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2026 Elections
Judicial Elections: How Judges Are Chosen in Every State
Whether you vote for your judges depends on where you live. Here is how all 50 states and D.C. pick the justices of their highest court, every state supreme court seat on the 2026 ballot, how to research a judge before a retention vote — and how federal judges are chosen instead, by the President and the Senate.
State data as of October 15, 2026 from Ballotpedia · Senate votes from the roll-call record · vacancies from the U.S. Courts
Election Day
November 3, 2026
Are judges elected?
- State supreme courts
- Elected in 22 states; voters decide retention in 16 more
- Appointed with no vote
- 12 states, plus D.C.
- On the 2026 ballot
- 63 supreme court seats in 31 states — 47 still to be decided on November 3
- Federal judges
- Never elected: nominated by the President, confirmed by the Senate, serve for life
- Confirmed in 2026
- 31 federal judges by recorded Senate vote (through Sep 23, 2026)
- Federal vacancies
- 28 open judgeships, 11 with a nominee pending
Six ways states choose their highest court
Ballotpedia sorts every state into one of six methods for picking the justices of its court of last resort. The method sets whether you ever see a justice’s name on your ballot.
PARTISAN ELECTION
8 states
NONPARTISAN ELECTION
13 states
MICHIGAN METHOD
1 state
MERIT SELECTION
21 states
plus D.C.
APPOINTMENT
5 states
LEGISLATIVE ELECTION
2 states
- Partisan election — Candidates run in contested elections with a party label next to their name, usually after a party primary. (Alabama, Illinois, Louisiana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas)
- Nonpartisan election — Candidates run in contested elections with no party label on the ballot. (Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin)
- Michigan method — Parties nominate candidates at conventions, but the November ballot shows no labels. Only Michigan does this. (Michigan)
- Merit selection — A nominating commission screens applicants and sends a short list; the governor must appoint from it. Most of these states then hold yes/no retention votes. Often called merit selection or the Missouri Plan. (Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Wyoming, District of Columbia)
- Appointment — The governor appoints directly, usually with confirmation by a council, commission or the state senate. (California, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey)
- Legislative election — The state legislature elects justices, and re-elects them for later terms. (South Carolina, Virginia)
The method is only half the story. What a justice must do to stay on the court matters just as much: Illinois, New Mexico and Pennsylvania elect justices in partisan races but then keep them through retention votes, while Connecticut, New York and Hawaii appoint and then reappoint without ever asking voters. Lower courts often work differently again — California appoints its appellate judges but elects its trial judges.
How every state chooses its highest court
Method, term, and what a justice must do to serve again. Select a state for its full selection rules, its 2026 races and how its senators voted on federal judges.
| State | Selected by | Term | To serve again | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Partisan election | 6 yrs | Run for re-election | 2 seats · Nov 3 |
| Alaska | Merit selection | 10 yrs | Yes/no retention vote | 1 seat · Nov 3 |
| Arizona | Merit selection | 6 yrs | Yes/no retention vote | 1 seat · Nov 3 |
| Arkansas | Nonpartisan election | 8 yrs | Run for re-election | 2 seats · Mar 3 |
| California | Appointment | 12 yrs | Yes/no retention vote | 2 seats · Nov 3 |
| Colorado | Merit selection | 10 yrs | Yes/no retention vote | 1 seat · Nov 3 |
| Connecticut | Merit selection | 8 yrs | Reappointment | — |
| Delaware | Merit selection | 12 yrs | Reappointment | — |
| District of Columbia | Merit selection | 15 yrs | Reappointment | — |
| Florida | Merit selection | 6 yrs | Yes/no retention vote | 1 seat · Nov 3 |
| Georgia | Nonpartisan election | 6 yrs | Run for re-election | 3 seats · May 19 |
| Hawaii | Merit selection | 10 yrs | Reappointment | — |
| Idaho | Nonpartisan election | 6 yrs | Run for re-election | 2 seats · May 19 |
| Illinois | Partisan election | 10 yrs | Yes/no retention vote | — |
| Indiana | Merit selection | 10 yrs | Yes/no retention vote | — |
