There have now been 68 lifetime judges confirmed by the Biden administration, the highest number at this point in a presidency since the Kennedy Administration. And, this week, the White House introduced a diverse slate of seven more nominees, setting the stage for a steady pace of hearings before the summer recess.

The barrier-breaking nominees include Judge Mendez-Miro for the District Court of Puerto Rico, who, if confirmed, would be the first LGBTQ+ judge on that court; Bradley Garcia for the D.C. Circuit, who will be the first Latino to serve there; and Dana Douglas, who, if confirmed, would be the first African American woman, and first woman of color, to ever serve on the Fifth Circuit. This is the largest number of Latinx nominees in any slate yet from this administration. Yet, due to comparatively sparse numbers of Latinx judges on the federal bench, our work is not done.  

Meanwhile, as the U.S. Supreme Court nears the end of its term, we anxiously await the Court’s rulings in the highest profile cases. With reproductive rights, gun control, school prayer and climate cases still on the docket, the Court’s majority threatens to further shift our nation’s laws in favor of corporate interests and conservative ideology. We are closely tracking these decisions, preparing actions, and are ready to respond.  

The Good News: The Brisk Pace Continues 

Senate Democrats are not letting up! Chairman Durbin has continued a steady pace for judicial nominations. The next Senate Judiciary Committee hearing scheduled for June 22, 2022. We’re most excited about these two nominees slated to appear on Tuesday: 

• Rachel Bloomekatz, nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, is an experienced appellate attorney who has dedicated her career to protecting the constitutional and civil rights of vulnerable populations. Since 2019, she has represented workers, voters, parents, and injured Ohioans in complex statutory and constitutional cases at her firm, Bloomekatz Law LLC. 
  
  
• Elizabeth Hanes, nominated to the Eastern District of Virginia, has served as a federal magistrate judge since 2020. She also brings notable experience in consumer litigation, as a federal public defender, and with AmeriCorps.  

Pay Attention: One Step Closer to Confirmation

More brilliant nominees are moving closer to confirmation. On June 9, 2022, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced five nominees to the full Senate for consideration. These individuals would continue the trend of greater inclusion on our courts:  

• Judge Salvador Mendoza, Jr., nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, has already served for eight years on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. He brings experience in criminal defense and would be Washington’s first Latino judge to serve on the Ninth Circuit. 
  
  
• Judge John Z. Lee, nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, similarly brings a decade of experience serving on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He would be the first Asian-American judge to ever serve on the Seventh Circuit. 

What’s Next?

We are doubling down on the call to fill every vacancy by the end of the year with judges committed to equal justice for all. We must fill seats with more economic justice attorneys, more disability rights lawyers, and more climate justice champions. 

Join Us

On July 7 at 6PM ET, join us for the next online edition of our Holding Court series. This event will feature Berkeley Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky discussing his new book Presumed Guilty with ACLU National Board President Deborah Archer.  

Presumed Guilty explores how the Supreme Court has knelt to police power for decades, and communities of color have suffered disproportionate levels of harm and police violence as a result. 

Register for Holding Court: Presumed Guilty by Erwin Chemerinsky here.  

Donate today to help us keep up The Rush. 

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