/01 11/29/01 12/11/01 51 86 98 97-0 vote 25 Bowdre, Karon O. d N.AL 09/04/01 10/18/01 11/01/01 11/06/01 44 58 63 98-0 vote 26 Bunning, David L. d E.KY 09/04/01 12/10/01 02/07/02 02/14/02 97 156 163 d 27 Caldwell, Karen K. E.KY 09/04/01 10/04/01 10/18/01 10/23/01 30 44 49 100-0 vote 28 Camp, Laurie S. d NE 09/04/01 10/04/01 10/18/01 10/23/01 30 44 49 100-0 vote 29 Cassell, Paul G. d UT 09/04/01 03/19/02 05/02/02 05/13/02 196 240 251 67-20 vote 30 Eagan, Clair V. d N.OK 09/04/01 10/04/01 10/18/01 10/23/01 30 44 49 99-0 vote 31 Engelhardt, Kurt. D. d E.LA 09/04/01 10/25/01 11/29/01 12/11/01 51 86 98 32 Friot, Stephen P. d W.OK 09/04/01 10/18/01 11/01/01 11/06/01 44 58 63 98-0 vote 33 Granade, Callie V. d S.AL 09/04/01 12/05/01 12/13/01 02/04/02 92 100 153 75-0 vote 34 Gritzner, James E. d S.IA 09/04/01 01/24/02 02/07/02 02/14/02 142 156 163 35 Heaton, Joe L. d W.OK 09/04/01 11/07/01 11/29/01 12/06/01 64 86 93 36 Hicks, Larry R. d NV 09/04/01 10/18/01 11/01/01 11/05/01 44 58 62 83-0 vote d 37 Johnson, William P. NM 09/04/01 10/25/01 11/29/01 12/13/01 51 86 100 CRS - 80 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee District Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing Final Action by Senate Action a Action B Action 38 Mills, Michael P. d N.MS 09/04/01 09/13/01 10/04/01 10/11/01 9 30 37 98-0 vote 39 Payne James H. d N.E.W.OK 09/04/01 10/04/01 10/18/01 10/23/01 30 44 49 100-0 vote 40 Reeves, Danny C. d E.KY 09/04/01 11/07/01 11/29/01 12/06/01 64 86 93 41 Walton, Reggie B. d DC 09/04/01 08/22/01e 09/06/01 09/21/01 f 2 17 97-0 vote 42 Wooten, Terry L. d SC 09/04/01 08/27/01g 11/08/01 11/08/01 h 65 65 98-0 vote 43 Blackburn, Robert E. DC 09/10/01 01/24/02 02/07/02 02/26/02 136 150 169 98-0 vote 44 Bury, David C. AZ 09/10/01 02/26/02 03/07/02 03/15/02 169 178 186 90-0 vote 45 Jorgenson, Cindy K. AZ 09/10/01 01/24/02 02/07/02 02/26/02 136 150 169 98-0 vote 46 Krieger, Marcia S. DC 09/10/01 12/05/01 12/13/01 01/25/02 86 94 137 83-0 vote 47 Leon, Richard J. DC 09/10/01 01/24/02 02/07/02 02/14/02 136 150 157 48 Mahan, James C. NV 09/10/01 12/05/01 12/13/01 01/25/02 86 94 137 81-0 vote 49 Martone, Frederick J. AZ 09/10/01 11/07/01 11/29/01 12/13/01 58 80 94 97-0 vote 50 Robinson, Julie A. KS 09/10/01 11/07/01 11/29/01 12/11/01 58 80 92 CRS - 81 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee District Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing Final Action by Senate Action a Action B Action 51 Crane, Randy S.TX 09/21/01 02/26/02 03/03/02 03/18/02 158 163 178 91-0 vote 52 Land, Clay D. M.GA 09/21/01 11/07/01 11/29/01 12/13/01 47 69 83 53 Martinez, Philip R. W.TX 10/09/01 12/05/01 12/13/01 02/05/02 57 65 119 93-0 vote 54 Royal, C. Ashley M.GA 10/09/01 12/05/01 12/13/01 12/20/01 57 65 72 55 Zainey, Jay C. E. LA 10/10/01 01/24/02 02/07/02 02/11/02 106 120 124 92-0 vote 56 Beistline, Ralph R. AK 11/08/01 02/26/02 03/07/02 03/12/02 110 119 124 98-0 vote 57 Africk, Lance M. E.LA 01/23/02 03/29/02 04/11/02 04/17/02 65 78 84 97-0 vote 58 Anderson, Percy C.CA 01/23/02 04/11/02 04/18/02 04/25/02 78 85 92 99-0 vote 59 Baylson, Michael M. E.PA 01/23/02 04/11/02 04/18/02 04/30/02 78 85 97 98-0 vote 60 Chesler, Stanley R. NJ 01/23/02 09/26/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 246 258 295 61 Clark, Ronald H. E.TX 01/23/02 08/01/02 09/19/02 10/02/02 190 239 252 62 Conti, Joy F. W.PA 01/23/02 05/09/02 05/16/02 07/29/02 106 113 187 96-0 vote 63 Davis, Legrome D. E.PA 01/23/02 03/19/02 04/11/02 04/18/02 55 78 85 94-0 vote 64 Davis, Leonard E. E.TX 01/23/02 04/25/02 05/02/02 05/09/02 92 99 106 97-0 vote CRS - 82 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee District Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing Final Action by Senate Action a Action B Action 65 Godbey, David C. N.TX 01/23/02 04/25/02 06/13/02 08/01/02 92 141 190 66 Griesbach, William