Update on judicial recommendations made to Obama

[longwinded]

Nobody who hasn't already been nominated will be confirmed before the 111th Congress adjourns next January. At this point, it's clear the Obama administration dropped the ball on the pace of its judicial nominations. So, here's hoping all of the recommendations below are acted on as soon as the 112th Congress convenes in five months. That should be enough time to complete background checks on most of the candidates.

Alaska
o http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202463876409
o 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ("Alaska seat" vacated by Andrew Kleinfeld): Heather Kendall-Miller (would be first Native American appeals court judge); Alaska Supreme Court Justice Morgan Christen (she's a Sarah Palin appointee...)

Arkansas
o Recommendations by Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor: http://lincoln.senate.gov/newsroom/2009-03-12-3.cfm ; http://lincoln.senate.gov/newsroom/USAttorneys-USMarshals.cfm ; http://pryor.senate.gov/newsroom/details.cfm?id=320883
o Eastern District of Arkansas (James M. Moody's old seat): Christopher J. Heller, Denise Reid Hoggard, Amelia Mosley Russell
o Western District of Arkansas (2 vacancies; 3 recs for 1st vacancy, 1 rec for 2nd vacancy): Caroline M. Craven, Susan O. Hickey, Carlton D. Jones (replaces James S. Hudson, Jr., who was initially recommended but died in May 2009); P.K. Holmes III (nominated April 28, 2010)

California
o http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202463876409
o 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ("California seat" vacated by Stephen Trott, although Sens. Michael Crapo and Jim Risch are trying to claim this seat for Idaho): Professor Christopher David Ruiz Cameron

Colorado
o Recommendations in June 2009 by Sens. Michael Bennet and Mark Udall: http://markudall.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=3
o District of Colorado (2 vacancies): William Martinez (nominated February 24, 2010), Christina Habas, Morris Ben Hoffman, Richard Brooke Jackson, Lael Montgomery, John F. Walsh (nominated for U.S. Attorney on April 14, 2010, so he's out of the running).

Delaware
o Recommendations in July 2010 by Sen. Tom Carper: http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100811/NEWS02/8110334
o District of Delaware (1 vacancy): Linda L. Ammons (57 yo), Richard G. Andrews (54 yo), Collins J. Seitz Jr. (52 yo; son of former federal judge Collins J. Seitz, and brother of OLC front runner Virginia Seitz).

District of Columbia:
o Obama administration has begun vetting possible appeals court nominees: http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2010/07/sources-obama-administration-vetting-ny-lawyer-for-dc-circuit.html
o D.C. Court of Appeals (2 vacancies): Former New York Solicitor General Caitlin J. Halligan (43 yo)

Florida
o The Florida Federal Judiciary Nominating Commission made recommendations to Sen. Bill Nelson in July 2009: http://www.miamiherald.com/2009/07/21/1150406/finalists-named-for-us-attorney.html ; http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jul/23/list-candidates-trimmed-us-attorney-federal-judge-/news-breaking/
o Middle District of Florida (1 vacancy): Roy B. Dalton Jr, Judge Brian J. Davis, Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Jenkins
o Southern District of Florida (1 current vacancy, 1 future vacancy): Kathleen M. Williams (nominated July 21, 2010), Judge Jerald Bagley, Judge Robert N. Scola, Jr.

Georgia
o Recommendations by Democratic members of Georgia's congressional delegation (Georgia's two senators and governor are R's): http://www.dailyreportonline.com/Editorial/News/singleEdit.asp?individual_SQL=8/27/2009@34761
o Northern District of Georgia (3 vacancies w/o a nominee): Amy M. Totenberg (nominated March 17, 2010), J. Antonio DelCampo, Leigh M. May, Albert M. Pearson III, Wayne M. Purdom, Constance C. Russell, Wendy L. Shoob, V. Natasha Perdew Silas, Gail S. Tusan, Gerald R. Weber Jr., David J. Worley

