The U.S. Senate has confirmed Nicholas Jon Ganjei, 46, as a United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas. The confirmation vote, held on February 3, 2026, concluded with a 51-45 tally, predominantly along party lines, with four senators abstaining from the vote. ([houstonchronicle.com](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/crime/article/ganjei-confirmed-federal-judge-21330862.php?utm_source=openai))
Ganjei’s legal career is marked by extensive experience in federal prosecution and public service. Prior to his judicial appointment, he served as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, a position he assumed on January 30, 2025. His tenure as U.S. Attorney was characterized by a focus on public safety and border security, addressing issues such as drug trafficking and violent crime. ([justice.gov](https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/former-federal-prosecutor-named-us-attorney-southern-district?utm_source=openai))
Before his role in the Southern District, Ganjei held the position of Acting U.S. Attorney and First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas. His prosecutorial work encompassed a range of cases, including organized crime, immigration violations, narcotics, human trafficking, fraud, public corruption, and white-collar offenses. ([justice.gov](https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtx/pr/acting-united-states-attorney-nicholas-ganjei-announces-intent-step-down-eastern?utm_source=openai))
Ganjei’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree from American University and a Juris Doctor from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. He has also contributed to legal education by teaching civil, criminal, and constitutional law at both collegiate and law school levels. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Ganjei?utm_source=openai))
His nomination to the federal bench was announced by President Donald Trump on November 12, 2025, and formally submitted to the Senate on November 18, 2025. The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on his nomination on November 19, 2025, and subsequently reported it to the full Senate by a vote of 12-10 on December 11, 2025. ([grassley.senate.gov](https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/judiciary-committee-advances-four-us-attorneys-and-three-judicial-nominations?utm_source=openai))
Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, both of Texas, endorsed Ganjei’s nomination. Senator Cornyn emphasized Ganjei’s qualifications and commitment to upholding national principles in the courtroom, while Senator Cruz highlighted Ganjei’s prior service as his Chief Counsel, overseeing initiatives on criminal justice, border security, judicial nominations, antitrust issues, intellectual property, and religious liberty. ([cornyn.senate.gov](https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/cornyn-cruz-praise-committee-passage-of-nicholas-ganjei-to-be-district-judge-for-the-southern-district-of-texas/?utm_source=openai))
Ganjei’s appointment fills one of five judicial vacancies in the Southern District of Texas, which covers 43 counties and is among the busiest in the nation due to its proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border. ([houstonchronicle.com](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/crime/article/ganjei-confirmed-federal-judge-21330862.php?utm_source=openai))
With his confirmation, Ganjei is set to bring his extensive prosecutorial experience and commitment to public service to the federal judiciary, contributing to the administration of justice in the Southern District of Texas.