Joe Biden Surpasses Donald Trump’s Judicial Confirmation Record Ahead of White House Transition
The Senate, under Democratic control, has confirmed President Joe Biden’s 235th federal judge, marking a significant achievement as Biden surpasses the total judicial appointments made by former President Donald Trump.
This milestone includes the confirmation of one Supreme Court justice, 45 appeals court judges, 187 district court judges, and two judges on the U.S. Court of International Trade during Biden’s presidency.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the achievement “historic,” celebrating the confirmation as a testament to the Senate’s efforts over the past four years. “The majority has now confirmed more judges under President Biden than any administration in decades,” Schumer said, noting that the appointments outpaced those of the Trump administration and every administration of the 21st century.
Judiciary Committee member Sen. Richard Blumenthal praised the accomplishment, emphasizing its significance for shaping the judiciary for decades. “These lifetime appointments will uphold or challenge basic rights in this country,” he said.
Biden’s Legacy of Judicial Diversity
The Biden administration has emphasized not only the number of appointments but also the diversity of his nominees. The president has appointed a record number of judges with backgrounds in public defense, civil rights law, and workers’ advocacy, breaking away from the traditional focus on prosecutors and corporate lawyers.
Notable appointments include the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who is also a former public defender. The White House highlighted the demographic diversity of Biden’s nominees, which includes a historic number of women, Black, Latino, Asian American, Native American, Muslim-American, and LGBTQ judges.
“This diversity reflects the rich fabric of America and ensures our judiciary better represents the people it serves,” the White House stated.
Comparisons to Trump’s Judicial Legacy
While Biden has surpassed Trump in the number of federal judicial appointments, Trump holds the distinction of having appointed three Supreme Court justices, two of whom shifted the Court significantly to the right. This conservative majority is viewed as one of the most influential in nearly a century.
Republican lawmakers, however, criticized Biden’s picks. Sen. Ted Cruz labeled many of them as “radical,” while Sen. Chuck Grassley, the incoming chair of the Judiciary Committee, predicted that former President Trump would aim to surpass Biden’s numbers in his potential second term.
Grassley remarked, “By the end of Trump’s second term, we’ll have more judges than Biden—no question.”
Looking Ahead
As Republicans prepare to take control of the Senate, the pace of judicial confirmations is expected to slow. Sen. John Cornyn acknowledged the difficulty of surpassing Biden’s total but emphasized the importance of filling vacancies with qualified judges.
For Democrats, the focus remains on ensuring the judiciary is filled with judges who are committed to upholding rights and equality. Blumenthal warned that leaving vacancies could lead to “unqualified ideologues” being appointed by a future Republican administration.
“We’ve made significant progress, but we must stay vigilant,” he said. “The fight for a fair and balanced judiciary is far from over.”
With judicial appointments carrying lifetime tenure, the long-term implications of these decisions will continue to shape the nation’s legal landscape for generations to come.
