Courts at the Crossroads: the Quality and Diversity of President Trump’s Nominees to the Federal Judiciary
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August 2018
Executive Summary
This report analyzes the quality and diversity of federal judicial nominees under President Donald
Trump, contrasting his selections with previous administrations both Democratic and Republican.
Since President Trump took office in 2017 there has been a dramatic increase in the number of
judicial nominations made as well as the pace of the confirmation process. This stands in stark
contrast to the previous administration where obstruction by the U.S. Senate slowed the process to
a crawl.
The Trump administration has said that instead of focusing on diversity when nominating
candidates for federal judgeships, they will prioritize “qualifications.” Yet, in December […]
The Impact of Judicial Vacancies on Florida’s Federal Courts
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August 2016
Executive Summary
Florida’s federal district courts play an important role in the administration of both civil and criminal justice in the state. Florida has three federal court districts: the Northern District, the Middle District and the Southern District. In the 12-month period ending March 31, 2016, more than 24,000 cases were filed in Florida’s three federal district courts.
Florida has 37 authorized federal judges over the three districts. For various reasons, there are currently four vacancies, constituting 11 percent of the authorized judges. Nominations have been made by the President to fill all of the […]
Minimum Wage Policy and the Resulting Effect on Employment
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July 2015
Executive Summary
The federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour sets the floor at which most American workers are paid. States and local governments may set higher rates.
As of January 1, 2015, 29 states and the District of Columbia have enacted minimum wage rates higher than the federal requirement. The remaining states either have no minimum wage laws, set their own state minimums at the federal level, or require minimum wages lower than the federal rate; in those states the federal rate applies.
This study is focused on examining the question of whether increases in […]