Once the additional two vacancies are filled; an enduring 9R to 6D majority will be in place.
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Just a bit of quibbling... There are 12 authorized judgeships on the 11th Court of Appeals. There are no current vacancies but there are three announced “future” vacancies of judges who will take senior status. Mostly the future date is TBD and will be effective once their replacement is confirmed.
There are 6 DemocRAT appointees and 6 Republican appointees among the sitting judges. Of the two appointees to be confirmed this week, one will replace a Clinton appointee and one will replace a Republican appointee resulting in a 7 to 5 Republican appointee advantage.
Quibble noted. And indeed, those ‘senior status’ announcements will become permanent, once the announced replacements are approved.
So yes; not vacancies per se; as each of the announced ‘senior status’ judges remain active until their replacement is confirmed.