Joe Biden Judicial Appointment Controversies

President Joe Biden began his presidency with fewer vacancies to fill than his predecessor. He pledged to nominate people with diverse backgrounds and professional experience, and also pledged to nominate the first Black woman to the Supreme Court of the United States.

By the end of 2021, 41 judges had been confirmed, the most since Ronald Reagan. By the end of his first year in office, Biden had nominated 73 individuals for federal judgeships, one more than president Donald Trump during the same point in his presidency.

List of unsuccessful federal judicial nominations

As of May 30, 2023, Biden had made 5 nominations for federal judgeships that were not confirmed by the Senate and were not pending before the Senate. Of these, 2 were withdrawn by President Biden and 3 expired at an adjournment of the Senate.

Supreme Court

Confirmed nominee

Supreme Court of the United States

*Ketanji Brown Jackson (of Washington, D.C.): On February 25, 2022, President Joe Biden announced that he would nominate Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to succeed Stephen Breyer as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. At the time of her pending nomination, Jackson was a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, to which she was appointed by Biden in 2021. On February 28, 2022, her nomination was sent to the Senate. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell characterized Jackson as "the favored choice of far-left dark money groups that have spent years attacking the legitimacy and structure of the court itself". The Republican National Committee called Jackson "a radical, left-wing activist who would rubber stamp Biden’s disastrous agenda". Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who had previously voted in favor of Jackson's confirmation to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, stated that the nomination "means the radical Left has won President Biden over yet again". Her confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee opened on March 21. After the Judiciary Committee deadlocked in an 11–11 vote, her nomination was advanced on April 4 by a 53–47 procedural vote in the Senate. She was subsequently confirmed by the same margin on April 7, 2022.

Appellate nominees

Confirmed nominees

United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

*Julie Rikelman (of Massachusetts): On July 29, 2022, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Rikelman to serve as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. On August 1, 2022, her nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Rikelman to the seat vacated by Judge Sandra Lynch, who announced her intent to assume senior status upon confirmation of a successor. Rikelman was unanimously rated "well qualified" for the judgeship by the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary. On September 21, 2022, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. During her confirmation hearing, she was questioned by several Republican senators over her outspoken advocacy for abortion. Rikelman was also questioned about a law review article she authored discussing appellate decisions permitting mandatory blood collection for DNA testing under the Fourth Amendment, arguing that such mandatory collection was prohibited by the U.S. Constitution. On December 1, 2022, her nomination was deadlocked by the Judiciary Committee by an 11–11 vote. On January 3, 2023, her nomination was returned to the president; she was renominated later the same day. On February 9, 2023, her nomination was reported out of committee by an 11–10 vote. On June 15, 2023, the Senate invoked cloture on Rikelman’s nomination by a 53–45 vote. Senator Joe Manchin supports her nomination because he said that she defends Roe v. Wade and is committed to follow all Supreme Court precedents. On June 20, 2023, her nomination was confirmed by a 51–43 vote.

United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

*Eunice C. Lee (of New York): On May 12, 2021, President Biden nominated Lee to serve as a United States circuit judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to the seat vacated by Judge Robert Katzmann, who assumed senior status on January 21, 2021. On June 9, 2021, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. During her confirmation hearing in 2021, she distanced herself from the contents of a letter she wrote as an Ohio State undergrad in 1991, which talks about Thomas being a "black conservative." On July 15, 2021, her nomination was reported out of committee by a 11–10 vote with Senator Lindsey Graham passed on the vote. On August 5, 2021, the Senate invoked cloture on Lee’s nomination by a 50–49 vote, with Senator Graham absent. On August 7, 2021, her nomination was confirmed by a 50–47 vote.

United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

* Arianna J. Freeman (of Pennsylvania): On January 19, 2022, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Freeman to serve as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. President Biden nominated Freeman to the seat vacated by Judge Theodore McKee, who on July 29, 2021, notified the White House that he intended to assume senior status upon confirmation of his successor. On January 28, 2022, following Justice Stephen Breyer's announcement of his intention to retire as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, Freeman was mentioned as one of the potential nominees for a Supreme Court appointment by President Joe Biden. On March 2, 2022, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. During her confirmation hearing, Republican senators criticized her work as a public defender. On April 4, 2022, the committee were deadlocked on her nomination by an 11–11 vote. On June 22, 2022, the Senate discharged her nomination from committee by a 50–48 vote. On September 12, 2022, the United States Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 45–44 vote. On September 13, 2022, the Senate did not confirm her nomination by a 47–50 vote. On September 29, 2022, her nomination was confirmed by a 50-47 vote.

