Checking in on Trump's judicial nominations

On this episode: President Trump has made his first judicial nomination since returning to office, selecting a candidate for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Most presidents make few judicial nominations in their first 100 days, and Trump’s current pace aligns with historical trends dating back to Reagan. While his first term (and former President Joe Biden’s) saw a record number of Article III appointments, Trump’s current term began with fewer vacancies across the federal judiciary. Factors like Senate control and long-term court openings shape how many judges are ultimately appointed, and our data shows that the bulk of judicial nominations typically occur in the second and third years of a presidency.Our latest look at federal judicial vacancies: https://ballotpedia.org/The_Federal_Judicial_Vacancy_Count_5/1/2025Subscribe to our newsletter about federal courts and judges: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Robe_%26_Gavel This year, we're hoping to learn more about our audience and what topics you want us to tackle. Complete a brief 5 minute survey to review the show and share some feedback: https://forms.gle/zPxYSog5civyvEKX6 Sign up for our Newsletters: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at [email protected] or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia.*On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.