Reports on Pending Nominees

See below for a list of reports on current judicial nominees.

Caitlin Halligan - FILIBUSTERED

On June 11, 2012, President Obama nominated Caitlin Joan Halligan, age 46, to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Ms. Halligan currently serves as the General Counsel for the New York County District Attorney’s Office. She has practiced extensively before the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Courts of Appeals, and the state appellate courts in New York. In announcing her nomination, President Obama said that she had “performed with excellence and unwavering integrity” throughout her career. Halligan had originally been nominated to the seat on September 29, 2010, but faced a filibuster and was later re-nominated, only to be filibustered again. Statement of Nan Aron on the White House decision to withdraw the Halligan nomination Press release on the Halligan nomination Fact Sheet on Caitlin Halligan What they’re saying about Caitlin Halligan Why the D.C. Circuit is so important AFJ President Nan Aron discusses the Halligan... Read More »

Patty Shwartz - PENDING

On October 5, 2011, President Obama nominated Patty Shwartz to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Ms. Shwartz currently serves as Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.... Read More »

Sri Srinivasan - PENDING

On June 11, 2012, President Obama nominated Sri Srinivasan to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Srinivasan currently serves as the Principal Deputy Solicitor General in the Justice Department, a position he has held since Aug. 26, 2011. President Obama has said that, “Srinivasan will be a trailblazer and . . . will serve the court with distinction and excellence.” Srinivasan is the first Indian American ever nominated to a federal appellate court.... Read More »

Jane L. Kelly - PENDING

On January 31, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Jane Kelly to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Alliance for Justice applauds Ms. Kelly’s nomination, which brings much-needed gender and professional diversity to the court, which has jurisdiction over seven states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, and Arkansas. Ms. Kelly would be only the second woman in the court’s history, which spans over 120 years. Furthermore, as a career Federal Defender, she would bring both a commitment to public service and an important perspective on criminal justice to the Eighth Circuit. To this point, prosecutors have outnumbered public defenders by a 6-to-1 margin amongst President Obama’s circuit court nominees. Jane Kelly’s historic nomination is an important step in the direction of a diverse federal bench, and Alliance for Justice strongly urges her swift confirmation.... Read More »

Gregory A. Phillips - PENDING

On January 31, 2013, President Obama nominated Gregory A. Phillips to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, which has jurisdiction over five states: Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Phillips currently serves as Wyoming's 35th Attorney General, a position to which Wyoming’s Republican Governor, Matt Mead, appointed him in 2011. In announcing the nomination, President Obama said that Mr. Phillips has proven himself “to be not only a first-rate legal mind but a faithful public servant,” stating that it is with “full confidence in his ability, integrity, and independence that I nominate him to the bench of the United States Court of Appeals.”... Read More »