United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

* Rachel Bloomekatz (of Ohio): On May 25, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Bloomekatz to serve as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. President Biden nominated Bloomekatz to the seat to be vacated by Judge R. Guy Cole Jr., who announced his intent to assume senior status upon confirmation of a successor. A hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 22, 2022. During her confirmation hearing, Republican senators questioned her about gun control cases and the pro bono work that she had been involved with. On August 4, 2022, the Senate Judiciary Committee was deadlocked on her nomination by a 10–10–2 vote. On January 3, 2023, her nomination was returned to the president; she was renominated later the same day. On February 9, 2023, her nomination was reported out of committee by an 11–10 vote. On July 13, 2023, the Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 50–45 vote, with Senator Joe Manchin voting against the motion to invoke cloture on her nomination. On July 18, 2023, her nomination was confirmed by a 50–48 vote, with Senator Joe Manchin voting against confirmation of her nomination.

*Andre Mathis (of Tennessee): On November 17, 2021, President Biden announced his intent to nominate Mathis to serve as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; his nomination was sent to the Senate the following day. President Biden nominated Mathis to the seat vacated by Judge Bernice B. Donald, who announced her intent to assume senior status upon confirmation of her successor. On January 3, 2022, his nomination was returned to the president; he was renominated later the same day. On January 12, 2022, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. During the hearing, Senator Marsha Blackburn said she had "serious concerns" about Mathis' experience and referenced his "rap sheet" due in part to three previous speeding tickets. She stated, "He has a rap sheet with a laundry list of citations, including multiple failures to appear in court. In Tennessee, we expect our judges to respect the law. If Mr. Mathis thought he was above the law before, imagine how he'll conduct himself if he's confirmed as a federal judge." Blackburn and fellow senator Bill Hagerty recommended an alternative pick, Camille McMullen, a Democratic appointee to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals who is also Black. On February 10, 2022, his nomination was reported favorably out of committee in a 12-10 vote. On September 7, 2022, the United States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 48–45 vote. On September 8, 2022, the Senate confirmed his nomination by a 48–47 vote.

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

*Lucy Koh (of California): On September 8, 2021, President Biden announced his intention to renominate Koh to be a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. On September 20, 2021, her nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Koh to the seat to be vacated by Judge Richard Paez, who announced his intent to assume senior status upon confirmation of a successor. On October 6, 2021, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. During her hearing, Koh was criticized by Republicans senators for her decisions related to religious rights during the COVID-19 pandemic. On October 28, 2021, her nomination was reported out of committee by a 13–9 vote. On December 9, 2021, the U.S. Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 51–38 vote. On December 13, 2021, Koh was confirmed by a 50–45 vote.

* Anthony Johnstone (of Montana): On September 2, 2022, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Johnstone to serve as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. On September 6, 2022, his nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden will nominate Johnstone to the seat to be vacated by Judge Sidney R. Thomas, who announced his intent to assume senior status upon confirmation of a successor. Senator Steven Daines of Montana opposed the nomination, claiming that Johnstone was too political and partisan to be a judge and claiming the White House had not adequately consulted him on the nomination. On October 12, 2022, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. He was sharply questioned about his views on election integrity and religious freedom issues. On December 1, 2022, his nomination was reported out of committee by an 11–10 vote, with Senator Lindsey Graham passing on the vote. On January 3, 2023, his nomination was returned to the president; he was renominated later the same day. On February 2, 2023, the committee were deadlocked on his nomination by a 10–10 vote, which means that her nomination cannot be advanced on a deadlocked vote without the decisive vote to move forward. On February 9, 2023, his nomination was reported out of committee by an 11–10 vote. On April 27, 2023, the Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 50–45 vote. On May 1, 2023, his nomination was confirmed by a 49–45 vote.
* Jennifer Sung (of Oregon): On June 30, 2021, President Biden announced his intent to nominate Sung to serve as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. On July 13, 2021, her nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Sung to the seat to be vacated by Judge Susan P. Graber, who announced her intent to assume senior status upon confirmation of a successor. On September 14, 2021, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. During the hearing, Senators questioned her about her decision to sign a letter regarding Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. The letter accused Kavanaugh of being an "intellectually and morally bankrupt ideologue" and claimed that "people will die if he is confirmed". Sung said she recognized that much of the letter's rhetoric "was overheated," but she did not disavow the letter or say "whether she thought Kavanaugh was indeed 'intellectually and morally bankrupt.'" The Senate Judiciary Committee was deadlocked by a 10–10 vote. On November 3, 2021, the Senate discharged Sung's nomination from committee by a 49–49 vote, with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking the tie. On December 9, 2021, the U.S. Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 48–39 vote. On December 15, 2021, her nomination was confirmed by a 50–49 vote.

