[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 166 (Tuesday, November 12, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S6501]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Senate Judiciary Committee

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I am honored to serve as chairman of the 
Senate Judiciary Committee, where the committee members work hard to 
protect freedom, advance justice, protect equality, and bring balance 
to our Federal authorities.
  Over the past 4 years, we have advanced well-qualified nominees to 
the Federal bench who reflect the reality of America. We have made 
significant progress on issues important to our Nation. For many of us, 
the outcome of last week's election was not what we wanted, what we 
fought for, or what we voted for. But my priorities for the committee 
have not changed because of the election. I will continue to work on 
issues that are important to all Americans: judicial confirmations, 
reproductive rights for women, fixing our broken immigration system, 
and gun violence protection.
  I am especially proud of the committee's contributions to one of the 
most important accomplishments of the Biden-Harris administration: 
confirming highly qualified, independent, evenhanded judges to the 
Federal bench. During the Biden administration, the Senate has 
confirmed 213 well-qualified judges to lifetime appointments on the 
Federal bench. One-fourth of all the Federal judgeships have been 
filled in the last 4 years, and counting.
  Aside from their exceptional qualifications and respect for the rule 
of law, these judges represent historic demographic and professional 
diversity. Under President Biden's leadership, the Senate has confirmed 
more Black women to the Federal circuit courts than all Presidents 
combined, including--and I am proud to say this--the first ever Black 
woman to serve on the Supreme Court, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. She 
is exceptional.
  We have confirmed a historic number of Asian-American, Latino, and 
LGBTQ+ judges. We have also confirmed more circuit judges with 
experience as public defenders than all other Presidents combined.
  The American people deserve a Federal judiciary which looks like 
America and reflects our reality. Until the end of my tenure as chair, 
I will continue to urge my colleagues to support the confirmation of 
these well-qualified and diverse judicial nominees.