| Iowa | Merit selection | 8 yrs | Yes/no retention vote | — |
| Kansas | Merit selection | 6 yrs | Yes/no retention vote | 2 seats · Nov 3 |
| Kentucky | Nonpartisan election | 8 yrs | Run for re-election | 1 seat · Nov 3 |
| Louisiana | Partisan election | 10 yrs | Run for re-election | 3 seats · May 16 |
| Maine | Appointment | 7 yrs | Reappointment | — |
| Maryland | Merit selection | 10 yrs | Yes/no retention vote | 1 seat · Nov 3 |
| Massachusetts | Appointment | To age limit | Serve to age limit or for life | — |
| Michigan | Michigan method | 8 yrs | Run for re-election | 2 seats · Nov 3 |
| Minnesota | Nonpartisan election | 6 yrs | Run for re-election | 2 seats · Nov 3 |
| Mississippi | Nonpartisan election | 8 yrs | Run for re-election | — |
| Missouri | Merit selection | 12 yrs | Yes/no retention vote | 1 seat · Nov 3 |
| Montana | Nonpartisan election | 8 yrs | Run for re-election | 1 seat · Nov 3 |
| Nebraska | Merit selection | 6 yrs | Yes/no retention vote | — |
| Nevada | Nonpartisan election | 6 yrs | Run for re-election | 2 seats · Nov 3 |
| New Hampshire | Appointment | To age limit | Serve to age limit or for life | — |
| New Jersey | Appointment | To age limit | Serve to age limit or for life | — |
| New Mexico | Partisan election | 8 yrs | Yes/no retention vote | 2 seats · Nov 3 |
| New York | Merit selection | 14 yrs | Reappointment | — |
| North Carolina | Partisan election | 8 yrs | Run for re-election | 1 seat · Nov 3 |
| North Dakota | Nonpartisan election | 10 yrs | Run for re-election | 2 seats · Nov 3 |
| Ohio | Partisan election | 6 yrs | Run for re-election | 2 seats · Nov 3 |
| Oklahoma | Merit selection | 6 yrs | Yes/no retention vote | 5 seats · Nov 3 |
| Oregon | Nonpartisan election | 6 yrs | Run for re-election | 1 seat · May 19 |
| Pennsylvania | Partisan election | 10 yrs | Yes/no retention vote | — |
| Rhode Island | Merit selection | To age limit | Serve to age limit or for life | — |
| South Carolina | Legislative election | 10 yrs | Legislature decides | — |
| South Dakota | Merit selection | 8 yrs | Yes/no retention vote | — |
| Tennessee | Merit selection | 8 yrs | Yes/no retention vote | 2 seats · Aug 6 |
| Texas | Partisan election | 6 yrs | Run for re-election | 7 seats · Nov 3 |
| Utah | Merit selection | 10 yrs | Yes/no retention vote | 1 seat · Nov 3 |
| Vermont | Merit selection | 6 yrs | Legislature decides | — |
| Virginia | Legislative election | 12 yrs | Legislature decides | — |
| Washington | Nonpartisan election | 6 yrs | Run for re-election | 5 seats · Nov 3 |
| West Virginia | Nonpartisan election | 12 yrs | Run for re-election | 2 seats · May 12 |
| Wisconsin | Nonpartisan election | 10 yrs | Run for re-election | 1 seat · Apr 7 |
| Wyoming | Merit selection | 8 yrs | Yes/no retention vote | 2 seats · Nov 3 |
Alabama
Partisan election · 6-year terms · Run for re-election
Alaska
Merit selection · 10-year terms · Yes/no retention vote
Arizona
Merit selection · 6-year terms · Yes/no retention vote
Arkansas
Nonpartisan election · 8-year terms · Run for re-election
California
Appointment · 12-year terms · Yes/no retention vote
Colorado
Merit selection · 10-year terms · Yes/no retention vote
Connecticut
Merit selection · 8-year terms · Reappointment
Delaware
Merit selection · 12-year terms · Reappointment
District of Columbia
Merit selection · 15-year terms · Reappointment
Florida
Merit selection · 6-year terms · Yes/no retention vote
Georgia
Nonpartisan election · 6-year terms · Run for re-election
Hawaii
Merit selection · 10-year terms · Reappointment
Idaho
Nonpartisan election · 6-year terms · Run for re-election
Illinois
Partisan election · 10-year terms · Yes/no retention vote
Indiana
Merit selection · 10-year terms · Yes/no retention vote
Iowa
Merit selection · 8-year terms · Yes/no retention vote
Kansas
Merit selection · 6-year terms · Yes/no retention vote
Kentucky
Nonpartisan election · 8-year terms · Run for re-election
Louisiana
Partisan election · 10-year terms · Run for re-election
Maine
Appointment · 7-year terms · Reappointment
Maryland
Merit selection · 10-year terms · Yes/no retention vote
Massachusetts
Appointment · serve to age limit · Serve to age limit or for life
Michigan
Michigan method · 8-year terms · Run for re-election
Minnesota
Nonpartisan election · 6-year terms · Run for re-election
Mississippi
Nonpartisan election · 8-year terms · Run for re-election
Missouri
Merit selection · 12-year terms · Yes/no retention vote
Montana