United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

* Nancy Abudu (of Georgia): On December 23, 2021, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Abudu to serve as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. On January 10, 2022, her nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Abudu to the seat vacated by Judge Beverly B. Martin, who retired on September 30, 2021. On April 27, 2022, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Her nomination attracted intense Republican opposition due to Abudu's work for the Southern Poverty Law Center, which has labeled some of the Judiciary Committee's Republican members as "white supremacists". On May 26, 2022, the Judiciary Committee were deadlocked on her nomination by an 11–11 vote. On January 3, 2023, her nomination was returned to the president; she was renominated later the same day. On February 9, 2023, her nomination was reported out of committee by an 11–10 vote. Abudu did not receive any Republican support in the committee vote because Republicans questioned whether her advocacy work would prevent her from being impartial on the bench. On May 17, 2023, the Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 50–48 vote, with Senator Joe Manchin voting against the motion to invoke cloture of Abudu’s nomination. It was the first time that Senator Manchin opposed a judicial pick. On May 18, 2023, her nomination was confirmed by a 49–47 vote, with Senator Joe Manchin being the only Democrat to vote against her confirmation. Senator Manchin's no vote was the first time any Democrat has opposed one of President Biden's judicial nominees on the Senate floor.

Failed nominees

United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

* Michael Delaney (of New Hampshire): On January 31, 2023, President Joe Biden nominated Delaney to serve as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. He was nominated to the seat vacated by Judge Jeffrey R. Howard, who assumed senior status on March 31, 2022. On February 15, 2023, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. During the hearing, Delaney received criticism from senators regarding his authoring and filing of a motion seeking to strip a minor female rape victim of anonymity as part of representation of a New Hampshire private school. The allegations were made by the victim of the 2015 assault in a letter to the panel. The victim also wrote an opinion editorial in ''The Boston Globe'' saying Delaney "doesn't deserve to be a judge" and that supporting his nomination is equivalent to condoning "what Delaney and St. Paul's School put me and my family through." Owen Labrie was 18 years old at the time he was accused of raping the then 15-year-old student. Some Democrats had concerns about his nomination over his handling of the case. Other Democrats and groups have expressed concern over a legal brief that defends a law related to abortion. On May 3, 2023, it was reported that since 2018, Delaney has been a board member of the New England Legal Foundation as well as on the their legal review committee. This foundation has opposed some of President Biden's positions on climate change, consumer protection, and labor rights. On May 18, 2023, Delaney asked that his nomination be withdrawn because of the bipartisan opposition. On May 30, 2023, the White House officially withdrew his nomination.

District court nominees

United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts

* Margaret R. Guzman: On July 13, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Guzman to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. President Biden nominated Guzman to the seat vacated by Judge Timothy S. Hillman, who assumed senior status on July 1, 2022. On September 21, 2022, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Conservatives and law enforcement attacked the nomination, claiming that she is reflexively pro-criminal defendant and pointing out that Guzman had acquitted all 149 defendants who appeared before her in bench trials on drunk driving charges while serving as a judge on Dudley District Court. On December 1, 2022, her nomination was reported out of committee by a 12–10 vote. On January 3, 2023, her nomination was returned to the president; she was renominated later the same day. On February 2, 2023, her nomination was reported out of committee by an 11–9 vote. On February 28, 2023, the Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 49–48 vote, with the Vice President Kamala Harris voting for the affirmative. On March 1, 2023, her nomination was confirmed by a 49–48 vote, with the vice president casting the tie breaking vote.

