AP: Trump picking white males for judiciary at highest rate in 30 years

President Trump’s pool of judicial nominees is one of the least diverse in years, according to the Associated Press.

Out of Trump’s nearly 60 federal judicial nominees so far, 74 percent are white men, 19 percent are female and only 2 percent are female and nonwhite.

The AP reported Monday that the rate at which Trump is appointing white men to federal courts is the highest since former President George H.W. Bush’s administration.

Compared to former President Obama, Trump’s nominees are significantly less diverse. Only 37 percent of judges confirmed under Obama were white men and nearly 42 percent were women.

Trump has touted his judicial nominations as a top accomplishment of his presidency, and is tasked with filling more than 100 court vacancies nationwide. 

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Many of Trump’s judicial picks have been under scrutiny for lack of experience; four of his nominees have been deemed “not qualified” by the American Bar Association.

White House spokesman Hogan Gidley told the AP that prioritizing diversity in judicial nominees would be a “political agenda.”

“The president has delivered on his promise to nominate the best, most-qualified judges,” Gidley said. “While past presidents may have chosen to nominate activist judges with a political agenda and a history of legislating from the bench, President Trump has nominated outstanding originalist judges who respect the U.S. Constitution.”