CRS report via FAS – U.S. District Court Vacancies at the Beginning and End of the Obama Presidency: Overview and Comparative Analysis, Barry J. McMillion, Analyst in American National Government, January 31, 2017 (IN10570).
“This Insight provides comparative historical data related to U.S. district court vacancies that existed at the beginning and end of the Obama presidency (as well as at the beginning and end of the presidencies of his two most recent predecessors, Presidents George W. Bush and Clinton). This Insight also provides a geographic overview of the location of district court vacancies that existed on President Obama’s final full day in office (i.e., on January 19, 2017), as well as the location of vacancies deemed “judicial emergencies” by the Administrative Office of U.S. Courts. At present, Congress has authorized 673 district court judgeships. Vacant judgeships typically arise when a judge voluntarily retires or assumes senior status, but can also occur by other means (such as when a judge is elevated to a circuit court judgeship or when new judgeships are authorized by Congress)…”