President Biden is on the verge of confirming his 200th judicial nominee, surpassing the number of appointments made by his two most recent predecessors at this point in their presidencies. The milestone will be reached with the confirmation of Krissa Lanham and Angela Martinez to federal district court seats in Arizona. Across the U.S. courts of appeals, U.S. district courts, and the Court of International Trade, Mr. Biden has placed a total of 200 judges, including Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman on the Supreme Court. There are 43 open seats on the federal judiciary and another 28 future vacancies, with two dozen nominees currently pending.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer hailed the confirmations as a major milestone, emphasizing the focus on filling the bench with jurists who will strengthen democracy and uphold the rule of law. Despite outpacing former President Trump’s judicial appointments at this point in his presidency, surpassing Trump’s total of 234 judges may be challenging due to the Senate’s upcoming schedule leading into the November election, as Democratic senators in Trump-won states focus on reelection campaigns. The Senate Judiciary Committee faces a narrow Democratic majority, requiring at least 51 votes to confirm a judicial nominee.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin acknowledged the challenges in matching or exceeding the number of judges confirmed during the Trump administration, noting the special treatment Trump received in the Senate regarding judicial appointments. Trump’s emphasis on reshaping the federal judiciary was highlighted by his three appointments to the Supreme Court, which led to consequential decisions on issues such as Roe v. Wade and affirmative action. Mr. Biden, on the other hand, has focused on diversity in his judicial nominees, selecting candidates with a range of personal and professional backgrounds to ensure the courts reflect the nation’s diversity.
By his first six months in office, Mr. Biden has matched President Obama’s number of nominees to federal appellate courts who worked as public defenders. Over 60% of the president’s confirmed judges are women and people of color, in line with his commitment to diverse representation in the judiciary. The appointment of Zahid Quraishi as the first Muslim American federal judge in U.S. history further highlights the administration’s emphasis on inclusivity in the judicial selection process. Despite the challenges ahead, Mr. Biden’s record in judicial appointments reflects his commitment to shaping a judiciary that represents and upholds the values of the American people.
Moving forward, the Biden administration will continue to navigate the confirmation process for judicial nominees, aiming to address current vacancies and future openings on the federal judiciary. The focus on diversity and representation in the bench will remain central to the president’s nominee selection, ensuring that the nation’s courts reflect the multicultural and multifaceted society they serve. As the Senate confirms more judges, the impact of these appointments on the future of the judiciary and the legal landscape of the country will become increasingly pronounced. By prioritizing judiciary appointments, President Biden aims to fortify the rule of law and democratic institutions, contributing to a more inclusive and equitable judicial system for all Americans.