C. E.WI 01/23/02 04/11/02 04/18/02 04/25/02 78 85 92 97-0 vote 67 Hanen, Andrew S. S.TX 01/23/02 04/25/02 05/02/02 05/09/02 92 99 106 97-0 vote 68 Hudson, Henry E. E.VA 01/23/02 05/23/02 06/13/02 08/01/02 120 141 190 69 Lancaster, Joan E. MN 01/23/02 04/11/02 04/18/02 04/25/02 78 85 92 99-0 vote 70 Leighton, Ronald B. W.WA 01/23/02 10/07/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 257 258 295 71 Marra, Kenneth A. S.FL 01/23/02 06/13/02 06/20/02 09/09/02 141 148 229 82-0 vote 72 Martinez, Jose E. S.FL 01/23/02 07/23/02 07/31/02 09/13/02 181 189 233 73 Martini, William J. NJ 01/23/02 09/18/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 238 258 295 74 Mays, Samuel H., Jr. W.TN 01/23/02 04/25/02 05/02/02 05/09/02 92 99 106 97-0 vote 75 McVerry, Terrence F. W.PA 01/23/02 06/27/02 07/31/02 09/03/02 155 189 223 88-0 vote 76 Rohlfing, Frederick W., III HI 01/23/02 -- -- Returned -- -- 301 11/20/02 77 Rose, Thomas M. S.OH 01/23/02 04/25/02 05/02/02 05/09/02 92 99 106 95-0 vote 78 Rufe, Cynthia M. E.PA 01/23/02 04/11/02 04/18/02 04/30/02 78 85 97 98-0 vote CRS - 83 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee District Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing Final Action by Senate Action a Action B Action 79 Schwab, Arthur J. W.PA 01/23/02 06/27/02 07/31/02 09/13/02 155 189 233 92-0 vote 80 Walter, John F. C.CA 01/23/02 04/11/02 04/18/02 04/25/02 78 85 92 99-0 vote 81 Conner, Christopher C. M.PA 02/28/02 05/09/02 05/16/02 07/26/02 70 77 148 82 Jones, John E., III M.PA 02/28/02 05/09/02 05/16/02 07/29/02 70 77 151 96-0 vote 83 Autrey, Henry E. E.MO 03/21/02 05/24/02 06/13/02 08/01/02 64 84 133 98-0 vote 84 Cercone, David S. W.PA 03/21/02 06/13/02 06/20/02 08/01/02 84 91 133 85 Dorr, Richard E. W.MO 03/21/02 05/24/02 06/13/02 08/01/02 64 84 133 86 England, Morrison C., Jr. E.CA 03/21/02 06/13/02 06/20/02 08/01/02 84 91 133 87 Savage, Timothy J. E.PA 03/21/02 05/24/02 06/13/02 08/01/02 64 84 133 88 St. Eve, Amy J. N.IL 03/21/02 05/24/02 06/13/02 08/01/02 64 84 133 89 Gardner, James K. E.PA 04/22/02 08/01/02 09/05/02 10/02/02 101 136 163 90 Corrigan, Timothy J. M.FL 05/22/02 07/23/02 07/31/02 09/12/02 62 70 113 88-0 vote 91 Dever, James C., III E.NC 05/22/02 -- -- Returned -- -- 182 11/20/02 92 Hovland, Daniel L. ND 06/26/02 09/26/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 92 104 141 93 Phillips, Thomas W. E.TN 06/26/02 09/18/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 84 104 141 94 Reade, Linda R. N.IA 06/26/02 09/26/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 92 104 141 CRS - 84 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee District Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing Final Action by Senate Action a Action B Action 95 Ludlum, Alia M. W.TX 07/11/02 09/18/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 69 89 126 96 Junell, Robert A. W.TX 07/18/02 -- -- Returned -- -- 125 11/20/02 97 Kinkeade, James E. N.TX 07/18/02 09/26/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 70 82 119 98 Klausner, Robert G. C.CA 07/18/02 10/07/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 81 82 119 99 Otero, S. James C.CA 07/18/02 -- -- Returned -- -- 125 11/20/02 100 Smith, William E. RI 07/18/02 10/07/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 81 82 119 101 Feuerstein, Sandra J. E.NY 07/25/02 -- -- Returned -- -- 118 11/20/02 102 Jordan, Kent A. DE 07/25/02 09/18/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 55 75 112 103 White, Jeffrey S. N.CA 07/25/02 09/18/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 55 75 112 104 Collyer, Rosemary M. DC 08/01/02 10/07/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 67 68 105 105 Frost, Gregory L. S.OH 08/01/02 -- -- Returned -- -- 111 11/20/02 106 Fuller, Mark E. M.AL 08/01/02 10/07/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 