Demand Justice, a progressive organization focused on the judiciary, is urging Senate Democrats to do whatever it takes to confirm President Joe Biden’s nominees in the remaining weeks of the 118th Congress. With the upcoming GOP takeover of the Senate and a second Donald Trump presidency on the horizon, Democrats have confirmed 213 of Biden’s judicial nominees and have several dozen pending. The push to confirm more judges comes as Democrats seek to prevent Trump from naming more conservative judges after his focus on filling court vacancies during his first term.
Despite facing a razor-thin margin, Senate Democrats are being urged to stay in Washington longer than planned to confirm more judges. The White House has announced new judicial nominees, with pending nominees advancing through the Senate Judiciary Committee. The push will include lobbying efforts, events on Capitol Hill, and targeted ads to pressure senators to prioritize judicial confirmations in the final weeks of the lame-duck session. Democrats aim to confirm as many judges as possible before losing control of the chamber in January.
The Senate, which recently returned from a break, has a tight legislative schedule ahead. In addition to judicial confirmations, senators will need to address disaster aid, pass the defense policy bill, and fund the government. Democratic senators like Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema are leaving the chamber at the end of the session, further highlighting the urgency to confirm judges before the new Congress convenes. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has committed to getting as many nominees confirmed as possible, despite opposition from Republicans.
The White House has emphasized the importance of confirming qualified judges to prevent backlogs and ensure the rule of law. Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin hopes Republicans will not delay confirmation votes for judges, as Democrats agreed to a package of confirmations at the end of Trump’s first term. Demand Justice is ramping up efforts to pressure Senate Democrats to prioritize confirmations, with a focus on key senators and a new website to track progress. With limited time remaining, the urgency to confirm Biden’s nominees is paramount for progressive groups and advocates.
Senator Elizabeth Warren and groups like The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights are urging Schumer and Senate Democrats to use every minute of the remaining legislative session to confirm federal judges. As the lame-duck session unfolds, the focus on confirming judges serves as a critical priority for Democrats as they face a Republican-controlled Senate and the looming prospect of a second Trump presidency. The fate of Biden’s nominees and the future of the judiciary hang in the balance as Democrats navigate the final weeks of the 118th Congress.
