[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 189 (Wednesday, October 27, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S7393]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, today, the Senate is going to continue 
focusing on confirming even more of President Biden's highly qualified 
nominees, both to serve in his administration and for lifetime 
appointments on the Federal bench.
  Yesterday, we confirmed three more district judges through this 
Chamber, each with bipartisan support. We are going to continue today 
with two more nominees, and I hope we can see continued bipartisan 
cooperation.
  In less than a year, Senate Democrats have worked swiftly and 
decisively to fill vacancies on the Federal bench with qualified, 
mainstream, and dedicated jurists. We are well on our way to making 
today's Federal bench the most diverse in a long, long time. Through 
September, at least three-quarters of President Biden's circuit-level 
nominees have been people of color.
  Let me say that again because that makes me proud. Through September, 
at least three-quarters of President Biden's circuit-level nominees 
have been people of color.
  Nearly a third of all of President Biden's nominees are former public 
defenders, and several of them have impressive backgrounds as civil 
rights lawyers, voting rights champions, and experience outside the 
well-trodden path of corporate law or Federal prosecution.
  By focusing intentionally on confirming judges that bring both 
personal and professional experience to the judiciary, we are expanding 
the possibilities of who merits consideration to the bench at all.
  Judges, obviously, are an essential component of a healthy democracy. 
We will strengthen the public's trust in a fair, independent judiciary 
if the bench better reflects the rich diversity of this country, while 
adhering to the rule of law.
  One confirmation at a time, Democrats are swiftly restoring balance 
to our courts, and we are full steam ahead to confirm more mainstream 
and qualified and diverse judges as they become available.

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