Biden, a former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, begins his presidency with 68 judicial vacancies – seven appeals court vacancies and district1 district court vacancies. The number of vacancies is less than what former President Donald Trump has inherited since entering the White House. Trump had to fill an open Supreme Court seat, 86 district court seats and 17 circuit court seats.
After more than 200 judges were confirmed by Senate Republicans during Trump’s presidency – GOP leaders take pride in gambling – Democrats and progressive groups are vowing to exert their influence on the federal bench.
According to a source, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is on the Biden administration’s list of possible nominees in the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, like last week, as a possible bidder Supreme Court ruling. Jackson is currently a federal district judge in the District of Columbia.
Biden’s expected announcement of 11 elections has come amid growing belief among Democrats that former President Barack Obama was too lazy to address the courts. Obama announced his first judicial election on March 17, 2009, followed by two additional elections on April 2 of that year.
Trump faced a relatively unusual situation with coming to office fees: the vacant Supreme Court seat, opened by Senate Republicans, who refused to prosecute Obama’s nominee to replace Judge Merrick Garland for the late Justice Antonin Scalia.
Trump tapped Judge Neil Gorsuch on February 1, 2017 for that slot. Trump’s first choice for the lower court came on March 21 for the Court of Appeals.
The White House did not respond to requests for comment.
