Biden judicial confirmations/ Senate judiciary milestone/ Ketanji Brown Jackson appointment/ federal court diversity/ Newslooks/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Joe Biden’s 235th judicial appointment surpasses former President Donald Trump’s tally, setting a record for the most confirmations in a single term since Jimmy Carter. Democrats emphasized diversifying the judiciary, appointing a majority of women and people of color, as well as candidates with public defender and civil rights backgrounds.
Judiciary Milestone: Quick Look
Key Highlights
- Historic Confirmation: Biden’s 235th judge breaks Trump’s record, with a focus on diversifying the bench.
- Supreme Court Representation: Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson became the first African American woman on the Supreme Court under Biden.
- Future Challenges: Republicans, taking control of the Senate in 2025, aim to extend Trump’s judicial legacy.
Biden Surpasses Trump with 235 Judicial Confirmations
Deep Look
Biden’s Judicial Legacy Reaches Historic Milestone
President Joe Biden secured his 235th judicial confirmation on Friday, marking a significant achievement in reshaping the federal judiciary. This record-breaking figure surpasses Donald Trump’s total of 234 confirmations and represents the largest number of appointments since the Carter administration.
The Senate approved the confirmation of Serena Raquel Murillo as a district judge for California, finalizing Biden’s efforts before the new Republican-controlled Senate takes over in January.
“When I ran for President, I promised to build a bench that looks like America,” Biden said, emphasizing his focus on diversity and representation.
A Bench That Reflects America
Biden and Senate Democrats prioritized appointing women, minorities, and candidates with diverse professional experiences, such as public defenders and civil rights lawyers. Roughly two-thirds of Biden’s appointees are women, and a majority are people of color.
Notable appointments include Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first African American woman to serve on the Supreme Court.
“We consciously moved forward to bring more women to the bench, and believe me, we had a great talent pool to work with,” said Sen. Dick Durbin, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Challenges and Criticism
“One of the consequences of the age of Trump is that it drove Democrats insane and to the extreme left,” said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
Biden faced challenges with a 50-50 Senate during part of his term, requiring consistent efforts to confirm nominees. His administration achieved more district court confirmations than Trump but fell behind in higher-tier circuit court appointments: 45 compared to Trump’s 54.
The Road Ahead for Trump
The next Congress, convening in January 2025, will see Republicans controlling the Senate, House, and White House. This shift is expected to accelerate judicial appointments under President-elect Trump, who is poised to inherit nearly three dozen judicial vacancies.
Senate Republicans, led by Sen. Charles Grassley, are eager to continue reshaping the judiciary.
“Let me assure you, by January 20th of 2029, Trump will be bragging about getting 240 judges,” Grassley said.
Balancing the Scales of Justice
Biden’s judicial appointments addressed concerns about a lack of diversity on the bench, which had previously been dominated by white males. His nominees expanded representation and brought a variety of professional experiences that advocates say improve judicial decision-making and public trust.
“For our federal judiciary to deliver equal justice, it really has to reflect all of America,” said Lena Zwarensteyn, senior director of the fair courts program at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
The Stakes of Judicial Appointments
The urgency for judicial confirmations grew after landmark Supreme Court decisions during Trump’s term, which overturned abortion protections, weakened environmental regulations, and eliminated affirmative action in higher education.
“One out of four active judges has been appointed under Biden,” Schumer said. “It means our bench is now far more balanced in its experiences, expertise, and qualifications than four years ago.”
Conclusion
President Biden’s historic judicial confirmations underscore the lasting impact of federal appointments on American governance. As Republicans prepare to take the reins in January, the future of the judiciary remains a key battleground for shaping the nation’s legal landscape.
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