Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Senate Democrats Making History By Confirming 235 Well-Qualified Lifetime Federal Judges
Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor to celebrate that with the confirmation of Judge Murillo as the 235th well-qualified federal judge confirmed by this Senate Majority, this Senate has now confirmed the more lifetime judges in a single term than under any recent president. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks:
A few moments ago, the Senate confirmed Judge Murillo to serve as a California District Judge. She is the 235th judge confirmed by this Majority.
This Majority has now confirmed more judges under President Biden than any majority has confirmed in decades. This is historic!
We have confirmed more judges than under the Trump administration, more judges than any administration in this century, and more judges than under any administration going back decades.
One out of every four active judges on the bench has been appointed by this Majority.
Let me repeat that: one out of every four active judges on the bench has been appointed by this Majority.
Together, these individuals are arguably the most qualified and historic nominees ever confirmed in a four-year span.
I want to thank all Senators, Democrat and Republican, who supported these nominees. Both parties cooperating on many of these judges shows why the advice and consent process is critical to this body and to our democracy.
Two hundred and thirty five judges! That’s 235 qualified and experienced, mainstream judges.
They are former consumer protection lawyers, labor lawyers, voting rights experts, civil rights lawyers, federal prosecutors, public defenders, teachers, mentors, scholars, great Americans from every walk of life and legal practice.
I am very proud of this milestone, not because of the number alone but because of what the number means.
It means our bench is now far more balanced in its experiences, expertise, and qualifications than four years ago.
For a very long time, the norm was to prioritize judicial nominees who came from a privileged pool – most of them were prosecutors, or from large corporate law firms. Most were male, most were white.
But when Senate Democrats entered the Majority, we cast a wider net. We turned to new individuals who would make excellent and uniquely qualified judges.
For example, we confirmed nominees who represented union workers and had firsthand experience in union negotiations.
We confirmed nominees who fought health care fraud in court and represented the public in cases of deceptive marketing tactics.
Our nominees have defended the right to vote. They have defended freedom of choice, represented victims of abuse. They have put criminals and drug traffickers behind bars. They have been teachers and mentors.
Our nominees are also groundbreaking for their demographic diversity. One hundred and fifty of these judges are women – the most under any president.
We confirmed the first Black woman to the highest court in all the land, Ketanji Brown Jackson. She is also the first public defender ever to hold the title of Justice.
We confirmed the most Black judges, Hispanic judges, AAPI judges, and Native American judges under any president’s full time in office.
All of these historic judges were confirmed because they were exceptionally qualified for the job.
Our courts, like all our institutions, are better off when they mirror this vibrant country.
There are a lot of people to thank. I want to thank at the top of the list, Chairman Durbin, for your diligence and hard work. I want to thank Ranking Member Graham and the members of the Judiciary Committee, some of whom are here, for their great work. You recommended excellent individuals to the bench.
I want to thank, of course, President Biden for sending us such an impressive group of well-qualified and historic nominees. And I want to thank Vice President Harris, who helped us confirm a number of these nominees.
And thank you to our Republican colleagues who recommended good nominees and supported many of our nominees as well.
Finally, I want to thank my great staff, especially my incredible nominations director, Catalina Tam. It wouldn't have happened without her diligent and hard work.
A lot of behind-the-scenes work happened to get these judges confirmed, so I am immensely grateful for everyone who worked tirelessly day in, and day out.
Thanks to the hard work of this Senate Majority, our courts are stronger. Our country is stronger. Our democracy is stronger. And that is something that every American can be proud of.
###
