A look at President Barack Obama's nominees to fill federal court vacancies:

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NOMINEES CONFIRMED

_ Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court, nominated June 1, confirmed Aug. 6.

_ Gerard Lynch, 2nd Circuit, nominated April 2, confirmed Sept. 17.

_ Jeffrey L. Viken, district judge-South Dakota, nominated June 25, confirmed Sept. 29.

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APPEALS COURT NOMINEES AWAITING CONFIRMATION

_ Joseph A. Greenaway, 3rd Circuit, nominated June 19.

_ Thomas I. Vanaskie, 3rd Circuit, nominated Aug. 6.

_ Andre M. Davis, 4th Circuit, nominated April 2.

_ Barbara Milano Keenan, 4th Circuit, nominated Sept. 14.

_ Jane Branstetter Stranch, 6th Circuit, nominated Aug. 6.

_ David F. Hamilton, 7th Circuit, nominated March 17.

_ Beverly Baldwin Martin, 11th Circuit, nominated June 19.

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DISTRICT COURT NOMINEES AWAITING CONFIRMATION

_ Irene Cornelia Berger, district judge-West Virginia, nominated July 8.

_ Louis Butler Jr., district judge-Wisconsin, nominated Sept. 30.

_ Edward Milton Chen, district judge-California, nominated Aug. 6.

_ Charlene Edwards Honeywell, district judge-Florida, nominated June 25.

_ Dolly M. Gee, district judge-California, nominated Aug. 6.

_ Abdul K. Kallon, district judge-Alabama, nominated July 31.

_ Roberto A. Lange, district judge-South Dakota, nominated July 8.

_ Jacqueline H. Nguyen, district judge-California, nominated July 31.

_ Richard Seeborg, district judge-California, nominated Aug. 6.

Lehot's Silicon Valley practice is focused on advising technology companies and their financial sponsors and investment banks in M&A transactions, capital raising transactions, strategic and commercial transactions, as well as corporate governance and securities law compliance matters.

Lehot's recent M&A experience includes advising SiRF Technology in its public stock-for-stock merger with CSR plc, and recent capital markets deal credits include advising the underwriters in Oracle Corporation's $4.5 billion debt financing, in Micron Technology's concurrent public common stock and convertible note offerings and in GLG Partners' convertible note offering.  His clients have included technology names such as AOL, Seagate Technology and SiRF Technology, investment banks including Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Citi, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, UBS and Wachovia, as well as leading Bay Area-based financial sponsors.

"Louis is a rising star in the deal world and an excellent fit firm wide with both our Corporate practice group and technology practice, as well as our Silicon Valley office.  His Wall Street law firm expertise coupled with his Silicon Valley experience will be of great value to our clients," said Guy Halgren, chairman of the firm.

Commented Lehot, "Sheppard Mullin offers a large statewide footprint for a technology company practice in Silicon Valley.  Additionally, the firm's New York, Washington, D.C. and Shanghai offices and leading digital entertainment, media, energy and high technology practices provide a full-service and international platform to support our clients.  I am thrilled to be joining the firm and look forward to growing the Silicon Valley corporate and transactional practice with partner Riaz Karamali."