We have seen 39 public defenders, 26 civil rights champions, five labor lawyers, 15 plaintiff’s lawyers, and seven consumer protection lawyers confirmed to the federal bench. In a judiciary in which too many jurists can rely solely on prosecutorial or corporate legal knowledge, these judges will help balance our courts with varied legal experience. Further, 84 women, including 51 Black women, have become federal judges under the Biden Administration. This is a tremendous achievement that will pave the way for future women jurists in our federal courts.
Maria Araujo Kahn and Araceli Martinez-Olguin are recent additions to the pool of excellent women jurists on the federal bench.
Maria Araujo Kahn was confirmed to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on March 9, 2023. In addition to her extensive legal and judicial experience, Judge Kahn brings her the much-needed perspective of an immigrant and disability advocate to the federal courts.
Araceli Martinez-Olguin was confirmed to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California on February 28, 2023. Martinez-Olguin is one of the nation’s leading immigration attorneys and has spent her entire career advocating for the rights of immigrant workers. She is the second Latina to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