Nonpartisan election · 8-year terms · Run for re-election
Nebraska
Merit selection · 6-year terms · Yes/no retention vote
Nevada
Nonpartisan election · 6-year terms · Run for re-election
New Hampshire
Appointment · serve to age limit · Serve to age limit or for life
New Jersey
Appointment · serve to age limit · Serve to age limit or for life
New Mexico
Partisan election · 8-year terms · Yes/no retention vote
New York
Merit selection · 14-year terms · Reappointment
North Carolina
Partisan election · 8-year terms · Run for re-election
North Dakota
Nonpartisan election · 10-year terms · Run for re-election
Ohio
Partisan election · 6-year terms · Run for re-election
Oklahoma
Merit selection · 6-year terms · Yes/no retention vote
Oregon
Nonpartisan election · 6-year terms · Run for re-election
Pennsylvania
Partisan election · 10-year terms · Yes/no retention vote
Rhode Island
Merit selection · serve to age limit · Serve to age limit or for life
South Carolina
Legislative election · 10-year terms · Legislature decides
South Dakota
Merit selection · 8-year terms · Yes/no retention vote
Tennessee
Merit selection · 8-year terms · Yes/no retention vote
Texas
Partisan election · 6-year terms · Run for re-election
Utah
Merit selection · 10-year terms · Yes/no retention vote
Vermont
Merit selection · 6-year terms · Legislature decides
Virginia
Legislative election · 12-year terms · Legislature decides
Washington
Nonpartisan election · 6-year terms · Run for re-election
West Virginia
Nonpartisan election · 12-year terms · Run for re-election
Wisconsin
Nonpartisan election · 10-year terms · Run for re-election
Wyoming
Merit selection · 8-year terms · Yes/no retention vote
Texas and Oklahoma each have two courts of last resort — one for civil and one for criminal cases — chosen the same way. Source: Ballotpedia, Judicial selection in the states.
2026 state supreme court elections
63 seats in 31 states are up this year. Some were settled in the spring; the rest are on the November 3 ballot.
SEATS UP
63
31 states
ON NOV 3 BALLOT
47
23 states
RETENTION VOTES
22
yes/no, no opponent
OPEN SEATS
7
contested, no incumbent
On the November 3 ballot
| State | Type | Seats | Who’s running |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | partisan | 1 contested · 1 unopposed | Greg Shaw* vs. AshLeigh Meyer Dunham; Brad Mendheim* |
| Alaska | retention | 1 retention | Jude Pate* |
| Arizona | retention | 1 retention | John Lopez IV* |
| California | retention | 2 retention | Kelli M. Evans*; Joshua Groban* |
| Colorado | retention | 1 retention | William W. Hood* |
| Florida | retention | 1 retention | Carlos Muñiz* |
| Kansas | retention | 2 retention | Larkin Walsh*; Eric Rosen* |
| Kentucky | nonpartisan | 1 unopposed | Debra Hembree Lambert* |
| Maryland | retention | 1 retention | Peter K. Killough* |
| Michigan | partisan | 2 contested | Megan Cavanagh* vs. Noah Hood* vs. Thomas Howe vs. Casandra Morse-Bills vs. Michael D. Warren Jr. vs. Jody White |
| Minnesota | nonpartisan | 2 unopposed | Sarah E. Hennesy*; Paul Thissen* |
| Missouri | retention | 1 retention | Paul C. Wilson* |
| Montana | nonpartisan | 1 contested | Amy Eddy vs. Dan Wilson |
| Nevada | nonpartisan | 2 unopposed | Kris Pickering*; Douglas Herndon* |
| New Mexico | retention | 2 retention | David K. Thomson*; Shannon Bacon* |
| North Carolina | partisan | 1 contested | Anita Earls* vs. Sarah Stevens |
| North Dakota | nonpartisan | 1 contested · 1 unopposed | Jerod Tufte* vs. Ariston Johnson; Douglas Bahr* |
| Ohio | partisan | 2 contested | Jennifer L. Brunner* vs. Colleen O’Donnell; Dan Hawkins* vs. Marilyn Zayas |
| Oklahoma | retention | 5 retention | M. John Kane IV*; Travis Jett*; Dana Kuehn*; Richard Darby*; Rob Hudson* |
| Texas | partisan | 7 contested | Jimmy Blacklock* vs. Maggie Ellis; James Sullivan* vs. Chari Kelly; Kyle Hawkins* vs. Kristen Hawkins; Brett Busby* vs. Gisela Triana; Thomas Smith vs. Okey Anyiam vs. Mark Ash; Kevin Patrick Yeary* vs. Audra Riley; John Messinger vs. Holly Taylor |
| Utah | retention | 1 retention | Jill Pohlman* |
| Washington | nonpartisan | 5 contested | Colleen Melody* vs. Scott Edwards; Jaime Hawk vs. David Stevens; Ian Birk vs. Sean O’Donnell; Theo Angelis* vs. Dave Larson; Debra Stephens* vs. Todd Bloom |
| Wyoming | retention | 2 retention | Bridget Hill*; Robert Jarosh* |
Alabama
Partisan · 1 contested · 1 unopposed
Alaska
Retention · 1 retention
Arizona
Retention · 1 retention
California
Retention · 2 retention
Colorado
