The Leadership Conference Celebrates Historic Judicial Nominations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Patrick McNeil, [email protected]

WASHINGTON — Maya Wiley, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, released the following statement after the White House announced President Biden’s nomination of Nicole Berner to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (Maryland), Adeel Mangi to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (New Jersey), Judge Cristal Brisco to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Judge Gretchen Lund to the U.S. District for the Northern District of Indiana, and Judge Amy Baggio to the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.

“The Leadership Conference is thrilled that President Biden has nominated Nicole Berner to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Ms. Berner is a brilliant lawyer whose critical professional and lived experience is sorely needed and will be a tremendous benefit to the Fourth Circuit.

“Our judiciary must reflect the diversity of the legal profession, including civil rights attorneys tasked with protecting workers’ rights, reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, and more — and that’s exactly what Ms. Berner will bring to the Fourth Circuit. It’s a professional experience that is deeply underrepresented on the bench and necessary to fairly and sensitively hear and decide cases impacting people whose cases come before the court. Throughout her impressive legal career, including at the Service Employees International Union and Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Ms. Berner has consistently demonstrated a deep and sincere commitment to equal justice for all.

“We are also excited that the president nominated Adeel Mangi to serve on the Third Circuit given the breadth and depth of his experience. Throughout Mr. Mangi’s accomplished legal career and his extensive community service, his commitment to the civil rights of all is evident.

“Both of these appellate court nominees will bring crucial experience to the bench. When confirmed, Ms. Berner will be the first openly LGBTQ judge to ever serve on the Fourth Circuit and just the third openly LGBTQ woman to serve on any federal appellate court in our nation’s history. Mr. Mangi will be the first Muslim judge to serve on any federal appellate court in America and just the fourth Article III Muslim judge to ever serve. We thank President Biden for continuing to nominate highly qualified lawyers like Ms. Berner and Mr. Mangi who are committed to protecting the civil and human rights of everyone. And we celebrate their historic nominations and look forward to their prompt confirmations.

“The district court nominations are also noteworthy. When confirmed, Judge Cristal Brisco will be the first Black judge and first woman of color to serve as a lifetime judge in the Northern District of Indiana. Additionally, Judge Amy Baggio, who prior to serving as a fair-minded judge served as a public defender, will bring underrepresented professional experience to the District of Oregon. We thank the senators and President Biden for selecting tremendously qualified nominees to serve on the federal bench. These nominees bring important experience and diversity to the bench, which bolsters public trust in the judiciary, improves judicial decision-making, and represents a critical step toward ensuring that our federal courts reflect and represent the vast diversity of our nation.

“To continue the urgent work of building an equal justice judiciary that works for all, we urge the Senate to swiftly confirm these nominees and call on the White House to fill all remaining judicial vacancies with individuals who are highly qualified, professionally and demographically diverse, and committed to civil and human rights.”

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 240 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

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