Biden Approves 200th Federal Judge as Part of Effort to Outpace Trump

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed President Joe Biden’s 200^th judicial nominee, marking a milestone in countering the conservative influence of Donald Trump on the federal judiciary.

Biden’s 200^th nominee, Magistrate Judge Angela Martinez, a former assistant U.S. attorney in Arizona, was approved by the Senate in a 66-28 vote to become a U.S. district court judge in Arizona. Martinez’s confirmation saw support from 18 Republicans, 45 Democrats, and three independents.

Shortly after, Biden’s 201st nominee, Dena Coggins, was confirmed to the U.S. district court in the Eastern District of California by a 50-44 vote, with only one Republican, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, voting in favor.

Senator Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, chair of the Judiciary Committee, praised Biden’s nominees on the Senate floor before Martinez’s confirmation vote, highlighting their qualifications and the American Bar Association’s approval of all 200 nominees.

During his presidency, Trump appointed 234 federal judges to lifetime terms, while Barack Obama appointed 329 over eight years.

A White House official disclosed to Politico that Biden’s administration aims to fill all possible vacancies and potentially surpass Trump’s numbers in case of a reelection. The focus is on maintaining a steady flow of nominations and confirmations.

Currently, there are 44 judicial vacancies with 17 pending nominations. The tradition of the “blue slip” for district court nominees, enforced by Durbin, requires approval from both home-state senators before advancing. Challenges arise due to the influence of Republicans in crucial states.

Biden’s slim Senate majority poses a hurdle in the confirmation process, requiring effort to find consensus picks and avoid stoppages. The administration has shown flexibility in negotiations to prevent delays.