Retention · 1 retention
Florida
Retention · 1 retention
Kansas
Retention · 2 retention
Kentucky
Nonpartisan · 1 unopposed
Maryland
Retention · 1 retention
Michigan
Partisan · 2 contested
Minnesota
Nonpartisan · 2 unopposed
Missouri
Retention · 1 retention
Montana
Nonpartisan · 1 contested
Nevada
Nonpartisan · 2 unopposed
New Mexico
Retention · 2 retention
North Carolina
Partisan · 1 contested
North Dakota
Nonpartisan · 1 contested · 1 unopposed
Ohio
Partisan · 2 contested
Oklahoma
Retention · 5 retention
Texas
Partisan · 7 contested
Utah
Retention · 1 retention
Washington
Nonpartisan · 5 contested
Wyoming
Retention · 2 retention
* incumbent. Retention races list the one justice on the ballot.
Already decided
- Arkansas (March 3, 2026): Nicholas Bronni, Cody Hiland elected.
- Georgia (May 19, 2026): Charlie Bethel, Sarah Hawkins Warren, Ben Land elected.
- Idaho (May 19, 2026): Gregory W. Moeller, Cynthia Meyer elected.
- Louisiana (May 16, 2026): William H. Burris, Cade Cole, Jay B. McCallum elected.
- Oregon (May 19, 2026): Chris Garrett elected.
- Tennessee (August 6, 2026): Kyle Hixson, Mary L. Wagner retained.
- West Virginia (May 12, 2026): H.L. Kirkpatrick, Bill Flanigan elected.
- Wisconsin (April 7, 2026): Chris Taylor elected.
Candidates and seats as of October 15, 2026 from Ballotpedia’s 2026 state supreme court elections. Results for November races are added once certified.
What is a retention election?
A retention election asks one question: should this judge stay on the court? There is no opponent and no party label. If enough voters say yes — a simple majority in most states, 57% in New Mexico — the judge serves another term. If not, the seat is filled the way it was the first time, usually by a new appointment from a nominating commission’s list.
16 states use retention votes to keep appointed justices, and Illinois, New Mexico and Pennsylvania use them after a justice’s first election — so in 19 states a sitting supreme court justice can face a yes/no vote. Justices almost always keep their seats, though not always: in 2024 Oklahoma’s Yvonne Kauger became the first justice in that state’s history to lose a retention vote. This year’s November 3 ballot carries 20 supreme court retention votes in 12 states.
Because there is no campaign, the hardest part is finding anything out about the judge. Seven states run an official judicial performance evaluation program that reviews judges before they face voters (which judges each one covers varies by state):
- Alaska: Alaska Judicial Council
- Arizona: Commission on Judicial Performance Review
- Colorado: Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation
- Missouri: Judicial Performance Review Committee
- New Mexico: Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission
- Tennessee: Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission
- Utah: Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission
How to research the judges on your ballot
Judicial races are the part of the ballot voters most often skip. Five places to look, in the order most people find useful:
- 1
Get your sample ballot
Your state or county election office lists every judicial race you will see, including local trial courts this page does not cover. Your state’s how-to-vote page links the official lookup.
- 2
Read the official evaluation
In states with a performance-evaluation program, the commission publishes a report and a “meets standards” finding for each judge facing retention.
- 3
Check the state voter guide
Several states mail or post a voters’ pamphlet with a statement from each judicial candidate.
- 4
Look at the record
For an incumbent, the court’s own site lists opinions; for any candidate, Ballotpedia and local news cover experience, endorsements and campaign spending.
- 5
Know the rules for judges
Judicial ethics codes bar candidates from promising how they will rule on cases, so judicial campaigns say less than others — the record matters more.
- 1
Get your sample ballot
Your state or county election office lists every judicial race you will see, including local trial courts this page does not cover. Your state’s how-to-vote page links the official lookup.
- 2
Read the official evaluation
In states with a performance-evaluation program, the commission publishes a report and a “meets standards” finding for each judge facing retention.
- 3
Check the state voter guide
Several states mail or post a voters’ pamphlet with a statement from each judicial candidate.
