President Joe Biden announced four new judicial nominees for openings on federal courts Wednesday under a new strategy to gain confirmations in the Senate amid the logjam created by Sen. Dianne Feinstein‘s (D-CA) health-related absence.
Democrats are determined to keep up Biden’s progress on reshaping the judiciary but have faced setbacks after losing a functioning majority on the Senate Judiciary Committee while Feinstein is away. With the 33rd round of nominees, the White House worked more closely with senators, including Republicans, to coordinate judicial appointments in their home states.
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Biden nominated Loren AliKhan for the district court of the District of Columbia, Susan K. DeClerq for the eastern district of Michigan, Julia K. Munley for the middle district of Pennsylvania, and Vernon D. Oliver for the district of Connecticut.
If confirmed, AliKhan would be the first South Asian woman to serve on the D.C. district court, and DeClercq would be the first of East Asian descent in Michigan. The choices “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,” according to a statement from the White House.
Last month, committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL) advanced seven of Biden’s nominees to a full Senate vote with Republican support. But Feinstein’s absence has delayed the process for nominees who lack bipartisan support.
Biden’s new approach involves collecting “blue slips” from states with federal court vacancies and two Republican senators. The blue slips help move nominees through the committee when both lawmakers approve of the nominee.
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For example, Biden saw success nominating Judge Irma Carillo Ramirez to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit with the support of Republican senators in Texas.
As of May 3, the Senate has confirmed 122 of Biden’s nominees to lifetime posts since he took office.
