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Judicial Emergencies

Find current federal judiciary judicial vacancies that the Judicial Conference has deemed as judicial emergencies and an explanation of what is a judicial emergency.

A judicial emergency is determined based on a combination of caseload levels, and length and number of vacancies. Read about how a judicial emergency is defined.

The Judicial Conference approved new district court case weights in March 2016.

Judicial Emergencies

Update as of

Total Emergencies: 15

Court Vacancy Created By Reason Vacancy Date Days Pending Weighted Filings per Judgeship * Adjusted Filings per Panel *
04 - SC Harwell,Robert Bryan Senior 06/04/2024 617 632 0
05 - TX-N Lynn,Barbara M. G. Senior 05/15/2023 1003 591 0
05 - TX-S Hanen,Andrew S. Senior 01/02/2025 405 601 0
05 - TX-S Hinojosa,Ricardo H. Senior 05/21/2025 266 601 0
05 - TX-S Rosenthal,Lee H. Senior 12/01/2024 437 601 0
05 - TX-S Alvarez,Micaela Senior 06/08/2023 979 601 0
05 - TX-W Yeakel III,Earl L. Retired 05/01/2023 1017 756 0
05 - TX-W Guaderrama,David C. Senior 05/27/2023 991 756 0
06 - OH-S Watson,Michael H. Senior 11/01/2025 102 623 0
09 - AK Kindred,Joshua M. Resigned 07/08/2024 583 224 0
09 - CA-S Hayes,William Q. Senior 08/01/2021 1655 463 0
10 - OK-E White,Ronald A. Senior 01/27/2026 15 551 0
11 - FL-M Corrigan,Timothy J. Senior 11/02/2024 466 686 0
11 - FL-S New Position 08/25/2025 170 620 0
11 - GA-N Batten Sr.,Timothy C. Retired 05/23/2025 264 646 0

*Adjusted Filings per Panel calculated for courts of appeals and Weighted Filings per Judgeship for district courts are based on data for the prior calendar year.


Authorized Judgeships

Court of appeals and district court judgeships are created by legislation enacted by Congress. View the history of congressionally authorized federal judgeships from 1789 to present.