United States District Court for the District of Nevada

* Anne Traum: On November 3, 2021, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Traum to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nevada. On December 15, 2021, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The confirmation hearings were particularly contentious when questioned by Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana. He asked nine separate times whether criminal misbehavior should be forgiven in the name of social justice without receiving a direct yes or no response. On January 3, 2022, her nomination was returned to the president; she was later renominated the same day. On January 20, 2022, her nomination was reported out of committee by a 12–10 vote. On March 16, 2022, the United States Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 52–45 vote. On March 23, 2022, her nomination was confirmed by a 49–47 vote.

United States District Court for the District of New Jersey

* Christine O'Hearn: On April 29, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated O'Hearn to serve as a United States district judge for the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey to the seat vacated by Judge Robert B. Kugler, who assumed senior status on November 2, 2018. On June 23, 2021, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Progressive magazine ''The American Prospect'' critiqued O'Hearn's nomination, saying she had "fought against workplace sexual harassment cases, defended police departments, and represented management during union drives." On July 22, 2021, her nomination was reported out of committee by a 12–10 vote. On October 19, 2021, the Senate confirmed her nomination by a 53–44 vote.
* Karen M. Williams: On March 30, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Williams to serve as a United States district judge for the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey to the seat vacated by Judge Jerome B. Simandle, who assumed senior status on May 31, 2017. Progressive magazine ''The American Prospect'' criticized Williams' nomination, saying "Williams spent many years as a management-side labor and employment attorney, even arguing cases against workplace sexual harassment claims, a troubling background to those hoping for judicial appointments that might defend workers." On July 14, 2021, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. On August 5, 2021, her nomination was reported out of committee by a 16–6 vote. On October 26, 2021, the United States Senate confirmed her nomination by a 56–38 vote.

United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York

*Nusrat Jahan Choudhury: On January 19, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Choudhury to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. President Biden nominated Choudhury to the seat vacated by Judge Joseph F. Bianco, who was elevated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on May 17, 2019. A longtime lawyer for the ACLU, she immediately generated conservative objections. On April 27, 2022, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. During her confirmation hearing, she was asked whether she had said "the killing of unarmed Black men by police happens every day in America." Choudhury at first testified she was not sure she made that statement but then said she "said it in my role as an advocate." Her testimony caused several law enforcement groups, including the Fraternal Order of Police and the Sergeants Benevolent Association, to oppose her nomination. Two weeks after her hearing, Choudhury sent a letter to the Judiciary Committee denying that she had made the statement. Republicans on the Judiciary Committee requested a second hearing due to Choudhury's contradictory statements, but Senator Dick Durbin rejected the request for a second hearing. On May 26, 2022, her nomination was reported out of the committee by a 12–10 vote. On January 3, 2023, her nomination was returned to the president; she was renominated later the same day. On February 9, 2023, her nomination was reported out of committee by an 11–10 vote. On June 14, 2023, the Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 50–47 vote. On June 15, 2023, her nomination was confirmed by a 50–49 vote, with Senator Joe Manchin voting against confirmation because her “previous statements call into question her ability to be unbiased towards the work of our brave law enforcement.”

United States District Court for the Southern District of New York

* Jennifer H. Rearden: On May 4, 2020, President Donald Trump nominated her to a seat on the same court as part of a bipartisan package of nominees. She was renominated On January 19, 2022 by President Joe Biden to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Rearden's nomination was criticized by Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, who brought up Rearden's controversial role in the prosecution of Steven Donziger. Rearden represented Chevron in its countersuit against Donziger, an environmental lawyer who brought a class action case against Chevron related to environmental damage and health effects caused by oil drilling. On March 2, 2022, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. On April 4, 2022, her nomination was reported out of committee by a 22–0 vote, which marked the only time to date that certain Republican senators voted for a Biden judicial nominee (namely Cruz, Lee, Cotton, Hawley and Blackburn). On September 8, 2022, the United States Senate confirmed her nomination by a voice vote. After the Senate confirmed her nomination, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren announced that she would have voted against her nomination if the Senate proceeded to a roll call vote on Rearden's nomination.
* Dale Ho: On September 30, 2021, President Biden nominated Ho to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, to the seat vacated by Judge Katherine B. Forrest, who resigned on September 11, 2018. On December 1, 2021, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. During his confirmation hearing, Ho apologized for his "overheated rhetoric" on social media, which included past tweets critical of three Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Marsha Blackburn, Mike Lee, and Tom Cotton. He was questioned by senators over a tweet in which he appeared to refer to himself as a "wild-eyed sort of leftist"; he explained that he was "referring to a caricature of the way other people may have described me, not how I would describe myself." A resurfaced video from 2018 showed Ho calling the U.S. Senate and the Electoral College "undemocratic" and arguing that voting should be made easier and that people with criminal convictions should not lose the right to vote. The conservative Judicial Crisis Network launched a $300,000 television ad campaign against Ho (the group's first TV campaign against a Biden judicial nominee); in response, progressive group Demand Justice launched a six-figure ad campaign in support of Ho. On January 3, 2022, his nomination was returned to the president; he was later renominated the same day. On January 20, 2022, his nomination was deadlocked by an 11–11 vote. On January 3, 2023, his nomination was once again returned to the president and he was renominated later the same day. On February 9, 2023, his nomination was reported out of committee by an 11–10 vote. On June 1, 2023, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer filed a cloture motion on his nomination, but on June 7, 2023, it was withdrawn because of attendance issues. On June 14, 2023, the Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 50–49 vote. Senator Joe Manchin was the only Democrat to vote against the motion to invoke cloture and the confirmation of Ho's nomination. Later that same day, his nomination was confirmed by a 50–49 vote. Ho is only the second ACLU lawyer to be confirmed directly to the federal bench as an Article III judge after Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

