Senate Republicans Race to Confirm Trump’s Judicial Nominees

Senate Republicans are facing a busy lame-duck session with limited time to advance President Donald Trump’s agenda before Democrats assume control of the chamber in January. Confirming his remaining federal judicial nominees has become a top priority.

With less than two months before the new Congress is inaugurated, Republicans have a narrow window to push Trump’s nominees through the Senate amidst a packed year-end schedule. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has urged Republicans to act swiftly, warning that Trump might face difficulties securing further judicial confirmations once Democrats take control.

The current Congress has confirmed 57 judges since Trump’s second term began in 2025. There are currently 28 federal judicial vacancies, with 11 nominees pending for existing vacancies. Another five nominees are waiting for future vacancies. This totals 16 judicial nominees awaiting Senate action.

A White House official expressed confidence to Newsweek that all judicial nominees pending in the Senate would be confirmed this year.

DeSantis has described the upcoming weeks as a crucial moment for Republicans. He stated on X that every federal judicial vacancy must be filled during the lame-duck session, suggesting the Senate should work tirelessly to achieve this. He emphasized that Democrats will not confirm any Trump judges once they take over.

This urgency follows Democrats’ significant success in the midterm elections, where they flipped at least seven U.S. Senate seats and over two dozen U.S. House seats, with some races still undecided days after the midterms.

Judicial Nominees Most Likely to Be Confirmed

Of the 16 current nominees, three have cleared the Judiciary Committee and are most likely to be confirmed before the new Senate takes over:

• Anna St. John, Louisiana: Nominated in July for the United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit, replacing retiring Judge Kurt Engelhardt. She cleared the Judiciary Committee on September 24 and awaits a confirmation vote on the Senate Executive Calendar.
• Daniel Desmond Domenico, Colorado: Nominated for the United States Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit to replace Judge Timothy Tymkovich. His nomination was received by the Senate in May. He cleared the Judiciary Committee in July and awaits a confirmation vote.
• Gregory Carl Cook, Alabama: Nominated to serve as a U.S. district judge for the Northern District of Alabama, replacing retiring Judge R. David Proctor. His nomination was received by the Senate in July, and he cleared the Judiciary Committee in September.

These nominees stand the best chance of confirmation during the lame-duck session due to having cleared the committee.

How the Judicial Confirmation Process Works

Federal district and appeals court judges are nominated by the president, confirmed by the Senate, and receive lifetime appointments. Judicial appointments represent one of a president’s most enduring legacies.

Federal judicial nominees must pass the Senate Judiciary Committee before reaching the full Senate, where confirmation requires a simple majority vote.

What Happens Next

The Senate is expected to return to Washington on Monday, beginning the post-election lame-duck period. The tentative Senate calendar schedules sessions in November and December, with a Thanksgiving recess from November 23 to 27 and an adjournment target of December 18. This leaves Republicans roughly six weeks, with fewer actual legislative days, to address pending judicial nominations and other year-end matters.

The 119th Congress ends when the 120th Congress commences on January 3, marking the transition of Senate control and the start of the new Congress’s session.