Schumer, Velázquez Statement on the Confirmation of Gina Méndez-Miró
Méndez-Miró is the 100th judge to be confirmed by Senate Democrats under the Biden Administration
Three Puerto Rican women candidates for the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico have now been confirmed by the Senate
Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) today released the following statement on the confirmation of Judge Gina R. Méndez-Miró, which marked the 100th judge to be confirmed by Senate Democrats under the Biden administration. All three Puerto Rican women nominated by President Biden for the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico have now been confirmed by the Senate: María del R. Antongiorgi-Jordán, Judge Camille L. Vélez-Rivé, and Judge Gina R. Méndez-Miró. Notably, Judge Méndez-Miró will be the first openly LGBTQ+ judge on that court.
“Our courts should reflect the diversity of our nation,” Leader Schumer said. “With the confirmation of Gina Méndez-Miro, we’ll now have three female jurists in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, strengthening the legal expertise on that bench, and bringing much needed gender diversity to Puerto Rico’s federal courts. I am proud of the historic progress this Senate Democratic majority has made in confirming 100 well-qualified and diverse nominees—including more people of color to Circuit Courts than any other president—and we’re just getting started! As Senate Majority Leader, confirming judges will continue to be one of my top priorities this Congress.”
“With her historic confirmation, Gina Méndez-Miró will be one of three female jurists on the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and the first LGBTQ+ judge in the history of the court,” said Rep. Velázquez. “Gina Méndez-Miró is a distinguished public servant with the qualifications and integrity needed to be an excellent federal judge, and I’ve been proud to support her nomination from the beginning. Her confirmation will strengthen the federal bench and help ensure the justice system reflects the diversity of our society.”
Out of the 100 judges confirmed under the Biden administration, 76 are women, 68 are people of color, 33 are Black, 25 are Black women, and 21 are Hispanic.
Of the 30 Circuit Court judges confirmed this Congress, 23 are people of color, 17 are women of color and 12 are Black women. More Black women have been confirmed to Circuit Court judgeships under President Biden and Senate Democrats than under all previous presidents combined. Senate Democrats have made history by confirming more people of color to Circuit Courts than any previous president did in an entire term.
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