As we commend the increased diversity among newly confirmed district court judges, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is urging Leader Schumer to abandon the deal struck with Republicans and commit to seeking confirmation of the pending three circuit court judicial nominees: Julia Lipez, Adeel Mangi, and Karla Campbell. Last month, Senate Majority Leader Schumer struck a deal with Senate Republicans to give up on four circuit court nominations in exchange for confirming additional district court judges.
LDF Director of Policy Demetria McCain issued the following statement:
“Over the last four years, the Senate, working hand in hand with President Biden’s team at the White House, has reshaped the federal judiciary in an extraordinary and unprecedented way. The federal bench is now far more diverse by nearly every measure – race, gender, professional background – than it was four years ago, and a record number of Black female judges have been confirmed to lifetime judicial appointments.
“However, this is not the time to relent. There are only a few weeks remaining before Senate power changes hands. Leader Schumer must abandon the myopic and misguided deal struck with Republicans and use any means necessary to confirm the three highly qualified, fair-minded circuit court nominees. It would be a dangerous mistake and an egregious dereliction of duty to leave these appeals court slots vacant and allow President-elect Trump to fill them with unqualified, far-right extremists who will secure lifetime appointments.
“If you care about the rule of law and a judiciary that is fair, impartial, and qualified, then LDF urges you to contact your Senator and Senator Schumer to demand they fill these crucial circuit court vacancies before the end of the year.”
###
Founded in 1940, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is the nation’s first civil rights law organization. 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 Legal Defense Fund or LDF. Please note that 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.
