The Senate has continued to confirm the Biden administration’s nominees at a record pace. With 116 judges confirmed, President Biden, Leader Schumer, and Chairman Durbin have appointed and confirmed more judges than any other president at this point in their first term.
This week, the Senate confirmed Maria Araujo Kahn (2nd Cir.), James Edward Simmons, Jr. (S.D. Cal.), Arun Subramanian (S.D.N.Y), Andrew Schopler (S.D. Cal.), and Stewart Ballou (W.D. Vir.). Arun Subramanian will be first South Asian judge to serve on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Last week, Jonathan Grey (E.D. Mich.), Colleen Lawless (C.D. Ill.), Margaret Guzman (D. Mass.), Araceli Martinez-Olguin (N.D. Cal.), Jamal Whitehead (W.D. Wash.), and Jamar Walker (E.D. Vir.) were also confirmed to the federal bench. Jamal Whitehead is President Biden’s first nominee and first confirmed judge with a disclosed disability, breaking a long overdue barrier and marking a substantial step towards building a judiciary that better reflects America.
We look forward to more confirmations in the weeks ahead! On the AFJ Blog this week, our very own Mari Nemec explores how the Senate’s majority can continue its momentum on judges only if it anticipates and preempts obstruction tactics. “We must be very clear-headed about the aim of these delays: to keep nearly 120 vacancies open", she writes of bad faith consultation, the blue slip, and quorum antics.
“Unfortunately, the minority is creating two systems of justice with this scheme.” Read the full post on AFJ’s blog.
