Today, President Biden's 235th life-tenured federal judicial nominee was confirmed. This marks the largest number of confirmations in a single term since the Carter administration. These highly qualified men and women-all committed to the rule of law and the Constitution-will serve the federal Judiciary for decades to come.
Dating back to his time leading the Senate Judiciary Committee, President Biden has made the confirmation of federal judges a top priority. During his four years in office, President Biden has transformed the federal bench and appointed over a quarter of all active judges, and helped to ensure that the Judiciary looks like the communities it serves.
The 235 confirmations include:
- One to the United States Supreme Court
- 45 to the nation's courts of appeals
- 187 to the nation's district courts
- Two to the United States Court of International Trade
President Biden has worked closely with Senators from both sides of the aisle to fill vacancies at the circuit and district level. He has achieved this milestone despite significant structural disadvantages, including the longest 50-50 Senate in history.
Importantly, President Biden has followed through on one of his earliest campaign promises-to put forward highly-qualified judges from underrepresented professional backgrounds and to instill confidence in the Judiciary by ensuring that federal judges reflect the nation as a whole.
Professional Diversity
No President has done more to bring professional and experiential diversity to the federal bench than President Biden.
Not only did President Biden appoint the first former public defender to the United States Supreme Court, but he broke records across the board on professional diversity-appointing more than 45 public defenders, more than 25 civil rights lawyers, and at least 10 individuals who have represented workers.
President Biden is also proud to have put forward nominees who come from private legal practice, prosecutors' offices, and a host of other legal backgrounds, including immigration law, municipal law, and plaintiff-side law. As a lifelong advocate for our men and women in uniform, veterans, and their families, President Biden is proud to have put forward judicial nominees who have served on active duty or in the reserves, in both legal and non-legal roles.
Demographic Diversity
President Biden has set records when it comes to the demographic diversity of his appointees. In doing so, he has helped to ensure that the Judiciary looks like the communities it serves-vital to instilling confidence in both judicial decision-making and outcomes-while refusing to sacrifice on ability or qualifications.
The 235 confirmations include:
- The first Black woman ever to serve on the United States Supreme Court.
- A record number of women, Black, Latino, AANHPI, Native American, Muslim-American, and LGBTQ judges.
- More Black women appointed to the circuit courts than every other presidential administration combined.
Impact
Judges have an enormous impact on the everyday lives of Americans.
These men and women have the power to uphold basic rights or to roll them back. They hear cases that decide whether women have the freedom to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions; whether Americans have the freedom to cast their ballots; whether workers have the freedom to unionize and make a living wage for their families; and whether children have the freedom to breathe clean air and drink clean water.
Judges are also crucial to protecting against overreach and unconstitutional action by the Executive and Legislative Branches.
President Biden is proud of his record of appointments and grateful to the Senate for its partnership in reaching this historic achievement.