67 68 105 107 Holwell, Richard J. S.NY 08/01/02 -- -- Returned -- -- 111 11/20/02 108 Kugler, Robert B. NJ 08/01/02 10/07/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 67 68 105 109 Linares, Jose L. NJ 08/01/02 10/07/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 67 68 105 110 Wolfson, Freda L. NJ 08/01/02 09/26/02 10/08/02 11/14/02 56 68 105 CRS - 85 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee District Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing Final Action by Senate Action a Action B Action 111 Erickson, Ralph R. ND 09/12/02 -- -- Returned -- -- 69 11/20/02 112 Hicks, S. Maurice, Jr. W.LA 09/12/02 -- -- Returned -- -- 69 11/20/02 113 Ludington, Thomas L. E.MI 09/12/02 -- -- Returned -- -- 69 11/20/02 114 Quarles, William D., Jr. MD 09/12/02 -- -- Returned -- -- 69 11/20/02 115 Adams, John R. N.OH 10/10/02 -- -- Returned -- -- 41 11/20/02 116 Breen, J. Daniel W.TN 10/10/02 -- -- Returned -- -- 41 11/20/02 117 Carney, Cormac J. C.CA 10/10/02 -- -- Returned -- -- 41 11/20/02 118 Varlan, Thomas A. E.TN 10/10/02 -- -- Returned -- -- 41 11/20/02 Number of days elapsed from date received in Senate: Mean i 88.8j 102.3 127.1 51.4 Median k 78.0j 85.0 113.0 41.0 83 confirmed nominations 35 unconfirmed nominations a. The "Committee action" date, unless a note indicates otherwise, is the date on which the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to report a nomination favorably to the Senate. b. A date standing alone is the date of Senate confirmation. A vote tally underneath the date is the roll call vote by which the nomination was confirmed. The absence of a roll call vote indicates that the nomination was confirmed by voice vote or by unanimous consent. Where final action was not a Senate vote to confirm, the type of final action is specified, along with the date. "Returned" indicates that the Senate returned a nomination to the President (upon a Senate adjournment or recess of more than 30 days). CRS - 86 c. This was the nominee's first of two nominations to the judgeship. After this first nomination was returned to President Bush on Aug. 3, 2001, the individual was renominated on Sept. 4, 2001. d. This was the nominee's second nomination to the judgeship. See earlier nomination in the 107th Congress. e. On Aug. 22, 2001, during the August recess of the first session of the 107th Congress, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing for Walton in expectation of his renomination to the district court. An earlier nomination of Walton had been returned to the President at the beginning of the August recess. f. The hearing, on Aug. 22, 2001, preceded the nomination date; therefore, no elapsed time between Senate receipt and hearing date has been calculated. See preceding note. g. On Aug. 27, 2001, during the August recess of the first session of the 107th Congress, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing for Wooten in expectation of his renomination to the district court. An earlier nomination of Wooten was returned to the President at the beginning of the August recess. h. The hearing, on Aug. 27, 2001, preceded the nomination date; therefore, no elapsed time between Senate receipt and hearing date has been calculated. See preceding note. i. The "Mean," or average, is the sum of the number of elapsed days for all of the nominations in question divided by the number of those nominations. j. Calculation of this time average excluded the times between hearing date and Senate receipt for the September 2001 nominations of Reggie B. Walton and Terry L. Wooten, since their hearing dates preceded their nomination dates. (See preceding table notes "g" and "h" regarding the Walton and Wooten nominations.) k. In each "Median" cell, the number represents (1) the elapsed time for the nomination in the middle of the distribution of all