Rift Signal

Internal summary page, built to keep readers inside The Political Rift before any external source context.

Circuit 8 — Bench Pressure

Heat: Elevated (41)

Active nominations2

Awaiting vote1

Avg days pending46

Oldest pending81

Active nominations

2026-03-02Justin D. Smith, of Missouri, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit, vice William Duane Benton, retiring. (Floor)

2026-05-12Daniel Mack Traynor, of North Dakota, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit, vice Ralph R. Erickson, retiring. (Referred)

Source: Congress.gov API data (no outbound link on this page).