Seth Aframe Confirmed as Federal Judge for First Circuit Court of Appeals
Aframe becomes the 42nd appellate judge confirmed during Joe Biden's presidency.
The U.S. Senate today held a recorded vote to confirm one individual as an Article III federal judge. With this confirmation, 198 judges nominated by President Joe Biden have now been confirmed by the Senate. With today’s action, 42 of Biden’s judicial nominees have been approved for service on federal appellate courts.
In a 49-40 vote, Seth Aframe was confirmed as a Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. He is Biden’s fourth confirmation to the 6-person court, with one additional vacancy awaiting a nominee from the President.
Aframe assumes the Concord, New Hampshire-based seat previously held by Jeffrey R. Howard, who took senior status in March 2022. A nominee of President George W. Bush, Howard served on the court from 2002 to 2022 and was Chief Judge from 2015 to 2022. Aframe was nominated to this seat on the federal judiciary by Biden in October 2023.
Aframe worked as an associate at Choate Hall & Stewart LLP from 2000 to 2003. He has served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire since 2007. He has been the office’s Appellate Chief since 2010. He also served as a law clerk to Judge Howard from 2003 to 2007.
Aframe was the second individual Biden nominated to this seat on the First Circuit. He originally tapped Michael Delaney in January 2023. However, his nomination was withdrawn in May 2023 due to bipartisan opposition.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit covers appellate jurisdiction over the U.S. district courts in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Puerto Rico and Rhode Island.