United States District Court for the Western District of Washington

* John H. Chun: On September 30, 2021, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Chun to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. President Biden nominated Chun to the seat vacated by Judge James Robart, who assumed senior status on June 28, 2016. Chun was attacked for his stance on Grutter v. Bollinger when he supported the right of universities to practice affirmative action and the utilization of race in regards to admissions and rejections. On November 17, 2021, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. On December 16, 2021, his nomination was reported out of committee. On January 3, 2022, his nomination was returned to the president; he was later renominated the same day. On January 20, 2022, his nomination was reported out of committee by a 12–10 vote. On March 16, 2022, the Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 50–45 vote. On March 23, 2022, his nomination was confirmed by a 49–47 vote.

Stalled nominees

United States District Court for the District of Colorado

* Kato Crews: On February 22, 2023, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Crews to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado. On February 27, 2023, his nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Crews to a seat to be vacated by Judge Raymond P. Moore, who will assume senior status on June 20, 2023. Crews is only the third magistrate judge to be nominated for a district court vacancy in Colorado. On March 22, 2023, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. During his confirmation hearing, he was unable to answer a question by Senator Kennedy, in which he asked him what is The Brady Motion. His answers made some national news and some senators claimed that Crews didn't have the requisite knowledge to be a federal judge. On May 11, 2023, his nomination was reported out of committee by an 11–10 vote. His nomination is pending before the United States Senate.

United States District Court for the District of Columbia

* Todd E. Edelman: On July 29, 2022, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Edelman to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. On September 27, 2022, his nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Edelman to the seat vacated by Judge Florence Y. Pan, who was elevated to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. On November 15, 2022, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Republicans fiercely criticized Edelman as pro-criminal and anti public safety. In particular, they attacked his handling of the trial of Christian Wingfield. Edelman released Wingfield before trial with an ankle monitor. Shortly after his release, Wingfield was involved in the murder of a 10-year-old boy at a July 4, 2020 cookout. "A child is dead because Judge Edelman didn’t do his job, and now he wants a promotion," said Senator Marsha Blackburn after the hearing. Senator Tom Cotton remarked, "Crime in DC and around the country is skyrocketing, no thanks to lenient, liberal judges like Judge Edelman." On January 3, 2023, his nomination was returned to the president. He was renominated on January 23, 2023. On February 9, 2023, his nomination was reported out of committee by an 11–10 vote. His nomination is pending before the United States Senate.

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

* Brandy R. McMillion: On June 28, 2023, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate McMillion to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Her nomination generated controversy due to her prosecution of Dr. Raj Bothra and three other doctors. The defendants spent 43 months in jail awaiting trial, but were acquitted of all charges in 2022. This lead some to accuse McMillion and her team of botching the case and perhaps of malicious prosecution. On July 11, 2023, her nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated McMillion to the seat vacated by Judge Gershwin A. Drain, who assumed senior status on August 13, 2022.

