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This Black History Month, Senate Democrats Are Celebrating The Tremendous Progress Made By President Biden And Senate Democrats In Bringing Historic Diversity To The Federal Bench

President Biden And Senate Democrats Have Confirmed The Most Black Judges Of Any President’s First Term

Over 30% Of All Judges Confirmed By This Senate Are Black, The Highest Percentage Of Any President

Senate Democrats have made reshaping our federal judiciary a top priority. In less than four years, this Senate, with President Biden, has confirmed 115 well-qualified judges of color, 57 Black judges, and 36 Black women judges to the federal bench, helping to ensure our judicial system is a better reflection of America. Over 30% of judicial nominees confirmed by this Senate are Black, a higher percentage than any other president ever, and over four times the number of Black judges confirmed by President Trump in his full term. And we are just getting started.

The well-qualified and diverse judicial nominees confirmed by this Senate are breaking barriers and making our courts more reflective of America.

Of the 179 Circuit Court, District Court, and Supreme Court Nominations Confirmed:

  • 116/179 judicial nominees confirmed by this Senate are women
  • 115/179 judicial nominees confirmed by this Senate are people of color
  • 57/179 judicial nominees confirmed by this Senate are Black
  • 36/179 judicial nominees confirmed by this Senate are Black women
  • 33/179 judicial nominees confirmed by this Senate are Hispanic

In comparison to other presidents’ entire terms:

  • This Senate has confirmed more women of color than any president.
  • This Senate has confirmed more people of color to Circuit Court judgeships than any other president.
  • This Senate has confirmed more Black women to Circuit Courts than all previous presidents combined.

These experienced, diverse nominees include:

  • The first Black woman Supreme Court Justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson
  • The first Black judge on the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Tiffany Cunningham
  • The first Black woman on the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, Dana Douglas
  • The first Black woman on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, Nancy Abudu
  • The first Black judge for the District of Hawaii, Micah Smith
  • The first woman of color to become a district judge in Maryland, Lydia Griggsby
  • The First Black woman federal judge in Oregon, Adrienne Nelson

These incredible judges have also contributed so much to their communities. From Jerry Blackwell, the special prosecutor who played a key role in securing the conviction of the man who murdered George Floyd, to Jamal Whitehead, President Biden’s first disabled federal judicial nominee who fought discrimination as a trial attorney for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, these new judges are barrier-breakers with incredible stories who will add so much needed life experience to the federal bench.

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