Biden Faces Uphill Battle in Judicial Appointments, Struggles to Surpass Trump’s Pace

President Joe Biden grapples with meeting the prolific judicial appointment record set by former President Donald Trump, sparking concerns among progressive advocates over diversity in the judiciary as Senate Democrats pledge to push for more confirmations in 2024.

Biden’s Judicial Appointment Challenges

Despite initial momentum, President Biden encountered hurdles in judicial appointments in 2023, facing Republican opposition and a slower confirmation rate than his predecessor, raising fears of potential setbacks as the 2024 election looms.

Criticism mounts over the potential impact of Biden’s slowed pace on achieving a more diverse judiciary, a priority highlighted since his 2020 campaign, with concerns arising about the looming possibility of a change in presidency or Senate control.

While Biden secured confirmations for several notable judges, the overall pace lagged behind Trump’s third-year record, further complicated by delays in nominee processing within the Senate Judiciary Committee.

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Challenges and Prospects for 2024

The President aims to compensate for the slowdown in 2023 by nominating 30 additional candidates, addressing the current 53 vacancies on the federal bench, and anticipating more vacancies in the near future.

However, challenges persist, particularly in states with Republican senators utilizing the “blue slip” custom, potentially stalling or vetoing nominees, thereby impeding Biden’s ability to fill vacancies in conservative-leaning regions.

Calls intensify for Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin to reconsider the “blue slip” custom, highlighting its impact on limiting Biden’s nominations in Republican-dominated states and the consequent influence on future legal decisions.

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