- 4
Look at the record
For an incumbent, the court’s own site lists opinions; for any candidate, Ballotpedia and local news cover experience, endorsements and campaign spending.
- 5
Know the rules for judges
Judicial ethics codes bar candidates from promising how they will rule on cases, so judicial campaigns say less than others — the record matters more.
Start with your state: How to vote in your state has the official ballot lookup and deadlines, and each state page below covers its supreme court races.
Federal judges: chosen by the President and the Senate
No federal judge is ever on a ballot. Article III judges — the Supreme Court, the 13 courts of appeals and the district courts — are nominated by the President and need a majority vote of the Senate. That makes presidential and Senate elections the only ones that shape the federal bench.
- 1
A seat opens
Most vacancies come from judges taking senior status — 22 of the 28 on the U.S. Courts’ current list. Senior judges keep hearing cases on a lighter load, and their seat opens for a new appointment.
- 2
The President nominates
For district courts, home-state senators traditionally recommend candidates, and the Judiciary Committee chair decides how much weight their “blue slips” carry.
- 3
Judiciary Committee hearing and vote
The Senate Judiciary Committee questions the nominee and votes to report the nomination to the floor.
- 4
Cloture and confirmation
Since the Senate’s 2013 and 2017 rule changes, ending debate on any judicial nominee takes a simple majority, not 60. Confirmation then needs a majority of senators voting.
- 5
Life tenure
Confirmed judges serve “during good behavior.” Only impeachment by the House and conviction by two-thirds of the Senate can remove one.
- 1
A seat opens
Most vacancies come from judges taking senior status — 22 of the 28 on the U.S. Courts’ current list. Senior judges keep hearing cases on a lighter load, and their seat opens for a new appointment.
- 2
The President nominates
For district courts, home-state senators traditionally recommend candidates, and the Judiciary Committee chair decides how much weight their “blue slips” carry.
- 3
Judiciary Committee hearing and vote
The Senate Judiciary Committee questions the nominee and votes to report the nomination to the floor.
- 4
Cloture and confirmation
Since the Senate’s 2013 and 2017 rule changes, ending debate on any judicial nominee takes a simple majority, not 60. Confirmation then needs a majority of senators voting.
- 5
Life tenure
Confirmed judges serve “during good behavior.” Only impeachment by the House and conviction by two-thirds of the Senate can remove one.
Federal judges confirmed by recorded vote in 2026
The Senate has confirmed 31 federal judges by roll-call vote this year — 4 to courts of appeals, 25 to district courts and 2 to other federal courts. 26 of those votes were decided by 10 votes or fewer. Nominees confirmed by voice vote or unanimous consent leave no roll call and are not counted here; the Senate’s full list of confirmed nominations includes them.
| Date | Judge | Court | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 23, 2026 | Angela Veronica Colmenero | District Judge for the Southern District of Texas | 50–47 |
| Sep 17, 2026 | Kasdin Miller Mitchell | District Judge for the Northern District of Texas | 49–45 |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Matthew R. Byrne | District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio | 52–45 |
| Jul 23, 2026 | Antonio M. Pozos | District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania | 49–44 |
| Jul 23, 2026 | Daniel Mack Traynor | Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit | 48–47 |
| Jul 22, 2026 | Michael C. Martin | District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan | 62–36 |
| Jul 22, 2026 | Benjamin M. Flowers | Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit | 49–46 |
| Jul 21, 2026 | Kara Marie Westercamp | Judge of the U.S. Court of International Trade | 50–48 |
| Jul 15, 2026 | Jeffrey T. Kuntz | District Judge for the Southern District of Florida | 51–46 |
| Jul 14, 2026 | Matthew A. Schwartz | Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit | 50–45 |
| Jul 13, 2026 | Arthur Roberts Jones | District Judge for the Southern District of Texas | 46–44 |
| Jun 24, 2026 | Michael J. Hendershot | District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio | 50–44 |
| Jun 24, 2026 | John George Edward Marck | District Judge for the Southern District of Texas | 52–45 |
| Jun 15, 2026 | Justin D. Smith | Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit | 48–43 |
| Jun 10, 2026 | Anthony J. Powell | District Judge for the District of Kansas | 50–44 |
