Center for American Progress
Building a More Inclusive Federal Judiciary
By Danielle Root, Jake Faleschini, and Grace Oyenubi

The federal judiciary’s current legitimacy crisis is concerning—the public increasingly views federal courts as unfair, particularly to underrepresented groups and as partisan institutions.

Also contributing to the courts' legitimacy crisis is the fact that the federal judiciary does not reflect the population that it serves, which has severe consequences for both the institution’s legitimacy and the parties who come before it.

Among sitting federal judges, 80 percent are white and more than 70 percent are men. Judges who self-identify as LGBTQ comprise less than 1 percent of all sitting judges on the federal bench. <[link removed]>

Diversity adds immense value to the judiciary. Judges who self-identify as members of historically underrepresented groups draw on their life experiences, which helps them consider the interests of a variety of communities and instills public confidence in the institution, resulting in fairer decision-making.

However, while previous administrations made concerted efforts to diversify the bench, President Donald Trump has appointed the least racially and ethnically diverse group of federal judges of any president over the past three decades.

It will take years—if not decades—for the United States to have a federal judiciary that more closely mirrors the demographics of the country. But by taking concrete steps, Americans can turn today’s whitewashed judiciary into one that reflects the experiences of the populace it serves.

Read more » <[link removed]>

Plus, watch the livestream <[link removed]> for our corresponding event at 11:30 a.m. EST, Building a More Inclusive Federal Judiciary.

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