100+ National Organizations Call on Senate to Prioritize Judicial Confirmations

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

WASHINGTON — The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, joined by 108 national organizations, wrote to senators today underscoring the urgency of building a federal judiciary that lives up to its promise of equal justice for all by filling all judicial vacancies in 2024 with diverse nominees who are committed to civil and human rights. The letter comes on the eve of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s consideration of 20 judicial nominees.

“The civil rights community has spent decades advocating for a diverse federal judiciary that works for all of us, not just the wealthy and powerful. The progress over the last few years, thanks to the leadership of President Biden, Senate Majority Leader Schumer, and Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Durbin, is remarkable,” the groups write.

The letter highlights that there are still nearly 100 lifetime judicial vacancies across the nation, and dozens do not yet have named nominees, including many in Southern and Midwestern states where we have seen a rise in threats to civil and human rights. As the letter notes, “Our access to justice — and to federal courts staffed with fair-minded judges — should not depend on where we live.”

“We recognize the many important issues Congress must focus on this year, but we urge you to make this work a top priority,” the letter states. “The federal judges you recommend and confirm this year will serve for decades to come, making these nominations a deeply important part of your legacy. We urge you to continue this historic and necessary work by prioritizing filling every judicial vacancy with nominees who are committed to civil and human rights and who reflect the rich diversity of our nation.”

The Leadership Conference previously sent letters in support of Nicole Berner (Fourth Circuit), Adeel Mangi (Third Circuit), Judge Mustafa Kasubhai (District of Oregon), Judge Eumi Lee (Northern District of California), and Sarah Russell (District of Connecticut), who are all scheduled to be reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, January 18.

To learn more about the lifetime judges confirmed during the Biden administration through 2023, read our recently released brief here.

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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