| Jun 9, 2026 | Anthony W. Mattivi | District Judge for the District of Kansas | 51–46 |
| Jun 2, 2026 | Jeffrey M. Kuhlman | District Judge for the District of Kansas | 52–46 |
| Jun 2, 2026 | Kathleen S. Lane | District Judge for the District of Montana | 52–46 |
| May 20, 2026 | Evan Rikhye | Judge for the District Court of the Virgin Islands | 52–47 |
| May 19, 2026 | Sheria Akins Clarke | District Judge for the District of South Carolina | 52–38 |
| Apr 20, 2026 | Andrew B. Davis | District Judge for the Western District of Texas | 47–46 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | Christopher R. Wolfe | District Judge for the Western District of Texas | 53–47 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | John Thomas Shepherd | District Judge for the Western District of Arkansas | 53–46 |
| Mar 17, 2026 | Anna St. John | District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana | 51–45 |
| Feb 5, 2026 | Justin R. Olson | District Judge for the Southern District of Indiana | 50–47 |
| Feb 5, 2026 | Brian Charles Lea | District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee | 50–46 |
| Feb 4, 2026 | Megan Blair Benton | District Judge for the Western District of Missouri | 51–46 |
| Feb 4, 2026 | Aaron Christian Peterson | District Judge for the District of Alaska | 58–39 |
| Feb 3, 2026 | Nicholas Jon Ganjei | District Judge for the Southern District of Texas | 51–45 |
| Feb 3, 2026 | David Clay Fowlkes | District Judge for the Western District of Arkansas | 54–40 |
| Jan 8, 2026 | Alexander C. Van Hook | District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana | 53–40 |
Angela Veronica Colmenero
District Judge for the Southern District of Texas · Sep 23, 2026
Kasdin Miller Mitchell
District Judge for the Northern District of Texas · Sep 17, 2026
Matthew R. Byrne
District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio · Sep 15, 2026
Antonio M. Pozos
District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania · Jul 23, 2026
Daniel Mack Traynor
Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit · Jul 23, 2026
Michael C. Martin
District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan · Jul 22, 2026
Benjamin M. Flowers
Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit · Jul 22, 2026
Kara Marie Westercamp
Judge of the U.S. Court of International Trade · Jul 21, 2026
Jeffrey T. Kuntz
District Judge for the Southern District of Florida · Jul 15, 2026
Matthew A. Schwartz
Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit · Jul 14, 2026
Arthur Roberts Jones
District Judge for the Southern District of Texas · Jul 13, 2026
Michael J. Hendershot
District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio · Jun 24, 2026
John George Edward Marck
District Judge for the Southern District of Texas · Jun 24, 2026
Justin D. Smith
Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit · Jun 15, 2026
Anthony J. Powell
District Judge for the District of Kansas · Jun 10, 2026
Anthony W. Mattivi
District Judge for the District of Kansas · Jun 9, 2026
Jeffrey M. Kuhlman
District Judge for the District of Kansas · Jun 2, 2026
Kathleen S. Lane
District Judge for the District of Montana · Jun 2, 2026
Evan Rikhye
Judge for the District Court of the Virgin Islands · May 20, 2026
Sheria Akins Clarke
District Judge for the District of South Carolina · May 19, 2026
Andrew B. Davis
District Judge for the Western District of Texas · Apr 20, 2026
Christopher R. Wolfe
District Judge for the Western District of Texas · Apr 14, 2026
John Thomas Shepherd
District Judge for the Western District of Arkansas · Apr 14, 2026
Anna St. John
District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana · Mar 17, 2026
Justin R. Olson
District Judge for the Southern District of Indiana · Feb 5, 2026
Brian Charles Lea
District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee · Feb 5, 2026
Megan Blair Benton
District Judge for the Western District of Missouri · Feb 4, 2026
Aaron Christian Peterson
District Judge for the District of Alaska · Feb 4, 2026
Nicholas Jon Ganjei
District Judge for the Southern District of Texas · Feb 3, 2026
David Clay Fowlkes
District Judge for the Western District of Arkansas · Feb 3, 2026
Alexander C. Van Hook
District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana · Jan 8, 2026
From the Senate roll-call snapshot refreshed Oct 1, 2026. See every recent vote on the Senate’s latest roll calls and who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Current federal judicial vacancies
The U.S. Courts list 28 vacant judgeships as of October 15, 2026, with 11 nominees pending in the Senate. Each state page lists its own.
