The Democratic-led Senate on Friday confirmed President Joe Biden’s 235th judicial nominee, surpassing the number of judges Republicans confirmed during the first Trump administration.
“The majority has now confirmed more judges under President Biden than any majority has confirmed in decades. This is historic,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said after the upper chamber confirmed Serena Raquel Murillo to serve as district judge for the Central District of California.
“We have confirmed more judges than under the Trump administration, more judges than any administration in this century, more judges than any administration going back decades,” the New York Democrat added.
The Senate confirmed 234 of Trump’s judicial nominees in his first administration.
Republicans took issue with most of the Biden nominees, criticizing them as too liberal. But they gave grudging credit to Democrats, noting that they followed the Republican model emphasized by Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, of making judicial confirmations a priority during Mr. Trump’s first term and devoting significant time to them.
The federal courts have increasingly become an arena for resolving political disputes, and Mr. McConnell saw the first Trump term as an opportunity to tilt them as far to the right as possible. Democrats saw their judicial project as a way to rebalance the courts.
“They took a page out of our playbook,” said Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas and a senior member of the Judiciary Committee. “Because that’s what Senator McConnell and President Trump did during his first term in office. And I think Democrats saw that was pretty darn effective and decided to copy it.”
Mr. Cornyn said Republicans were ready to pick up where they left off in 2020.
“I think President Trump will have a chance to nominate one or maybe two Supreme Court justices, which would be unprecedented,” Mr. Cornyn said, noting that could mean a majority of the court would be named by Mr. Trump. (NYT)
One out of every four active judges on the bench has been appointed by this Majority.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 21, 2024
Together these individuals are arguably the most qualified and historic nominees ever confirmed in a four-year span. pic.twitter.com/HUcu0bhAUS
235 judges with experience as consumer protection lawyers, labor lawyers, voting rights experts, civil rights lawyers, federal prosecutors, public defenders, teachers, mentors, scholars, great Americans from every walk of life and legal practice.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 21, 2024
Thanks to the hard work of this Senate Majority in confirming 235 qualified and historic judges, our courts are stronger. Our country is stronger. Our democracy is stronger. And that is something that every American can be proud of.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 21, 2024
🏛️ Meet every single one of the 235 qualified and historic judicial nominees this Senate Majority confirmed. 🏛️ pic.twitter.com/fGesF5MWpK
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 21, 2024
This Senate Majority has made history by confirming more qualified and historic judicial nominees than under any recent President—more than the Trump administration, more than any administration this century, more than any administration in decades. pic.twitter.com/vDXzpEuTN0
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 21, 2024
Sen. SCHUMER on Democrats’ besting Donald Trump’s judicial confirmation total:
— Senate Judiciary Committee (@JudiciaryDems) December 21, 2024
One out of every four active judges on the bench was appointed by this Senate Democratic Majority. pic.twitter.com/Au0f1w7tI9
