Dear Senate, Confirm Judges
ACS has a singular message for the Senate: Prioritize judges during the lame duck session.
That means confirming 30 judicial nominees before the 117th Congress concludes at the end of the year.
Is 30 ambitious? Yes. Is it doable? Absolutely.
As of Wednesday, October 19, 2022, the Senate has confirmed 84 nominees since President Biden took the oath of office. Awaiting the Senate when it returns in November are:
- 21 nominees awaiting floor votes
- 4 nominees awaiting discharge papers from the Senate Judiciary Committee
- 12 nominees awaiting votes in the SJC
- 20 nominees awaiting confirmation hearings before SJC
Every week brings further evidence of the enormous impact that judges are having in shaping the legal landscape of our lives. From the disastrous management of the Mar-a-Lago case by Judge Cannon to the vindication of abortion rights by judges who have at least temporarily halted draconian state abortion bans. What this dichotomy underscores is the imperative of having diverse, qualified judges who will uphold the rule of law, safeguard democracy, and vindicate our civil rights. That’s whom President Biden has nominated, and whom the Senate must confirm.
The Senate must prioritize judges. And to prioritize judges during the 2022 lame duck session, the Senate must confirm 30 judicial nominees.
