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Judicial Elections
How Judges Are Chosen in Washington, D.C.
District of Columbia Court of Appeals judges are appointed by the President from a list drawn up by a nominating commission and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and must be reappointed to serve another 15-year term.
Rules as of October 15, 2026 · source Ballotpedia
Are D.C. judges elected?
- Highest court
- District of Columbia Court of Appeals — 9 judges
- How chosen
- Commission + appointment (by the President)
- Voters
- Voters have no direct say
- Term
- 15 years
- To serve again
- Reappointment
- 2026 ballot
- No District of Columbia Court of Appeals seats in 2026
How D.C. chooses its judges
District of Columbia Court of Appeals judges are appointed by the President from a list drawn up by a nominating commission and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and must be reappointed to serve another 15-year term.
- Seats: 9 judges on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.
- Term: 15 years.
- Confirmation: appointees must be approved by the U.S. Senate.
- To serve again: Reappointment.
- Other courts: Superior Court judges are chosen the same way.
D.C.’s local judges are nominated by the President from the Judicial Nomination Commission’s list and confirmed by the U.S. Senate — the same chamber that confirms federal judges.
Compare every state on the judicial selection table.
Is the District of Columbia Court of Appeals on the 2026 ballot?
No — and no other judge is either. D.C. fills every court by appointment, so judges never appear on the ballot.
Following judicial appointments in D.C.
With no judicial elections, the public’s say runs through the officials who choose judges: the President, who nominates D.C. judges, and the U.S. Senate, which confirms them — D.C. has no senator to cast a vote. Full details, including how vacancies are filled, are on Ballotpedia’s D.C. judicial selection page.
Federal judges in D.C.
Federal judges are never on a ballot: the President nominates them and the U.S. Senate confirms them for life. D.C. has no senators, so it has no say in confirming the judges who serve it — federal or local.
Confirmed by recorded vote in 2026
No federal judge for a court in D.C. has been confirmed by roll-call vote in 2026.
District judges for courts in D.C. and circuit judges from the state. Judges confirmed by voice vote leave no roll call; the Senate’s list of confirmed nominations has them. Roll calls from the snapshot refreshed Oct 1, 2026.
Open federal judgeships
The U.S. Courts list no vacant district judgeship in D.C. as of October 15, 2026.
Source: uscourts.gov current judicial vacancies. Every vacancy nationwide is on the judicial elections hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are judges elected in Washington, D.C.?
District of Columbia Court of Appeals judges are appointed by the President from a list drawn up by a nominating commission and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and must be reappointed to serve another 15-year term. Superior Court judges are chosen the same way.
How long is a term on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals?
15 years. At the end of a term, they must be reappointed to serve another term.
Is the District of Columbia Court of Appeals on the 2026 ballot?
No. D.C. voters do not vote on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals: its judges are appointed, and they must be reappointed to serve another term.
Are any judges on the D.C. ballot?
No. D.C. fills every court by appointment, so no judge appears on the ballot.
Who appoints federal judges in D.C.?
The President nominates and the U.S. Senate confirms them; they serve for life.
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