JNC Recommends Candidates for Court of Appeals Vacancies

April 01, 2026

The D.C. Judicial Nomination Commission has recommended to the president of the United States six candidates for judicial vacancies on the D.C. Court of Appeals in light of the retirement of Judge Kathryn A. Oberly and the resignation of Judge Loren L. AliKhan. The president has 60 days to select a nominee to fill each vacancy.

The candidates for the Oberly vacancy are:

• Judge James A. Crowell IV, associate judge in the Civil Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia
   
• Daniel J. Lenerz, a deputy chief in the Appellate Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia
   
• Amy Upshaw, partner at King & Spalding LLP practicing in the appellate, constitutional, and administrative Law group

The candidates for the AliKhan vacancy are:

• Stuart G. Nash, partner at Holland & Knight LLP who serves as co-chair of the firm’s white collar and government investigations group
   
• Ashwin P. Phatak, the principal deputy solicitor general in the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia
   
• Judge Ebony M. Scott, associate judge on D.C. Superior Court

Learn more about the candidates here.