the nominations in question, with an equal number of the nominations having longer elapsed times than that nomination and an equal number of nominations having shorter elapsed times; or (2) the arithmetic mean of the elapsed times for the two nominations in the middle of the distribution if there is no one middle nomination. CRS - 87 Appendix 7. President George W. Bush's Nominations to the U.S. District Courts During the 108th Congress (January 7, 2003-December 8, 2004) Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee District Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing Final Action by Senate Action a Action B Action 1 Adams, John R. c N.OH 01/07/03 01/29/03 02/06/03 02/10/03 22 30 34 91-0 vote 2 Breen, J. Daniel c W.TN 01/07/03 02/12/03 03/06/03 03/13/03 36 58 65 92-0 vote 3 Carney, Cormac J. c C.CA 01/07/03 03/12/03 03/20/03 04/07/03 64 72 90 80-0 vote 4 Dever, James C., III c E.NC 01/07/03 -- -- Returned -- -- 701 12/08/04 d 5 Erickson, Ralph R. c ND 01/07/03 02/05/03 02/27/03 03/12/03 29 51 64 c 6 Feuerstein, Sandra J. E.NY 01/07/03 07/22/03 07/31/03 09/17/03 196 205 253 93-0 vote 7 Frost, Gregory L. c S.OH 01/07/03 02/05/03 02/27/03 03/10/03 29 51 62 91-0 vote 8 Hicks, S. Maurice, Jr. c W.LA 01/07/03 04/30/03 05/08/03 05/19/03 113 121 132 86-0 vote 9 Holwell, Richard J. c S.NY 01/07/03 07/22/03 07/31/03 09/17/03 196 205 253 10 Junell, Robert A. c W.TX 01/07/03 01/29/03 02/06/03 02/10/03 22 30 34 91-0 vote 11 Ludington, Thomas L. c E.MI 01/07/03 -- -- Returned -- -- 701 12/08/04 d 12 Otero, S. James c C.CA 01/07/03 01/29/03 02/06/03 02/10/03 22 30 34 94-0 vote CRS - 88 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee District Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing Final Action by Senate Action a Action B Action 13 Quarles, William D., Jr. c MD 01/07/03 02/05/03 02/27/03 03/12/03 29 51 64 91-0 vote 14 Rohlfing, Frederick W., III c HI 01/07/03 -- -- Withdrawn -- -- 485 05/06/04 15 Steele, William H. S.AL 01/07/03 02/12/03 03/06/03 03/13/03 36 58 65 16 Varlan, Thomas A. c E.TN 01/07/03 02/12/03 03/06/03 03/13/03 36 58 65 97-0 vote 17 Altonaga, Cecilia M. S.FL 01/15/03 04/01/03 04/10/03 05/06/03 76 85 111 91-0 vote 18 Drell, Dee D. W.LA 01/15/03 03/27/03 04/03/03 04/09/03 71 78 84 99-0 vote 19 Minaldi, Patricia Head W.LA 01/15/03 04/01/03 05/01/03 05/06/03 76 106 111 20 Bennett, Richard D. MD 01/29/03 03/27/03 04/03/03 04/09/03 57 64 70 99-0 vote 21 Flanagan, Louise W. E.NC 01/29/03 06/25/03 07/10/03 07/17/03 147 162 169 22 Holmes, J. Leon E.AR 01/29/03 03/27/03 05/01/03e 07/06/04 57 92 524 51-46 vote 23 Selna, James V. C.CA 01/29/03 03/12/03 03/20/03 03/27/03 42 50 57 97-0 vote 24 Simon, Philip P. N.IN 01/29/03 03/12/03 03/20/03 03/27/03 42 50 57 25 Springmann, Theresa Lazar N.IN 01/29/03 03/12/03 03/20/03 03/31/03 42 50 61 93-0 vote 26 Castel, P. Kevin S.NY 03/05/03 07/22/03 07/31/03 09/17/03 139 148 196 CRS - 89 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee District Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing Final Action by Senate Action a Action B Action 27 Der-Yeghiayan, Samuel N.IL 03/05/03 06/25/03 07/10/03 07/14/03 112 127 131 89-0 vote 28 Robinson, Stephen C. S.NY 03/05/03 07/22/03 07/31/03 09/17/03 139 148 196 29 Campbell, David G. AZ 03/13/03 04/30/03 06/12/03 07/08/03 48 91 117 92-0 vote 30 Coogler, L. Scott N.AL 03/27/03 05/07/03 05/15/03 05/22/03 41 49 56 31 Kravitz, Mark R. CT 03/27/03 05/22/03 06/05/03 06/11/03 56 70 76 97-0 vote 32 Woodcock, John A., Jr. ME 03/27/03 05/22/03 06/05/03 06/12/03 56 70 77 33 Greer, J. Ronnie E.TN 04/09/03 05/22/03 06/05/03 06/11/03 43 57 63 97-0 vote 34 Hardiman, Thomas M. W.PA 04/09/03 05/22/03 06/26/03 10/22/03 43 78 196 35 Brack, Robert C. NM 04/28/03 06/25/03 07/10/03 07/14/03 58 73 77 36 Browning, James O. NM 04/28/03 07/09/03 07/24/03 07/31/03 72 87 94 37 Conrad, Glen E. W.VA 