- The Washington Times - Thursday, November 14, 2024

A progressive advocacy group is pressuring Senate Democrats to confirm as many of President Biden’s judicial nominees as they can in the next seven weeks before the new Republican majority takes over in January along with President-elect Donald Trump.

“Senate Democrats must do #WhateverItTakes to confirm Biden’s judicial nominees during the lame duck period. This might be our last chance to confirm fair-minded judges,” Demand Justice, a left-wing judicial advocacy group, posted on X. “As Vice President Harris said, ‘This is a time to roll up our sleeves.’”

There are currently five Circuit Court picks and 24 district court nominees awaiting Senate confirmation votes for Article III appointments. In January, Republicans will have a 53-47 majority.

“Senate Democrats cannot give up and go home just because they lost the chamber,” Skye Perryman, a senior adviser to Demand Justice, told The Associated Press. “It is even more critical now that good, qualified, fair-minded judges are confirmed so they can serve as a backstop and uphold the rights of ordinary people and protect our Constitution.”

Demand Justice’s push will include ads and lobbying, AP reported.

Mr. Biden has thus far won the confirmations of one Supreme Court justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson; 44 circuit court and 166 district court judges during his four years in office.

By comparison, during his first administration, Mr. Trump appointed three Supreme Court justices, 54 circuit court judges and 174 district court jurists.

The impact of Mr. Trump’s Supreme Court appointments was far-reaching, creating a solid conservative majority that overturned the Roe v. Wade abortion precedent in 2022.

It’s possible Mr. Trump could have more appointments to the high court in his next administration.

Justice Clarence Thomas is the oldest Supreme Court justice at age 74, followed by Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. at 72. Both are GOP appointees.

Justice Thomas is also the longest-serving of the current justices, having served on the bench for more than 32 years.

• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.

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