Search people, articles, bills, and more
The Senate confirmed Sheria Akins Clarke to be a U.S. District Judge for the District of South Carolina, replacing retired Judge Robert Bryan Harwell. The vote was 52-38.
The Senate voted on whether to confirm Sheria Akins Clarke as a U.S. District Judge for the District of South Carolina, replacing Robert Bryan Harwell, who retired. The Senate confirmed Clarke by a 52-38 vote. The confirmation completes this Senate vote on her nomination.
The nomination is confirmed, completing the Senate's action recorded here.
Why it matters. Confirmation fills a U.S. District Court seat in South Carolina. District judges serve in the federal trial courts.
Who’s affected. People and organizations with cases in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina: The confirmation fills the judicial seat left vacant by Robert Bryan Harwell's retirement.
Democrats. Eight Democrats voted yes and 36 voted no; Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Margaret Hassan of New Hampshire, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, Richard Durbin of Illinois, Ruben Gallego of Arizona, and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island voted yes.
Republicans. Forty-four Republicans voted yes; nine did not vote.
On the Nomination PN851-1
May 19, 2026
The Senate confirmed Sheria Akins Clarke to be a U.S.
District Judge for the District of South Carolina, replacing retired Judge Robert Bryan Harwell. The vote was 52-38.
The Senate's role in a judicial nomination is to decide whether to confirm the nominee. Confirmation required more yes than no votes among senators voting yes or no; 46 of the 90 votes cast were needed.
The nomination is confirmed, completing the Senate's action recorded here.
Confirmation fills a U.S. District Court seat in South Carolina. District judges serve in the federal trial courts.
Republicans supported confirmation by a 44-0 majority-position vote, while Democrats opposed it by a 36-8 majority-position vote; the two independents voted no. Eight Democrats voted yes, against their party's majority position.
Eight Democrats voted yes and 36 voted no; Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Margaret Hassan of New Hampshire, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, Richard Durbin of Illinois, Ruben Gallego of Arizona, and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island voted yes.
Forty-four Republicans voted yes; nine did not vote.
Both independents voted no.