04/28/03 07/30/03 09/04/03 09/22/03 93 129 147 89-0 vote 38 Conrad, Robert J., Jr. W.NC 04/28/03 -- -- Returned -- -- 590 12/08/04 d 39 Filip, Mark R. N.IL 04/28/03 10/28/03 11/06/03 02/04/04 183 192 282 96-0 vote 40 Gibson, Kim R. W.PA 04/28/03 07/30/03 09/04/03 09/23/03 93 129 148 94-0 vote 41 Irizarry, Dora L. E.NY 04/28/03 10/01/03 10/30/03 06/24/04 156 185 423 CRS - 90 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee District Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing Final Action by Senate Action a Action B Action 42 McKnight, H. Brent W.NC 04/28/03 07/22/03 07/24/03 07/31/03 85 87 94 43 Ryan, Daniel P. E.MI 04/28/03 -- -- Returned -- -- 590 12/08/04 d 44 Sharpe, Gary L. N.NY 04/28/03 10/15/03 10/23/03 01/28/04 170 178 275 95-0 vote 45 Suko, Lonny R. E.WA 04/28/03 06/25/03 07/10/03 07/15/03 58 73 78 94-0 vote 46 Benitez, Roger T. S.CA 05/01/03 02/25/04 04/01/04 06/17/04 300 336 413 98-1 vote 47 Burns, Larry A. S.CA 05/01/03 07/30/03 09/04/03 09/24/03 90 126 146 91-0 vote 48 Cardone, Kathleen W.TX 05/01/03 07/09/03 07/17/03 07/28/03 69 77 88 49 Cohn, James I. S.FL 05/01/03 07/09/03 07/17/03 07/31/03 69 77 91 96-0 vote 50 Crone, Marcia A. E.TX 05/01/03 09/03/03 09/25/03 09/30/03 125 147 152 91-0 vote 51 Fischer, Dale S. C.CA 05/01/03 10/15/03 10/23/03 10/27/03 167 175 179 86-0 vote 52 Hayes, William Q. S.CA 05/01/03 09/03/03 09/25/03 10/02/03 125 147 154 98-0 vote 53 Houston, John A. S.CA 05/01/03 09/03/03 09/25/03 10/02/03 125 147 154 54 Montalvo, Frank W.TX 05/01/03 07/09/03 07/17/03 07/31/03 69 77 91 95-0 vote CRS - 91 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee District Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing Final Action by Senate Action a Action B Action 55 Proctor, R. David N.AL 05/01/03 07/22/03 07/31/03 09/17/03 82 91 139 98-0 vote 56 Rodriguez, Xavier W.TX 05/01/03 07/09/03 07/17/03 07/31/03 69 77 91 57 Sabraw, Dana Makoto S.CA 05/01/03 07/30/03 09/04/03 09/25/03 90 126 147 95-0 vote 58 Yeakel, Earl L., III W.TX 05/01/03 06/25/03 07/10/03 07/28/03 55 70 88 91-0 vote 59 Mosman, Michael W. OR 05/08/03 07/30/03 09/04/03 09/25/03 83 119 140 93-0 vote 60 Floyd, Henry F. SC 05/15/03 07/30/03 09/04/03 09/22/03 76 112 130 89-0 vote 61 White, Ronald A. E.OK 05/15/03 09/03/03 09/25/03 09/30/03 111 133 138 93-0 vote 62 Figa, Phillip S. CO 06/09/03 09/03/03 09/25/03 10/02/03 86 108 115 63 Jones, Robert Clive NV 06/09/03 09/03/03 09/25/03 10/02/03 86 108 115 64 Titus, Roger W. MD 06/18/03 09/17/03 10/02/03 11/05/03 91 106 140 97-0 vote 65 Rodgers, Margaret Catharine N.FL 07/14/03 09/17/03 10/02/03 10/20/03 65 80 98 82-0 vote 66 Saylor, F. Dennis, IV MA 07/30/03 11/12/03 03/04/04 06/01/04 105 218 307 89-0 vote 67 Townes, Sandra L. E.NY 08/01/03 11/12/03 03/04/04 06/03/04 103 216 307 95-0 vote CRS - 92 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee District Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing Final Action by Senate Action a Action B Action 68 Karas, Kenneth M. S.NY 09/18/03 11/19/03 03/04/04 06/03/04 62 168 259 95-0 vote 69 Guirola, Louis, Jr. S.MS 09/23/03 11/19/03 03/04/04 03/12/04 57 163 171 92-0 vote 70 Herrera, Judith C. NM 09/23/03 11/12/03 03/04/04 06/03/04 50 163 254 93-0 vote 71 Hopkins, Virginia E. N.AL 10/14/03 11/19/03 03/04/04 06/15/04 36 142 245 98-0 vote 72 Martinez, Ricardo S. W.WA 10/14/03 01/22/04 03/04/04 06/15/04 100 142 245 98-0 vote 73 Wake, Neil V. AZ 10/22/03 01/22/04 03/04/04 03/12/04 92 134 142 74 Kelly, Walter D., Jr. E.VA 10/31/03 03/10/04 04/01/04 06/23/04 131 153 236 94-0 vote 75 Pratter, Gene E. K. E.PA 11/03/03 01/22/04 03/04/04 06/15/04 80 122 225 98-0 vote 76 Duffey, William S., Jr. N.GA 11/05/03 02/05/04 03/04/04 06/16/04 92 120 224 97-0 vote 77 Sheridan, Peter G. NJ 11/05/03 -- -- Returned -- -- 399 12/08/04 d 78 Stengel, Lawrence F. E.PA 11/06/03 02/05/04 03/11/04 06/16/04 91 126 