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President Joe Biden achieved a historic milestone on Friday as the Senate confirmed his 235th federal judge, surpassing former President Donald Trump’s total of 234 judicial confirmations. The Biden administration’s emphasis on professional and demographic diversity sets his selections apart, solidifying a key aspect of his legacy.
“Judges shape our lives,” Biden remarked on social media. “I’m proud of those who heeded the call to serve and of the legacy I’ll leave with the men and women I’ve appointed.”
The Senate’s final confirmation marks a significant achievement for Biden, who leaves behind a judicial footprint of one Supreme Court justice, 45 appeals court judges, 187 district court judges, and two judges on the U.S. Court of International Trade.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) hailed the accomplishment as “historic,” stating, “We have confirmed more judges than under the Trump administration, more judges than any administration in this century, more judges than any administration going back decades.”
Biden’s judicial appointments include a record number of women and individuals from underrepresented groups. His selections prioritized professional diversity, breaking from traditional norms by appointing over 45 public defenders, 25 civil rights attorneys, and numerous advocates for workers’ rights. The administration also celebrated the confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman on the Supreme Court.
Despite surpassing Trump’s numerical total, Biden fell short in reshaping the Supreme Court, where Trump appointed three justices, shifting the bench’s ideological balance to the right.
Republicans criticized Biden’s slate of judges. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) accused Democrats of confirming “absolute zealots.” Meanwhile, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) pledged that Republicans would help President-elect Trump surpass Biden’s record during his upcoming term.
Looking ahead, Democrats worry about the potential rollback of their progress. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) warned, “Every vacancy left open is the potential for an unqualified ideologue.”
As Biden concludes his presidency, his judicial confirmations leave a lasting legacy, emphasizing inclusion and public service while setting the stage for future political battles over the federal judiciary.
