President Biden gathered with key Democratic leaders at the White House to commemorate a significant milestone in his administration's judicial appointments.
According to CBS News, the President has secured 235 judicial confirmations during his single term, exceeding former President Trump's appointments and marking a substantial transformation of the federal judiciary.
The achievement includes the historic appointment of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, along with 45 appointments to federal courts of appeals, 187 to U.S. district courts, and two to the U.S. Court of International Trade. This accomplishment represents the largest number of judicial confirmations in a four-year term since President Jimmy Carter's administration.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin joined the President for this momentous occasion. The confirmation success was largely facilitated by the Democrat-led Senate, which worked diligently to process Biden's nominees. Schumer emphasized the historic nature of these appointments, suggesting they would serve as a protective barrier for democratic institutions.
The President emphasized the critical role judges play in American society. Biden's statement reflected his administration's commitment to appointing judges who would uphold constitutional values:
Judges matter, shaping the everyday lives of Americans, protecting our basic freedoms ... defending constitutional liberties, respecting the idea that precedent matters. These judges will be independent, they'll be fair, and they'll be impartial and respect the rule of law.
The White House highlighted that one in four judges currently serving on the federal bench were nominated by President Biden. This remarkable ratio demonstrates the significant impact of his administration on the judiciary's composition.
The Biden administration's judicial strategy focused heavily on diversifying the federal bench, both professionally and personally. More than 45 public defenders and 25 civil rights attorneys were among those confirmed, representing a departure from traditional judicial backgrounds dominated by prosecutors and corporate lawyers.
Biden's commitment to diversity extended beyond professional experience. His administration appointed more Black women to federal courts of appeals than all previous presidents combined. This achievement builds upon the groundbreaking nomination of Justice Jackson to the Supreme Court.
The appointments particularly impacted the 13 courts of appeals, which handle over 40,000 cases annually. These courts often provide the final word in legal disputes, given that the Supreme Court takes fewer than 100 cases each year.
The significance of Biden's 235 confirmations becomes clearer when compared to his predecessors. While Trump secured 234 confirmations, including three Supreme Court justices that established a 6-3 conservative majority, Biden's numbers surpassed this mark despite having only one Supreme Court appointment.
President Carter's record of 262 judicial appointments benefited from the 1978 legislation that created 152 new judgeships. This context makes Biden's achievement even more remarkable, as he worked within existing judicial vacancies rather than newly created positions.
Chairman Durbin summarized the administration's impact, stating:
The record is clear: the nominees of President Joseph Biden to the federal bench represent the best of the judiciary, the best of America.
President Biden's judicial confirmation milestone represents a significant reshaping of the federal judiciary during his four-year term. The 235 confirmations, including Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, demonstrate his administration's success in appointing diverse, qualified judges across federal courts. With the support of the Democrat-led Senate, these appointments have established a legacy that will influence American jurisprudence for decades to come, particularly through the 45 appellate court judges who will handle thousands of cases annually.
