Biden celebrates ‘important milestone’ after Senate confirms his 150th federal judge

President Biden on Tuesday took a victory lap after the Senate confirmed his 150th judicial nominee since he took office, a significant milestone as the White House seeks to put its stamp on the judiciary.

Biden in a statement called it “one of the great responsibilities” for a president to appoint federal judges.

“They oversee cases in which workers fight for safe conditions. They ensure trials are fair and efficient, helping our criminal justice system function. And they issue rulings on fundamental rights — from the right to vote to women’s reproductive rights,” Biden said.

“Today, we reached an important milestone — the confirmation of 150 life-tenured federal judges since I took office,” he added.

The Senate on Tuesday voted to confirm Kenly Kiya Kato as a district court judge in California and Julia Kobick as a district court judge in Massachusetts. As a result, the Senate has confirmed 113 district court judges nominated by Biden, 36 appeals court judges and one Supreme Court justice.

The White House has stressed the diversity of his nominees for the federal bench, both in terms of gender and race as well as professional background. Two-thirds of Biden’s confirmed nominees have been women, and nearly two-thirds are people of color, he said. He has nominated public defenders, civil rights lawyers, labor attorneys and others.

And he nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson, who last year became the first Black woman to be confirmed to the Supreme Court.

“We have more work to do, and I am committed to filling every judicial vacancy with appointees whose credentials, ability, and impartiality are beyond question,” Biden said in a statement. “I extend my sincere thanks to [Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)], [Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)], and the Senators on both sides of the aisle who have worked in good faith to help achieve this milestone.”