About the 2nd Circuit The 2nd Circuit covers Connecticut, New York, and Vermont. It has thirteen seats, none of which are vacant. Ten judges are male and three are female. Two are Hispanic and three are African American. Reproductive Rights in the 2nd Circuit Grade: A The states in the 2nd Circuit receive high marks on reproductive rights, achieving an average grade of A. The laws in Connecticut, New York, and Vermont protect a woman's right to reproductive choice. In fact, the state constitutions in Connecticut and Vermont protect this right to a greater extent than does the federal Constitution. While the states in the 2nd Circuit maintain an outstanding record on choice, it will be up to the judges who sit on this Circuit Court to continue to uphold or deny a woman's reproductive rights in the face of any future legislative obstacles. Acknowledgment: NCJW thanks the NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation for the use of data contained in the "2005 Report Card on Women’s Reproductive Rights" included in Who Decides? The Status of Women's Reproductive Rights in the United States, 14th edition, 2005 In this publication, NARAL Pro-Choice America assigned each state and the District of Columbia a letter grade based on the nature of reproductive rights laws in 19 categories. These grades were averaged to offer a general overview of the status of reproductive rights in each circuit.       Pending Nominees to the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals None Judges on the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals John M. Walker, Jr., Chief Judge, appointed 11/27/89 by President George Bush Dennis Jacobs, appointed 10/02/92 by President George Bush Guido Calabresi, appointed 07/21/94 by President William Clinton Jose A. Cabranes, appointed 08/10/94 by President William Clinton Chester J. Straub, appointed 06/03/98 by President William Clinton Rosemary S. Pooler, appointed 06/03/98 by President William Clinton Robert D. Sack, appointed 06/15/98 by President William Clinton Sonia Sotomayor, appointed 10/07/98 by President William Clinton Robert A. Katzman, appointed 07/16/99 by President William Clinton Barrington D. Parker, appointed 10/16/01 by President George W. Bush Reena Raggi, appointed 10/04/02 by President George W. Bush Richard C. Wesley, appointed 6/12/03 by President George W. Bush Peter Hall, appointed by President George W. Bush