Biden judges/ judicial confirmations/ Senate deal/ Chuck Schumer/ circuit court nominees/ district court confirmations/ Adeel Abdullah Mangi/ liberal criticism/ WASHINGTON/ Newslooks/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Democrats reached a deal with Republicans to fast-track judicial confirmations, allowing President Joe Biden to approach the 234 judicial confirmations achieved by Donald Trump in his first term. While seven district judges will be considered after Thanksgiving, four circuit court nominees were left out due to lack of support, disappointing liberal advocacy groups.
Judicial Confirmation Deal: Quick Looks
- Biden’s Tally: The president’s confirmed judges now total 221, nearing Trump’s first-term record of 234.
- The Agreement: Seven district judges to be considered post-Thanksgiving; six more placed on December’s calendar.
- Left Behind: Four circuit court nominees, including Adeel Abdullah Mangi, will not advance.
- Liberal Pushback: Advocacy groups criticize the exclusion of critical appellate nominees.
- Schumer’s Efforts: The Senate Majority Leader vows to prioritize confirmations before the end of the year.
Democrats Strike Deal to Confirm Biden Judges Before GOP Takes Senate
Deep Look: Democrats Strike Deal to Confirm Biden’s Judges Before Year’s End
Historic Judicial Push
In a high-stakes effort to solidify President Joe Biden’s judicial legacy, Senate Democrats struck a deal with Republicans to accelerate the confirmation of district court judges. The agreement brings Biden closer to matching the 234 confirmations achieved by President Donald Trump during his first term, a key metric in shaping the judiciary’s ideological balance.
As of now, Biden has seen 221 judges confirmed. Under the new deal, seven district judges will be taken up the week after Thanksgiving, and another six will be placed on the Senate executive calendar, ensuring floor consideration in December.
Circuit Nominees Excluded
While the agreement pushes through several district court nominees, four appellate court candidates failed to gain enough support for confirmation. Notable among them is Adeel Abdullah Mangi, a New Jersey nominee for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals who would have become the first Muslim American federal appellate judge.
Mangi’s impeccable credentials—degrees from Oxford and Harvard and significant legal victories—were overshadowed by opposition tied to his volunteer work with two organizations. Notably, some Democrats also withheld support, stalling his nomination.
Other circuit nominees left out include:
- Karla M. Campbell (Sixth Circuit, Tennessee)
- Julia M. Lipez (First Circuit, Maine)
- Ryan Young Park (Fourth Circuit, North Carolina)
Circuit court confirmations are often more contentious than district court appointments due to their role in shaping legal precedent and their proximity to the Supreme Court.
Liberal Groups Express Frustration
Advocacy groups have been vocal in urging Senate Democrats to confirm all of Biden’s nominees before Republicans take control in January. The exclusion of key circuit court nominees has sparked criticism.
“Leaving behind critical circuit court nominees is unacceptable,” said Lena Zwarensteyn of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Russ Feingold, president of the American Constitution Society, echoed the sentiment, warning that the compromise sets a dangerous precedent ahead of Trump’s return to office.
Schumer’s Strategy and Republican Resistance
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has dedicated significant time to advancing Biden’s judicial nominations, calling it a fundamental Senate responsibility. However, Republicans have slowed the process, forcing procedural votes and late-night sessions to stall progress.
Schumer defended the deal, emphasizing that the Democrats secured more than triple the number of judges in exchange for withdrawing the contentious circuit nominees. “We’ll take that responsibility very seriously between now and the end of the year,” Schumer said on the Senate floor.
Implications for Biden’s Legacy
Biden’s judicial nominations reflect his administration’s commitment to diversifying the bench, with appointees breaking barriers in gender, race, and professional backgrounds. The Senate deal ensures that more district court judges will join the federal judiciary, reinforcing this legacy.
However, the exclusion of high-profile appellate nominees could leave key vacancies that the incoming Republican Senate may not prioritize, potentially reshaping the judiciary’s long-term ideological balance.