223 97-0 vote 79 Boyle, Jane J. N.TX 11/24/03 03/10/04 04/01/04 06/17/04 107 129 206 99-0 vote 80 Cooke, Marcia G. S.FL 11/25/03 03/10/04 04/01/04 05/18/04 106 128 175 96-0 vote CRS - 93 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee District Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing Final Action by Senate Action a Action B Action 81 Gomez, Curtis V. VI 11/25/03 04/08/04 04/29/04 11/21/04 135 156 362 82 Sanchez, Juan R. E.PA 11/25/03 02/11/04 03/11/04 06/23/04 78 107 211 98-0 vote 83 Robart, James L. W.WA 12/09/03 02/11/04 03/11/04 06/17/04 64 93 191 99-0 vote 84 Diamond, Paul S. E.PA 01/20/04 03/24/04 04/01/04 06/16/04 64 72 148 97-0 vote 85 Harwell, Robert B. SC 01/20/04 04/08/04 04/29/04 06/24/04 79 100 156 86 Schiavelli, George P. C.CA 01/20/04 04/08/04 04/29/04 06/24/04 79 100 156 87 Finch, Raymond L. VI 02/02/04 09/08/04 09/30/04 11/21/04 200 222 274 88 Watson, Michael H. S.OH 04/06/04 06/04/04 07/08/04 09/07/04 59 93 154 89 Covington, Virginia M. H. M.FL 04/20/04 06/16/04 07/20/04 09/07/04 57 91 140 91-0 vote 90 Schneider, Michael H., Sr. E.TX 05/17/04 07/07/04 07/20/04 09/07/04 51 64 113 92-1 vote 91 Alvarez, Micaela S.TX 06/16/04 09/08/04 09/30/04 11/21/04 84 106 158 92 Starrett, Keith S.MS 07/06/04 09/08/04 09/30/04 11/21/04 64 86 138 93 Boyko, Christopher A. N.OH 07/22/04 09/22/04 10/04/04 11/21/04 62 74 122 94 Crotty, Paul A. S.NY 09/07/04 11/16/04 -- Returned 70 -- 92 12/08/04d, 95 Cox, Sean F. E.MI 09/10/04 -- -- Returned -- -- 89 12/08/04d CRS - 94 Date Days from Nomination Date To: No. Name of Nominee District Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing Final Action by Senate Action a Action B Action 96 Seabright, J. Michael HI 09/15/04 11/16/04 -- Returned 62 -- 84 12/08/04d Meanf 84.7 111.0 155.6 414.6 Number of days elapsed from date received in Senate: Mediang 76.0 106.0 140.0 485.0 87 confirmed nominations 9 unconfirmed nominations a. The "Committee action" date, unless a note indicates otherwise, is the date on which the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to report a nomination favorably to the Senate. b. A date standing alone is the date of Senate confirmation. A vote tally underneath the date is the roll call vote by which the nomination was confirmed. The absence of a roll call vote indicates that the nomination was confirmed by voice vote or by unanimous consent. Where final action was not a Senate vote to confirm, the type of final action is specified, along with the date. "Returned" indicates that the Senate returned a nomination to the President (upon a Senate adjournment or recess of more than 30 days). c. Resubmission; see earlier nomination in 107th Congress. d. Nominee was renominated in the 109th Congress, on 02/14/2005. e. On a committee vote of 10-9, the nomination was reported without recommendation. f. The "Mean," or average, is the sum of the number of elapsed days for all of the nominations in question divided by the number of those nominations. g. In each "Median" cell, the number represents (1) the elapsed time for the nomination in the middle of the distribution of all the nominations in question, with an equal number of the nominations having longer elapsed times than that nomination and an equal number of nominations having shorter elapsed times; or (2) the arithmetic mean of the elapsed times for the two nominations in the middle of the distribution if there is no one middle nomination. CRS - 95 Appendix 8. President George W. Bush's Nominations to the U.S. District Courts During the 109th Congress (January 4, 2005-December 9, 2006) Date Days from Nomination To: No. Name of Nominee District Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing Final Action by Senate Action a Action B Action 1 Conrad, Robert J., Jr. c W.NC 02/14/05 03/03/05 04/14/05 04/28/05 17 59 73 2 Cox, Sean F. c E.MI 02/14/05 