WASHINGTON — The Senate has decided not to conduct votes on four appellate court nominees proposed by President Joe Biden as part of an agreement with Republican senators. This move is intended to expedite the approval process for other judicial nominations, bringing Biden closer to the 234 total judicial confirmations achieved during the first term of President Donald Trump.
At present, Biden has seen 221 judges confirmed. Over the past week, Republicans have instigated several procedural votes and late-night sessions, as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York worked diligently to finalize as many of Biden’s nominees as possible before Congress breaks for the holidays and Republicans assume control of the chamber in January.
A Democratic aide in the Senate indicated that a time agreement has been established to consider seven district court judges during the week following Thanksgiving. In addition, another six district court judges are set to be added to the Senate’s executive calendar, which would make it possible for their consideration on the Senate floor in December.
Unfortunately, the nominees facing exclusion from this upcoming consideration include four circuit judge selections awaiting a vote. These are Adeel Abdullah Mangi from New Jersey, nominated for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals; Karla M. Campbell from Tennessee, nominated for the Sixth Circuit; Julia M. Lipez from Maine, for the First Circuit; and Ryan Young Park from North Carolina, for the Fourth Circuit.
Notably, Mangi would have made history as the first Muslim American to serve as a federal appellate court judge if confirmed. With law degrees from both Oxford and Harvard, Mangi is currently affiliated with a prestigious law firm and has achieved considerable legal milestones. However, his nomination has faced challenges due to limited volunteer engagements with two outside organizations, coupled with opposition from some Democratic senators.
The confirmation process for circuit court judges tends to be more contentious, reflecting their critical role in adjudicating appeals from district courts and typically possessing the final say on various legal issues.
According to Schumer’s office, the four circuit nominations did not garner sufficient support for confirmation, facing significantly more opposition compared to other judges who are advancing as part of the agreement.
In recent weeks, liberal advocacy groups have been urging Senate Democrats to take necessary actions to confirm all judicial nominees before Trump’s potential re-entry into the presidency. Some voiced their dissatisfaction with the latest agreement.
“Reports of a deal that would overlook essential circuit court nominees are intolerable. Every one of these nominees must be confirmed promptly before the conclusion of the 118th Congress,” remarked Lena Zwarensteyn, an advisor at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
“When senators return from their holiday recess, Leader Schumer and his colleagues must take whatever steps are necessary—regardless of the duration—to ensure every pending judicial nominee, including all circuit court nominees, is confirmed to establish vital safeguards for our democracy. This is imperative,” Zwarensteyn added.
Schumer has allocated a significant portion of the Senate schedule to prioritizing Biden’s judicial nominees, asserting that fulfilling this duty is essential to the Senate’s mandate.
“We will approach this responsibility with utmost seriousness until the end of the year,” Schumer stated from the Senate floor.