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SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE · RECEIVED JAN 29, 2026
JUDGECONFIRMED

John Thomas Shepherd

John Thomas Shepherd of Arkansas, nominated to be District judge, Western District of Arkansas.

CONFIRMED75 days, received to confirmed53–46
75DAYS TO CONFIRM53–46FINAL ROLL CALL
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE · RECEIVED JAN 29, 2026
Do you agree with the outcome?
THE PATH TO CONFIRMATION

Confirmed in 75 days

WHERE THE TIME WENT75 days, received to confirmed
  • IN COMMITTEE35 DAYS
  • ON THE CALENDAR22 DAYS
  • ON THE FLOOR18 DAYS
  1. ReceivedJAN 29, 2026
  2. Referred to JudiciarySAME DAYJAN 29, 2026
  3. Hearing+6 DAYSFEB 4, 2026
  4. Reported+29 DAYSMAR 5, 2026
  5. On the calendar · No. 672SAME DAYMAR 5, 2026
  6. Cloture invoked 50–44+39 DAYSAPR 13, 2026
  7. Confirmed 53–46+1 DAYAPR 14, 2026
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

Confirmed. District judges serve for life.

LATEST OFFICIAL ACTION · APR 14, 2026

Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 53 - 46. Record Vote Number: 76.

All actions on Congress.gov ↗
THE VOTES

How the Senate voted

CLOTUREROLL CALL 75 · APR 13, 2026
Invoked 50–44
NEEDED
Simple majority
MARGIN
+6
Debate endedMargin +65044
REPUBLICANSRepublicans50 yea0 nay
DEMOCRATSDemocrats0 yea42 nay
INDEPENDENTSIndependents0 yea2 nay

Party-line vote. 6 senators did not vote.

YOUR SENATORS

Choose your state above to see how your senators voted.

All 100 senators. Democrats: 0 yea, 42 nay, 3 not voting. Independents: 0 yea, 2 nay. Republicans: 50 yea, 0 nay, 3 not voting.

ALL 100 SENATORS
CONFIRMATIONROLL CALL 76 · APR 14, 2026
Confirmed 53–46
NEEDED
Simple majority
MARGIN
+7
ConfirmedMargin +75346
REPUBLICANSRepublicans53 yea0 nay
DEMOCRATSDemocrats0 yea44 nay
INDEPENDENTSIndependents0 yea2 nay

Party-line vote. 1 senator did not vote.

YOUR SENATORS

Choose your state above to see how your senators voted.

All 100 senators. Democrats: 0 yea, 44 nay, 1 not voting. Independents: 0 yea, 2 nay. Republicans: 53 yea, 0 nay.

ALL 100 SENATORS
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THE POST

District judge, Western District of Arkansas

WHAT IT DOES
Tries federal cases in the Western District of Arkansas. Its decisions can be appealed to the Eighth Circuit.
TERM
Life. Article III judges serve “during good behavior.”
SEAT
Fills the vacancy left by Judge Susan Owens Hickey.
OFFICIAL DESCRIPTION · PN787-3

John Thomas Shepherd, of Arkansas, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Arkansas, vice Susan Owens Hickey, retiring.

THE NOMINEE

No background published yet. We add a short, sourced summary from an official record, such as the committee questionnaire or the nominee’s hearing testimony, when one is available.No background published yet. We add a short, sourced summary when one is available.

IN THE NEWS

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