Gerard Lynch was confirmed by the Senate today for a seat on the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, making him the first appellatejudge appointed by President Obama to win confirmation. Lynch had a relatively easy confirmation, winning Senate approval by a 94-3 vote, but several other nominees are currently being held up by the kind of partisan maneuvering we’ve unfortunately come to expect with judicial nominees.

There are currently 20 vacancies on the appellate level and 72 vacancies for federal district court judges.