Illinois
o Recommendations by Sen. Dick Durbin: http://www.chicagoiplitigation.com/2009/08/articles/legal-news/senator-durbin-sends-northern-district-judicial-nominees-list-to-president-obama/ ; http://durbin.senate.gov/showRelease.cfm?releaseId=322611
o Vetting of Mary Rowland: http://wednesdayjournalonline.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=16478&TM=76498.67
o Northern District of Illinois (3 vacancies w/o a nominee, recommendations in August 2009): Gary Feinerman (nominated February 24, 2010 and confirmed June 28, 2010), Sharon Coleman (nominated February 24, 2010 and confirmed July 12, 2010), Edmond Chang (nominated April 21, 2010), Mary Rowland (49 yo and seemingly a front-runner; would be Obama's second openly gay federal judicial nominee), Susan Cox, Thomas Durkin, Maria Valdez
o Central District of Illinois (1 vacancy w/o a nominee, recommendations in February 2010): Judge James Shadid (nominated May 27, 2010), Judge Sue E. Myerscough (nominated July 14, 2010; previously nominated by Clinton for the same district, but Republicans blocked her), Judge Ronald Spears, Colin Bruce (Assistant U.S. Attorney)

Louisiana
o Recommendation in April 2009 by Sen. Mary Landrieu: http://landrieu.senate.gov/releases/09/2009427C07.html
o Eastern District of Louisiana: Michael Bagneris

Maine
o Recommendations in April 2010 by Reps. Michael Michaud and Chellie Pingree: http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/141036.html
o District of Maine (1 vacancy): Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy (54 yo)

Michigan
o Recommendations in June 2009 by Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow: http://levin.senate.gov/newsroom/release.cfm?id=314560
o Eastern District of Michigan (2 vacancies): Judge Mark Goldsmith (nominated February 4, 2010 and confirmed June 21, 2010), Judge David Allen

Missouri
o Recommendations in February 2010 by Sen. Clair McCaskill: http://www.dolanmedia.com/view.cfm?recID=569818
o Eastern District of Missouri (1 vacancy): Judge Nannette Baker (52 yo), Judge Judge Thomas C. Mummert III (59 yo), Judge Angela Turner Quigless (50 yo)

New York
o Recommendation by Sen. Chuck Schumer in February/June/July 2010: http://schumer.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=322146 ; http://schumer.senate.gov/new_website/record.cfm?id=325931 ; http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20100714/NEWS01/7140346/Mike-Green-suggested-for-federal-judgeship
o Northern District of New York (1 vacancy): Mae D’Agostino (55 yo)
o Southern District of New York (2 vacancies): Daniel Alter (Alter would be the second openly gay male nominee for a federal judicial post, after Obama nominee Edward DuMont), Vincent L. Briccetti (55 yo), Paul A. Engelmayer (49 yo, former Thurgood Marshall clerk)
o Western District of New York (1 vacancy): Monroe County District Attorney Michael C. Green (48 yo)

North Carolina
o Recommendations by Sen. Kay Hagan: http://hagan.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=229
o Eastern District of North Carolina (1 vacancy, recommendations in July 2009): Allen Cobb, Jennifer May-Parker, Quentin Sumner