| Court | Seat held by | Open since | Nominee |
|---|---|---|---|
| MA | Nathaniel M. Gorton (senior) | May 31, 2025 | None yet |
| MA | F. Dennis Saylor (senior) | Jul 31, 2025 | None yet |
| ME | Nancy Torresen (senior) | Oct 11, 2025 | None yet |
| CT | Jeffrey Alker Meyer (deceased) | Jan 12, 2025 | None yet |
| NY-S | Valerie E. Caproni (senior) | Jan 7, 2025 | None yet |
| NY-S | Lorna G. Schofield (senior) | Dec 31, 2024 | None yet |
| NY-S | Cathy Seibel (senior) | Nov 3, 2025 | None yet |
| SC | Timothy M. Cain (senior) | Oct 1, 2026 | None yet |
| VA-E | Arenda L. Wright Allen (senior) | May 13, 2026 | None yet |
| LA-E | Lance M. Africk (senior) | Oct 1, 2024 | Peter M. Mansfield |
| TX-N | Jane J. Boyle (senior) | Oct 1, 2025 | None yet |
| TX-N | David C. Godbey (senior) | Sep 17, 2025 | Courtney Leigh Coker |
| TX-S | Andrew S. Hanen (senior) | Jan 2, 2025 | Richard Wesley Bennett |
| TX-W | Alan D Albright (resigned) | Aug 31, 2026 | None yet |
| KY-E | Gregory F. Van Tatenhove (retired) | Jul 19, 2026 | Daniel Lewis Ballou |
| TN-E | Thomas A. Varlan (senior) | Oct 5, 2026 | Samuel D. Adkisson |
| IL-N | John Joseph Tharp (senior) | Sep 30, 2026 | None yet |
| MN | Patrick J. Schiltz (senior) | Jul 1, 2026 | None yet |
| ND | Daniel Mack Traynor (elevated) | Jul 23, 2026 | Philip Axt |
| AK | Joshua M. Kindred (resigned) | Jul 8, 2024 | Kyle Frederick Reardon |
| CA-C | Josephine L. Staton (senior) | Sep 19, 2026 | None yet |
| CA-S | William Q. Hayes (senior) | Aug 1, 2021 | None yet |
| NM | James O. Browning (senior) | Feb 1, 2026 | None yet |
| OK-E | Ronald A. White (senior) | Jan 27, 2026 | Zachary Paul West |
| OK-N | Gregory K. Frizzell (senior) | Mar 1, 2025 | Trevor Scott Pemberton |
| AL-N | R. David Proctor (senior) | Jan 1, 2026 | Gregory Carl Cook |
| FL-M | Timothy J. Corrigan (senior) | Nov 2, 2024 | Robert E. Long Jr. |
| GA-N | Timothy C. Batten Sr. (retired) | May 23, 2025 | None yet |
MA · Nathaniel M. Gorton
Senior · open since May 31, 2025
MA · F. Dennis Saylor
Senior · open since Jul 31, 2025
ME · Nancy Torresen
Senior · open since Oct 11, 2025
CT · Jeffrey Alker Meyer
Deceased · open since Jan 12, 2025
NY-S · Valerie E. Caproni
Senior · open since Jan 7, 2025
NY-S · Lorna G. Schofield
Senior · open since Dec 31, 2024
NY-S · Cathy Seibel
Senior · open since Nov 3, 2025
SC · Timothy M. Cain
Senior · open since Oct 1, 2026
VA-E · Arenda L. Wright Allen
Senior · open since May 13, 2026
LA-E · Lance M. Africk
Senior · open since Oct 1, 2024
TX-N · Jane J. Boyle
Senior · open since Oct 1, 2025
TX-N · David C. Godbey
Senior · open since Sep 17, 2025
TX-S · Andrew S. Hanen
Senior · open since Jan 2, 2025
TX-W · Alan D Albright
Resigned · open since Aug 31, 2026
KY-E · Gregory F. Van Tatenhove
Retired · open since Jul 19, 2026
TN-E · Thomas A. Varlan
Senior · open since Oct 5, 2026
IL-N · John Joseph Tharp
Senior · open since Sep 30, 2026
MN · Patrick J. Schiltz
Senior · open since Jul 1, 2026
ND · Daniel Mack Traynor
Elevated · open since Jul 23, 2026
AK · Joshua M. Kindred
Resigned · open since Jul 8, 2024
CA-C · Josephine L. Staton
Senior · open since Sep 19, 2026
CA-S · William Q. Hayes
Senior · open since Aug 1, 2021
NM · James O. Browning
Senior · open since Feb 1, 2026
OK-E · Ronald A. White
Senior · open since Jan 27, 2026
OK-N · Gregory K. Frizzell
Senior · open since Mar 1, 2025
AL-N · R. David Proctor
Senior · open since Jan 1, 2026
FL-M · Timothy J. Corrigan
Senior · open since Nov 2, 2024
GA-N · Timothy C. Batten Sr.
Retired · open since May 23, 2025
Court codes are the U.S. Courts’: “TX-S” is the Southern District of Texas. Source: uscourts.gov current judicial vacancies.
