Senate Dems race to confirm Biden judges ahead of Trump’s presidency

Senate Democrats are working quickly to confirm as many of President Biden’s judicial picks as possible before a potential Trump presidency, according to recent reports. Despite facing criticism from Republicans, Democrats have successfully confirmed 215 of Biden’s nominees so far. The most recent confirmation was Jonathan E. Hawley as a U.S. District Judge for the Central District of Illinois, approved in a 50-46 vote on Wednesday.

Although Biden’s confirmation numbers are slightly behind President-elect Trump’s 234 confirmations during his first term, including three to the U.S. Supreme Court, Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee remain determined to prioritize judicial confirmations during the lame-duck session. In a tweet, they stated, “We’re going to confirm every possible federal judge in the lame-duck session.”

This week, the Senate also confirmed April M. Perry as a U.S. District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois and advanced Embry Kidd’s nomination to serve as a circuit court judge for the 11th Circuit. However, some of Biden’s nominees, like Kidd, have faced scrutiny during hearings. Kidd, a district judge in Florida, failed to disclose child sex-related cases he ruled on, leading to the reversal of his decisions.

Anthony J. Brindisi, a former Democratic representative tapped by Biden for a judicial position, also encountered challenges during his hearing. When asked by Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn if he was a politician or a judge, Brindisi affirmed that he was a judge. Despite these obstacles, Democrats are determined to push forward with judicial confirmations.

However, concerns have been raised about Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin’s ability to block Trump’s judicial agenda once he assumes office in January. At 79 years old, Durbin’s age has become a major factor for some Democrats. Nonetheless, Durbin’s office emphasized his successful leadership in confirming over 215 lifetime judges during the Biden administration.

Looking ahead, Senate Minority Whip John Thune, who will become the new Republican Senate leader, will play a crucial role in advancing Trump’s judicial agenda. Thune expressed willingness to work with President-elect Biden to confirm nominees and advance a shared legislative agenda.

In response to the ongoing confirmation process, Trump voiced his opposition to approving any judges during this period, citing Democratic efforts to push through their nominees. Despite the political tensions, both parties are gearing up for a busy legislative session ahead. As the process unfolds, the focus remains on confirming qualified nominees who will uphold the law and serve the American people diligently.