There are currently five vacancies on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Two seats are open from Texas, two from Louisiana, and one from Mississippi.
Both seats from Texas have been filled along with one from Louisiana and the Office of the Press Secretary for the White House just released a statement Thursday afternoon saying that the last remaining Louisiana seat was filled and that the nomination was sent to the Senate today for Kurt D. Engelhardt, of Louisiana, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit. He will take over for Edith Brown Clement, who recently retired.
This leaves a spot open for someone to take over Mississippi Judge Jolly’s seat.
Mississippians are expecting to hear the Mississippi nomination soon. However, when Judge Jolly retired on October 3 Washington had not made any nominations.
Historically when a judge retires from the circuit court of appeals, another judge from their home state will be appointed.
U.S. Senators Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker issued a statement regarding the impending retirement of Judge Grady Jolly and the vacancy it creates on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit:
“We continue to work with the Trump administration to ensure that a well-qualified, constitutional conservative jurist is named to fill the seat held by Judge Grady Jolly. The administration understands that it is a priority to us that a Mississippian be nominated to fill this seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. We look forward to President Trump, with the advice and consent of the Senate, announcing such a nomination as soon as possible.”
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is composed of seventeen active judges.
