[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 89 (Wednesday, May 22, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S3820]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, now on judges, a much better note, today,
the Senate reaches a significant milestone: 200 judges confirmed to
lifetime appointments under President Biden and this very proud
Democratic majority: 200 judges who are restoring balance in excellence
to our courts, 200 judges who are increasing the diversity and dynamism
of our judiciary, 200 judges who are committed to applying the law
fairly, impartially, equally. Of those 200 judges--I am so proud--127
are women; 125 are people of color, both traditionally underrepresented
demographics on the bench. We are making our courts look more like
America. It is not just going to be male White partners in fancy law
firms. It is much more diverse, and the bench is better for it. It is
something we can all be proud of.
Mr. President, 127 women, 125 people of color, over twice as many
women, and more than three times as many people of color have been
confirmed under the last administration. We have confirmed more Black
judges, more Latino judges, more Asian-American judges. We confirmed
the first Muslim-American man and woman on the bench, the first Navajo
Federal judge, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, of
course, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
We have confirmed more judges who have served as public defenders and
civil rights lawyers and consumer lawyers and immigration lawyers and
labor lawyers; again, not just partners of big law firms. We have
confirmed more judges, in other words, who embody the very ideal of
America, a place where the rule of law is protected, where the rights
of all are honored, and where everyone--everyone--gets a fair shake.
I commend Chairman Durbin. I commend the Judiciary Committee for
their great work processing judges in and out of our committee. I
commend President Biden for nominating so many of these people and
working with our Senate colleagues as to who would be best from their
States and regions.
Senate Democrats are very proud of our record. We are proud of our
judges, and we will keep going.
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