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Jimmy Williams
In a bid to streamline judicial confirmations before the Republican-controlled Senate convenes in January, Senate Democrats struck a deal with Republicans this week, leaving four of President Joe Biden’s appellate court nominees without a vote. The agreement aims to expedite consideration of other judicial nominations, helping Biden edge closer to the 234 judicial confirmations achieved during former President Donald Trump’s first term.
Biden has successfully confirmed 221 judges to date. However, Senate Republicans utilized procedural maneuvers to delay votes, prompting late-night sessions and intense negotiations led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. A senior Democratic leadership aide announced Thursday that a time agreement had been reached to move forward with seven district court judges following Thanksgiving. Additionally, six more district court nominees will be added to the Senate executive calendar for potential December consideration.
The compromise, however, excludes four appellate court nominees awaiting floor votes: Adeel Abdullah Mangi (Third Circuit), Karla M. Campbell (Sixth Circuit), Julia M. Lipez (First Circuit), and Ryan Young Park (Fourth Circuit). Among them, Mangi, a Harvard and Oxford graduate and seasoned litigator, would have been the first Muslim American appointed to a federal appellate bench. Despite his impressive qualifications, concerns over his past volunteer activities stalled his nomination, even among some Democrats.
Circuit court confirmations are typically contentious due to their pivotal role in shaping federal law. Schumer acknowledged that the excluded nominees lacked the necessary support, stating they had faced significantly greater opposition compared to others.
The deal has sparked criticism from progressive groups. Lena Zwarensteyn of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights called the decision to leave behind the four nominees “unacceptable.” Russ Feingold, former senator and president of the American Constitution Society, described the move as “extremely frustrating.”
“Retreating in advance sets a dangerous precedent,” Feingold warned, emphasizing the need for Democrats to counter potential extremism under a possible Trump return to office.
Schumer defended the Senate’s focus on confirmations as a fundamental duty, saying, “We’ll take that responsibility very seriously between now and the end of the year.”
As the year-end deadline looms, the battle over Biden’s judicial legacy underscores the fraught partisan dynamics in shaping the federal judiciary.