The U.S. Supreme Court: nine justices, all confirmed by the Senate
Presidents have sent the Senate 165 Supreme Court nominations since 1789; 128 were confirmed. Every sitting justice, with the vote that put them on the Court:
| Justice | Nominated by | Confirmed | Senate vote | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John G. Roberts, Jr.Chief | George W. Bush | Sep 29, 2005 | 78–22 | 71 |
| Clarence Thomas | George H. W. Bush | Oct 15, 1991 | 52–48 | 78 |
| Samuel A. Alito, Jr. | George W. Bush | Jan 31, 2006 | 58–42 | 76 |
| Sonia Sotomayor | Barack Obama | Aug 6, 2009 | 68–31 | 72 |
| Elena Kagan | Barack Obama | Aug 5, 2010 | 63–37 | 66 |
| Neil M. Gorsuch | Donald Trump | Apr 7, 2017 | 54–45 | 59 |
| Brett M. Kavanaugh | Donald Trump | Oct 6, 2018 | 50–48 | 61 |
| Amy Coney Barrett | Donald Trump | Oct 26, 2020 | 52–48 | 54 |
| Ketanji Brown Jackson | Joe Biden | Apr 7, 2022 | 53–47 | 56 |
John G. Roberts, Jr. (Chief Justice)
Nominated by George W. Bush · confirmed Sep 29, 2005, 78–22
Clarence Thomas
Nominated by George H. W. Bush · confirmed Oct 15, 1991, 52–48
Samuel A. Alito, Jr.
Nominated by George W. Bush · confirmed Jan 31, 2006, 58–42
Sonia Sotomayor
Nominated by Barack Obama · confirmed Aug 6, 2009, 68–31
Elena Kagan
Nominated by Barack Obama · confirmed Aug 5, 2010, 63–37
Neil M. Gorsuch
Nominated by Donald Trump · confirmed Apr 7, 2017, 54–45
Brett M. Kavanaugh
Nominated by Donald Trump · confirmed Oct 6, 2018, 50–48
Amy Coney Barrett
Nominated by Donald Trump · confirmed Oct 26, 2020, 52–48
Ketanji Brown Jackson
Nominated by Joe Biden · confirmed Apr 7, 2022, 53–47
Sources: supremecourt.gov, senate.gov Supreme Court nominations. Ages update daily.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are judges elected in the United States?
Some are. Federal judges are never elected — the President nominates them and the Senate confirms them. State judges depend on the state: voters elect the justices of their state's highest court in 22 states and vote on whether to keep them in 16 more, while in the other 12 the governor or legislature decides. Many states also elect their trial judges.
How many states elect their supreme court justices?
22 states choose them in contested elections (8 with party labels, 13 without, and Michigan's hybrid). Counting retention votes, voters have a say over their highest court in 38 of the 50 states.
What is a judicial retention election?
A yes/no vote on whether a sitting judge keeps the job. There is no opponent: if a majority votes yes (or, in a few states, a higher threshold — New Mexico requires 57%), the judge serves another term; if not, the seat is filled by a new appointment.
How do I decide whether to retain a judge?
Start with your state’s official judicial performance evaluation if it has one — Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, New Mexico, Tennessee and Utah publish reviews of judges facing retention, built largely from surveys of lawyers, jurors and court staff. Your state voter guide, bar association surveys and local news coverage fill in the rest. This site does not make recommendations.
How many state supreme court seats are on the ballot in 2026?
63 seats in 31 states, according to Ballotpedia. 16 were settled earlier in the year (in spring elections or because a candidate was unopposed), leaving 47 seats in 23 states on the November 3 ballot — 22 of them retention votes.
Are federal judges elected?
No. Under Article III of the Constitution the President nominates federal judges and the Senate confirms them by majority vote. Once confirmed, they serve “during good behavior” — in practice for life — and can only be removed by impeachment in the House and conviction in the Senate.
How long do federal judges serve?
For life, unless they retire, resign or are impeached and removed. Many take “senior status” instead of retiring outright, which keeps them hearing cases on a reduced load and opens their seat for a new appointment.
Can Congress remove a federal judge?
Only through impeachment: the House impeaches by majority vote and the Senate convicts by two-thirds. Fifteen federal judges have been impeached and eight removed.
Related Resources
How to Vote in Your State
Registration deadlines, early voting, mail ballots, voter ID, and poll hours for all 50 states and D.C. — with a plan builder you can add to your calendar.
What Can Congress Do?
Can Congress declare war, override a veto, impeach a cabinet member, remove a senator, overrule the Supreme Court, or invoke the 25th Amendment? Question by question, with live vote math.
Who Is on Each Congressional Committee?
Full membership rosters for every House, Senate and joint committee — chair, ranking member, seniority order, and who is up in 2026.
What Is the Senate Voting On?
The Senate’s most recent roll-call votes — question, result and tally — from the official record, refreshed every 15 minutes.