05/02/06 05/11/06 06/08/06 442 451 479 d 3 Crotty, Paul A. c S.NY 02/14/05 03/17/05 04/11/05 -- 31 56 95-0 vote 4 Dever, James C., III c E.NC 02/14/05 03/03/05 04/14/05 04/28/05 17 59 73 5 Ludington, Thomas L. c E.MI 02/14/05 05/02/06 05/11/06 06/08/06 442 451 479 6 Ryan, Daniel P. c E.MI 02/14/05 -- -- Withdrawn -- -- 409 03/30/06 d 7 Seabright, J. Michael c HI 02/14/05 03/17/05 04/27/05 -- 31 72 98-0 vote 8 Sheridan, Peter G. c NJ 02/14/05 04/25/06 05/04/06 06/08/06 435 444 479 98-0 vote 9 Sandoval, Brian E. NV 03/01/05 09/29/05 10/20/05 10/24/05 212 233 237 89-0 vote 10 Smoak, John Richard N.FL 06/08/05 09/29/05 10/20/05 10/27/05 113 134 141 97-0 vote 11 Bianco, Joseph Frank E.NY 07/28/05 11/01/05 11/17/05 12/21/05 96 112 146 12 Burgess, Timothy M. AK 07/28/05 11/01/05 11/17/05 12/21/05 96 112 146 13 Mattice, Harry Sandlin, Jr. E.TN 07/28/05 09/29/05 10/20/05 10/24/05 63 84 88 91-0 vote CRS - 96 Date Days from Nomination To: No. Name of Nominee District Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing Final Action by Senate Action a Action B Action 14 Van Tatenhove, Gregory F. E.KY 09/13/05 11/01/05 11/17/05 12/21/05 49 65 99 15 Batten, Timothy C., Sr. N.GA 09/28/05 02/07/06 02/16/06 03/06/06 132 141 159 88-0 vote 16 DuBose, Kristi K. S.AL 09/28/05 11/15/05 11/17/05 12/21/05 48 50 84 17 Johnston, Thomas E. S.WV 09/28/05 02/07/06 02/16/06 03/06/06 132 141 159 89-0 vote 18 Kendall, Virginia Mary N.IL 09/28/05 11/15/05 11/17/05 12/21/05 48 50 84 19 Watkins, W. Keith M.AL 09/28/05 11/15/05 11/17/05 12/21/05 48 50 84 20 Vitaliano, Eric N. E.NY 10/06/05 11/01/05 11/17/05 12/21/05 26 42 76 21 Delgado-Colon, Aida M. PR 10/25/05 02/07/06 02/16/06 03/06/06 105 114 132 22 Schiltz, Patrick J. MN 12/14/05 03/01/06 03/30/06 04/26/06 77 106 133 23 Zouhary, Jack N.OH 12/14/05 02/15/06 03/02/06 03/16/06 63 78 92 96-0 vote 24 Larson, Stephen G. C.CA 12/15/05 02/15/06 03/02/06 03/16/06 62 77 91 25 Barrett, Michael R. S.OH 12/16/05 03/29/06 4/27/06 05/01/06 103 132 136 90-0 vote 26 Bryant, Vanessa L. e CT 01/25/06 09/26/06 -- Returned 244 -- 318 12/09/06 27 Bumb, Renee M. NJ 01/25/06 04/25/06 05/04/06 06/06/06 90 99 132 89-0 vote 28 Cogan, Brian M. E.NY 01/25/06 03/29/06 04/27/06 05/04/06 63 92 99 95-0 vote CRS - 97 Date Days from Nomination To: No. Name of Nominee District Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing Final Action by Senate Action a Action B Action 29 Golden, Thomas M. E.PA 01/25/06 03/29/06 04/27/06 05/04/06 63 92 99 96-0 vote 30 Guilford, Andrew J. C.CA 01/25/06 05/24/06 06/09/06 06/22/06 119 135 148 93-0 vote 31 Hillman, Noel L. NJ 01/25/06 04/25/06 05/04/06 06/08/06 90 99 134 98-0 vote 32 Miller, Gray H. S.TX 01/25/06 03/14/06 03/30/06 04/25/06 48 64 90 93-0 vote 33 Wigenton, Susan D. NJ 01/25/06 04/25/06 05/04/06 05/26/06 90 99 121 34 Holmes, Jerome A. N.OK 02/14/06 -- -- Withdrawn -- -- 79 05/04/06 35 Whitney, Frank D. W.NC 02/14/06 05/24/06 06/15/06 06/22/06 99 121 128 36 Gelpi, Gustavo A. PR 04/24/06 06/15/06 07/13/06 07/20/06 52 80 87 37 Gutierrez, Philip S. e C.CA 04/24/06 08/01/06 09/21/06 Returned 99 150 229 12/09/06 38 Jordan, Daniel P., III S.MS 04/24/06 06/15/06 07/13/06 07/20/06 52 80 87 39 Tydingco-Gatewood, Frances M. GU 04/25/06 07/11/06 08/03/06 08/03/06 77 100 100 40 Baker, Valerie L. e C.CA 05/04/06 08/01/06 09/21/06 Returned 89 140 219 12/09/06 41 Besosa, Francisco A. PR 05/16/06 08/01/06 09/21/06 09/25/06 77 128 132 87-0 vote 42 Howard, Marcia M. e M.FL 06/06/06 09/06/06 09/29/06 Returned 92 115 186 12/09/06 CRS - 98 Date Days from Nomination To: No. Name of Nominee District Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing Final Action by Senate Action a Action B Action 43 Southwick, Leslie S.MS 06/06/06 09/19/06 09/29/06 Returned 105 115 186 12/09/06 44 Frizzell, Gregory K. e N.OK 06/07/06 09/12/06 09/29/06 Returned 97 114 185 12/09/06 45 