This morning, President Joe Biden announced his administration’s first set of judicial nominations. The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) has long relied on a judicial system with fair, impartial, and competent judges in order to fight for the dignity and humanity of Black Americans and other communities of color. The judicial system plays a critical role in enforcing the Constitution and other laws of this country. It is imperative that it includes a diverse and qualified set of perspectives and experience.
In response to today’s announcement, Sherrilyn Ifill, LDF’s President and Director-Counsel, issued the following statement:
“President Biden’s first list of judicial nominees is historic. Nine of the 11 nominees are women, and the list includes former public defenders and civil rights lawyers. If confirmed, they will also include the first Black judge ever on the Federal Circuit; the first Black woman federal district judge on the district court in Maryland; and the first Asian American woman on the D.C. District Court.
“This list powerfully affirms that nominees who are racially diverse and whose professional background reflects a broad range of practice are available to serve on the federal bench. Such diversity will greatly enhance the judiciary and judicial decision-making. We are gratified that President Biden has, with this first presentation of judicial nominees, demonstrated his intention to fulfill his promise to bring greater diversity to the federal bench. This is an exciting and important beginning.”
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Founded in 1940, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization. LDF has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957—although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund or LDF. Follow LDF on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