Oklahoma
o It was assumed that Gov. Brad Henry and Rep. Dan Boren would take the lead in making recommendations: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=16&articleid=20100121_16_A1_WSIGOm590017
o However, it looks as is the White House has started vetting candidates without consulting any Oklahoma politicians; not the Republican senators (which is not surprising) nor Boren/Henry (a little surprising): http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleid=20100523_16_A1_WASHIN822076
o 10th Circuit Court of Appeals (an "Oklahoma seat" will open up when Robert Henry retires in June 2010): The White House is considering young (early 40s, maybe, based on graduation dates) Oklahoma Cherokee Keith M. Harper (http://www.kilpatrickstockton.com/en/Who%20We%20Are/Professionals/H/HarperKeithM13797.aspx), but it looks like this nomination would be heavily opposed Republicans and likely Democrats as well. Other leading contenders are reported to be Tulsa Law dean Janet Levit (http://www.utulsa.edu/Academics/Colleges/College%20of%20Law/Faculty%20and%20Administration/L/Janet%20Levit.aspx) and former Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment Miles Tolbert (http://attorneys.crowedunlevy.com/AttorneysDetail.aspx?id=86). The Boren/Henry path might lead to Brad Henry (46 yo) pursuing his cousin's old seat; he would be the leading contender. Other contenders are former Oklahoma Attorney General Michael Turpen, Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott E. Williams, and U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Bacharach.

Ohio
o Finalists determined by a judicial commission were forwarded to Sens. Sherrod Brown and George Voinovich in July 2010: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100727/NEWS02/7260426/0/FRONTPAGE
o Northern District of Ohio: Steven P. Collier, Jeffrey Helmick, Judge Thomas J. Tucker

Pennsylvania
o Recommendations by Sens. Bob Casey and Arlen Specter in July 2010: http://citizensvoice.com/news/sources-nealon-minora-mariani-to-be-submitted-for-nomination-to-federal-bench-1.881276
o Middle District of Pennsylvania (3 vacancies): Judge Terrence R. Nealon (51 yo), Robert D. Mariani (60 yo), Judge Carmen D. Minora (57 yo, and a Republican friend of Specter's; if Sestak wins in November, Obama has no business nominating this guy)

Texas
o The two Republican senators are trying assert their "right" to make recommendations rather than letting the Democratic congressional delegation perform the duty (as is customary if there is no senator/governor of the same party). There is, however, some consensus: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/6988308.html ; http://www.caller.com/news/2010/jun/09/democrats-select-three-finalists-federal-judgeship/
o Eastern District of Texas (1 vacancy): Eric M. Albritton (Democratic recommendation), Magistrate Judge Chad Everingham (Democratic recommendation), J. Rodney Gilstrap (Democratic recommendation)
o Southern District of Texas (4 vacancies): Marina Garcia Marmolejo (bipartisan support, nominated July 28, 2010), Diana Saldaña (bipartisan support, nominated July 14, 2010), Justice Dori Contreras Garza (52 yo; Democratic recommendation), Judge Nanette Hassette (49 yo; Democratic recommendation), Judge Nelva Gonzalez Ramos (43 yo; Democratic recommendation),
o Western District of Texas (2 vacancies): Javier Alvarez (bipartisan support), Catherine Torres-Stahl (Democratic recommendation w/ Republican opposition), Robert Valdez (Republican suggestion)

Virginia
o Recommendation in June 2010 by Sens. Mark Warner and Jim Webb: http://warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Blog&ContentRecord_id=75b569df-1138-4b90-9fb3-43503ee3e293
o Eastern District of Virginia: Arenda L. Wright Allen
o Western District of Virginia: Michael Urbanski (53 yo)

West Virginia
o Recommendation in October 2009 by Sens. Robert Byrd and Jay Rockefeller: http://www.register-herald.com/local/x546330689/Nick-Casey-recommended-for-federal-judgeship
o Northern District of West Virginia: Former WV Democratic Party Chairman Nick Casey. Republicans were criticizing Casey even before Byrd's death, so I don't expect this one to move forward till after November's special election.

Federal Circuit
o Obama has nominated Kathleen O'Malley and Edward DuMont to the Federal Circuit, but another vacancy occurred Judge Haldane Robert Mayer assumed senior status on June 30, 2010.
o The short list for the nomination that ultimately went to O'Malley also included judges Jeremy Fogel, Gregory Sleet, and Patti Saris: http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202437343598
o Other possibilities include Stanford Professor Mark Lemley and Apple IP chief Chip Lutton