Wood, Lisa G. e S.GA 06/12/06 09/12/06 09/29/06 Returned 92 109 180 12/09/06 46 Bailey, John P. e N.WV 06/28/06 -- -- Returned -- -- 164 12/09/06 47 Donohue, Mary O. e N.NY 06/28/06 -- -- Returned -- -- 164 12/09/06 48 Jarvey, John A. e S.IA 06/28/06 09/06/06 09/26/06 Returned 70 90 164 12/09/06 49 Jonker, Robert J. W.MI 06/28/06 09/19/06 09/29/06 Returned 83 93 164 12/09/06 50 Maloney, Paul L. W.MI 06/28/06 09/19/06 09/29/06 Returned 83 93 164 12/09/06 51 Neff, Janet T. W.MI 06/28/06 09/19/06 09/29/06 Returned 83 93 164 12/09/06 52 Fischer, Nora B. e W.PA 07/13/06 09/12/06 09/29/06 Returned 61 78 149 12/09/06 53 Lioi, Sara E. e N.OH 07/13/06 09/06/06 09/26/06 Returned 55 75 149 12/09/06 54 Mauskopf, Roslynn R. e E.NY 08/02/06 -- -- Returned -- -- 129 12/09/06 CRS - 99 Date Days from Nomination To: No. Name of Nominee District Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing Final Action by Senate Action a Action B Action 55 O'Grady, Liam e E.VA 08/02/06 -- -- Returned -- -- 129 12/09/06 56 O'Neill, Lawrence J. e E.CA 08/02/06 09/12/06 09/21/06 Returned 41 50 129 12/09/06 57 Ozerden, Halil S. e S.MS 09/05/06 -- -- Returned -- -- 95 12/09/06 58 Wright, Otis D., II e C.CA 09/05/06 -- -- Returned -- -- 95 12/09/06 59 Wu, George H. e C.CA 09/05/06 -- -- Returned -- -- 95 12/09/06 60 Osteen, William L., Jr. e M.NC 09/29/06 -- -- Returned -- -- 71 12/09/06 61 Reidinger, Martin K. e W.NC 09/29/06 -- -- Returned -- -- 71 12/09/06 62 Schroeder, Thomas D. e M.NC 09/29/06 -- -- Returned -- -- 71 12/09/06 63 Rogan, James E. e C.CA 11/15/06 -- -- Returned -- -- 24 12/09/06 64 Settle, Benjamin H. e W.WA 11/15/06 -- -- Returned -- -- 24 12/09/06 65 Kapala, Frederick J. e N.IL 12/05/06 -- -- Returned -- -- 4 12/09/06 66 Farr, Thomas A. e E.NC 12/07/06 -- -- Returned -- -- 2 12/09/06 CRS - 100 Date Days from Nomination To: No. Name of Nominee District Received Committee Final Committee Hearing Hearing Final Action by Senate Action a Action B Action Mean f 105.0 117.4 143.2 140.4 Number of days elapsed from date received in Senate: Median g 83.0 99.0 110.5 149.0 36 confirmed nominations 30 unconfirmed nominations a. The "Committee action" date, unless a note indicates otherwise, is the date on which the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to report a nomination favorably to the Senate. b. A date standing alone is the date of Senate confirmation. A vote tally underneath the date is the roll call vote by which the nomination was confirmed. The absence of a roll call vote indicates that the nomination was confirmed by voice vote or by unanimous consent. Where final action was not a Senate vote to confirm, the type of final action is specified, along with the date. "Returned" indicates that the Senate returned a nomination to the President (upon a Senate adjournment or recess of more than 30 days). c. Resubmission; see earlier nomination in 108th Congress. d. Hearing held on earlier nomination in 108th Congress. e. Resubmitted in the 110th Congress on Jan. 9, 2007. As of Jan. 19, 2007, 24 nominees had been resubmitted in the 110th Congress. f. The "Mean," or average, is the sum of the number of elapsed days for all of the nominations in question divided by the number of those nominations. g. In each "Median" cell, the number represents (1) the elapsed time for the nomination in the middle of the distribution of all the nominations in question, with an equal number of the nominations having longer elapsed times than that nomination and an equal number of nominations having shorter elapsed times; or (2) the arithmetic mean of the elapsed times for the two nominations in the middle of the distribution if there is no one middle nomination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ For other versions of this document, see http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS-RL31868