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington

*Charnelle Bjelkengren: On September 2, 2022, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Spokane County Superior Court Judge Bjelkengren to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. On September 19, 2022, his nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Bjelkengren to the seat vacated by Judge Salvador Mendoza Jr., who was elevated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on September 16, 2022. On January 3, 2023, her nomination was returned to the president. She was renominated on January 23, 2023. On January 25, 2023, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. During her confirmation hearing, Bjelkengren could not answer questions from Senator John Kennedy about the functions of Article V and II of the United States Constitution and if she knew what purposivism was. On May 11, 2023, her nomination was reported out of committee by an 11–10 vote. Her nomination is pending before the United States Senate.

United States District Court for the Southern District of California

*Marian Gaston: On December 21, 2022, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Gaston to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. On January 23, 2023, her nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Gaston to the seat vacated by Judge William Q. Hayes, who assumed senior status on August 1, 2021. A former public defender, Gaston was accused of having a pro-criminal and anti public safety bias who would reflexively favor criminal defendants. A paper she co-authored in 2007 expressed the opinion that registered sex offenders should not be subject to residency restrictions and should be allowed to live near churches, schools, and day care centers. Senator Alex Padilla and other Democrats accused Gaston's critics of misconstruing Gaston's record. On February 15, 2023, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. On May 11, 2023, her nomination was reported out of committee by an 11–10 vote. Her nomination is pending before the United States Senate.

United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi

* Scott Colom: On November 15, 2022, President Biden nominated Colom to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi. Colom received the support from Senator Roger Wicker, but on April 4, 2023, Mississippi's other senator, Cindy Hyde-Smith, announced she would not support it. In a public statement, Hyde-Smith cited Colom's support for letting transgender students participate in girls' and women's sports and cited campaign support that Colom received from controversial billionaire George Soros.

Failed nominees

United States District Court for the District of Kansas

*Jabari Wamble: On February 22, 2023, President Biden announced his intent to nominate Wamble to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. On February 27, 2023, his nomination was sent to the Senate. Biden nominated Wamble to the seat vacated by Judge Julie A. Robinson, who assumed senior status on January 14, 2022. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall withheld their support of Wamble's nomination because of a lack of clarity over who would succeed to the seat at the Tenth Circuit. On May 23, 2023, Wamble asked that the Biden administration withdraw his nomination. There were fears that the American Bar Association would rate him "not qualified." The U.S. Attorney's office in Kansas was held in contempt of court for failing to cooperate with an investigation in which prosecutors accessed confidential phone calls between attorneys and clients at Leavenworth Detention Center. Wamble was involved in the case and reportedly offered conflicting statements regarding how he handled one of the recordings, resulting in criticism of Wamble. On May 30, 2023, the White House officially withdrew his nomination.

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

*William Pocan: On December 15, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Pocan to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Biden nominated Pocan to the seat vacated by Judge William C. Griesbach, who assumed senior status on December 31, 2019. On February 15, 2022, U.S. senator Ron Johnson announced he would withhold his blue slip, effectively blocking Pocan from receiving a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee, complaining that the Court's Duty Station is in Green Bay while Pocan is from Milwaukee. On January 3, 2023, his nomination was returned to the president.

United States District Court for the Northern District of New York

*Jorge Alberto Rodriguez: On July 13, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Rodriguez to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York. President Biden nominated Rodriguez to the seat vacated by Judge David N. Hurd, who would assume senior status upon confirmation of a successor. The day after President Biden nominated Rodriguez of Clifton Park, an Albany-based assistant attorney general, Hurd wrote another letter to President Biden. In the letter, Hurd wrote "Please be advised that I immediately rescind my decision to take senior status as a United States District Judge for the Northern District of New York. I will take senior status if a confirmed successor lives in this area and is permanently assigned to the United States Courthouse in Utica, New York. Otherwise, I shall remain on full-time active status until I retire or die." On August 8, 2022, Kirsten Gillibrand's chief of staff Jess Fassler said "It has always been the expectation that Judge Hurd's successor would sit in the Utica courthouse, and Jorge Rodriguez has committed to doing so." On August 10, 2022, Judge Hurd wrote a letter to Biden to officially rescind his senior status and remain in active service. On January 3, 2023, his nomination was returned to the president.

See also

* List of federal judges appointed by Joe Biden
* Joe Biden Supreme Court candidates
* United States federal judge
* Judicial appointment history for United States federal courts
* Deaths of United States federal judges in active service

References

Notes

;Discharge Votes

;Cloture Votes

;Confirmation Votes

{{U.S. Presidents and the Judiciary

Biden, Joe

Judicial appointments