It’s official! The Democrats will hold the Senate—and have the potential to gain an extra seat should Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) win re-election in the Georgia Senate run-off in December. The Biden Administration, Leader Schumer, and Senator Durbin, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, are well-positioned to push through a record-breaking number of federal judges over the next two years and we could not be more excited for the work to begin. Before we get to the next two years, we’re not done with our push to move overdue confirmations during the lame-duck session, which began November 14.
There are over 35 fair-minded equal justice nominees in the queue, here are just a few we highlight in our new Confirmations Overdue campaign.
|
The Good News
Senators returned to work this week and got right to it with the first post-election Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on November 15. This energetic start is thanks to the planning of Chairman Durbin, who has been assiduously processing nominees all year. The panels included Judge DeAndrea Benjamin, nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and U.S. District Court nominees Myong Joun (D. Ma), Todd Edelman (D.D.C), among others.
The panelists all did phenomenally during the hearing, answering Senators questions thoughtfully and concisely. Most notably, Judge Benjamin kept her composure while Republican Senators badgered her with repetitive and obtuse questions. The full Senate also confirmed María Antongiorgi-Jordán to the District of Puerto Rico. To date, the Biden Administration has confirmed 85 Article III judges, with an additional 24 nominees pending on the Senate floor.
|
Pay Attention: Confirmations Overdue—Let's Move Exemplary Champions of Justice
AFJ is calling on the Senate to demonstrate its commitment to our courts by confirming at least ten nominees by the end of November. This would set an impressive pace toward confirming the remaining nominees by the end of the lame duck period, including all 24 who have already been voted out of committee.
The following nominees are examples of the fantastic equal justice champions awaiting final votes:
These nominees, and many more like them, have backgrounds and expertise in voting rights, civil rights, employment and labor, immigrant rights, and more underrepresented areas of the law that our democracy needs on the bench immediately. They are all long overdue for a final vote. Check out a blog post written by Zack Ford, AFJ’s press secretary, to learn more.
|
What's Next
It’s time to keep the pressure on! Despite Democratic election success, it is still vital to confirm the queue of nominees before the start of the next Congress. Judiciary Committee Chairman Durbin has promised to get through as many of the nominees as possible by the end of the year:
“I want to do this for my colleagues who have worked on these for months and they shouldn’t face more delay. We have more than 100 vacancies on the federal bench.” Let’s see this through! |
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website or have attended one of our events. If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.
Alliance for Justice
11 Dupont Circle NW
Suite #500
Washington, DC 20036
United States |
