Biden Surpasses Trump In Pace Of Judicial Nominations, Reshaping Courts With Greater Diversity

President Joe Biden has announced his list of nine judicial nominees. The selections were a focal point of his administration, in the effort to reshape the federal courts in a more progressive direction.

The nine district court nominees bring the administration’s total for the year to 73, one more than former President Donald Trump nominated in his first year.

Among the nominees are Jessica G.L. Clarke, chief of the New York Attorney General’s Civil Rights Bureau since 2019, for the Southern District of New York. Also, Sherilyn Peace Garnett, former prosecutor and current California Superior Court judge, for the Central District of California.

“These choices also continue to fulfill the President’s promise to ensure that the nation’s courts reflect the diversity that is one of our greatest assets as a country—both in terms of personal and professional backgrounds,” a White House official said in a statement.

The president’s efforts were coordinated with Senate Democrats and have resulted in 28 confirmations, with at least two other nominees expected to win confirmation before the end of the year. This also exceeds the former president’s number.

The other district court picks are:

• Hector Gonzalez, a partner at Dechert LLP, for the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
• Kenly Kiya Kato, US magistrate judge for the Central District of California, for the US District Court for the Central District of California.
• Nina Morrison, senior litigation counsel at the Innocence Project, for the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
• William S. Pocan, the deputy chief judge of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, for the US District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
• Jennifer L. Rochon, general counsel of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, for the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
• Fred W. Slaughter, California Superior Court judge, for the US District Court for the Central District of California.
• Sunshine Suzanne Sykes, California Superior Court judge, for the US District Court for the Central District of California.