President Biden on Wednesday celebrated the Senate's confirmation of the 200th judge since he took office, calling it a major milestone that underscored the issues at stake in the November election.
The Senate confirmed Magistrate Judge Angela Martinez as a federal judge in the District of Arizona, making her Biden's 200th judicial nominee to be appointed to the federal bench.
'Judges are important. These men and women have the power to uphold or roll back basic rights,” Biden said in a statement. “They hear cases that decide whether women have the freedom to make their own decisions regarding reproductive health care; whether Americans have the freedom to cast their votes; whether workers have the freedom to join a union and earn a living wage for their families; and whether children have the freedom to exercise their freedom to breathe clean air and drink clean water.”
Biden has placed particular emphasis on nominating qualified individuals from diverse backgrounds, both professional and personal. Of the 200 confirmed jurors, 64 percent are women and 62 percent are people of color. Dozens have served in public criminal defense positions.
“And despite differences in background and experience, they are all committed to principles at the heart of our democracy: independence, liberty and freedom,” Biden said.
The confirmations came despite extremely narrow margins for Democrats. The Senate was split 50-50 during Biden's first two years, with Vice President Harris serving as the tie-breaking vote. The Democrats have had a one-seat majority since 2023.
“There is more work to do,” Biden said. “Moving forward, I will continue my solemn responsibility to nominate individuals who excel in their professional careers, who reflect the communities they serve, and who apply the law impartially and without favoritism.”
Judicial appointments are likely to be an issue in this fall's presidential and Senate races.
When former President Trump was in power, he nominated three justices to the Supreme Court, which then overturned the Roe v. Wade decision on abortion. Since the abortion decision, Democrats have focused — even more than historically — on this issue and the importance of the Supreme Court.
Democrats face an uphill climb when it comes to holding on to the Senate, and they have tried to make abortion rights central to their campaign message. Even if Biden is re-elected, without a Democratic Senate it will be much more difficult for him to get his nominees confirmed.
Democrats have paid more attention to appointing judges and reforming the courts in recent years after Trump made it a central part of his first term. Trump confirmed 234 federal judges during his first four years in office, including three Supreme Court justices.
These three Supreme Court picks were part of the conservative majority that in recent years has made landmark rulings not only on abortion, but also on affirmative action and climate change.
