Additional vacancies not listed in yesterday's "Who Sits Where"

I told you that yesterday's list was likely incomplete. Sure enough, before last night was over, an anonymous FWIW reader tipped me off as to a number of additional vacancies.

The information provided has the semblance of truth, but I can't vouch for the information at this point, not without confirmation. I don't have the reputational capital to spare. On the other hand, because this appears legit, I believe this is appropriate to share, subject to the foregoing caveat.

Basically, three of these five additional vacancies arise because of the election of several associate judges to full circuit judgeships in November. And, remember, the first 10 vacancies occurring in the ranks of the associate judges are parceled out to the new subcircuits (Nos. 16-20).

I listed two 16th and 20th Subcircuit vacancies yesterday, and one in the 19th. But my informant adds two 17th and 18th Subcircuit vacancies, and another in the 19th, to wit:

• 17th - Converted from the Vacancy of the Hon. Lloyd J. Brooks,
• 17th - Converted from the Vacancy of the Hon. James R. Carroll,


• 18th - Converted from the Vacancy of the Hon. Jeffrey G. Chrones,
• 18th - Converted from the Vacancy of the Hon. Frank J. Andreou, and


• 19th - Converted from the Vacancy of the Hon. Michael J. Kane.

Judge Carroll retired last October; Judge Kane retired last February. I knew about Judge Carroll's retirement, but I did not know about the disposition of his vacancy. I did not know about Judge Kane's retirement.

Judges Brooks, Chrones, and Andreou all were associate judges who were elected to subcircuit seats in November. Andreou was elected from the 12th Subcircuit, but (and there's a sort of symmetry here) Brooks was elected from the 17th Subcircuit (he was appointed to the seat before Election Day), while Chrones was elected in the 18th Subcircuit.

Now, of course, I'm not trying to push anyone out the door, especially when they just got their seats, but if my informant is correct, voters in the 17th Subcircuit would get to fill a Brooks vacancy in 2026... and again at some point in the future. Similarly, voters in the 18th Subcircuit would get to fill a Chrones vacancy in 2026 and whenever Judge Chrones decides to call it a career.

We didn't get that sort of thing when the original subcircuits were put in place... just "A" and "B" and "C" vacancies and the like.

Anyway, I will seek official confirmation of these additional vacancies and update the "Who Sits Where" in due course as appropriate.