Last night was a busy one for the United States Senate. On their last day in the Senate majority, Democrats passed the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act. It passed the bipartisan continuing budget resolution without a debt limit increase after "President" Elon Musk and his puppet sidekick Donald Trump derailed the first one. It passed on a voice vote a funding continuation of a program devoted to pediatric cancer research.
They also confirmed President Joe Biden's 234th and 235th judicial nominees, setting a new record for Presidential judicial appointments in a single term, besting Donald Trump's record by one.
Biden/Harris picks now represent a quarter of the federal judiciary.
Demographically, the Biden/Harris Administration put forth the most diverse and qualified group of judicial nominees in history where the majority of the appointments were women.
- 61 White Women.
- 36 White Men.
- 35 Black Women.
- 22 Asian Women.
- 22 Black Males.
- 21 Hispanic Women.
- 13 Hispanic Men.
- 12 Asian Men.
- 9 Multiracial Women.
- 4 Multiracial Men.
Among this diverse group, the Biden/Harris Administration noted that the 235 confirmations include:
- The first Black woman ever to serve on the United States Supreme Court.
- A record number of women, Black, Latino, AANHPI, Native American, Muslim-American, and LGBTQ judges.
- More Black women were appointed to the circuit courts than every other presidential administration combined.
Professionally, these jurists also come from a diverse range. Forty-five of the confirmed nominees were public defenders. Twenty-five were Civil Rights litigants. Ten represented worker interests.
Commenting after the final confirmation of his term, President Biden said in a White House Statement:
"...These men and women represent the best of America. They are all highly qualified. And they have had distinguished legal, judicial, and academic careers.
When I ran for President, I promised to build a bench that looks like America and reflects the promise of our nation. And I’m proud I kept my commitment to bolstering confidence in judicial decision-making and outcomes...
...And no matter who they are or where they come from, all of these appointees are supremely qualified to serve in the role of Judge and remain committed to the rule of law and the Constitution.
We reached this milestone thanks to bipartisan support in the Senate and as a result of the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin.
Judges matter. They shape the everyday lives of Americans, preserving our freedoms and defending our liberties. They hear cases and issue rulings on whether Americans can cast their ballots, whether workers can unionize and make a living wage for their families, and whether children can breathe clean air and drink clean water.
I am proud of the legacy I will leave with our Nation’s judges. And I am proud of those who have stepped forward and heeded the call to serve."
The President also posted on social media:
Vice President Kamala Harris posted:
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer posted:
Senators Amy Klobuchar and Dick Durbin both commented on the quality of the appointments in the below posts.
Senator Richard Blumenthal commented on how the Biden/Harris picks will be a guardrail for civil rights protections.
It is a shame the majority of voters last November did not appreciate this tremendous accomplishment, especially considering Trump in his first term appointed the Justices that took away a woman's right to reproductive freedom.
