Senate Democrats have confirmed their 235th judicial nominee under President Joe Biden, surpassing the 234 confirmations during President Donald Trump’s first term. This milestone reflects Biden’s significant impact on the federal judiciary, with roughly a quarter of its judges now appointed during his administration.
Democrats prioritize filling judicial vacancies in blue states like California, New York, and Illinois to prevent an overrepresentation of conservative judges. They view this as crucial to preserving structural balance and countering Republican judicial picks, especially at the district court level, which often rules first on federal policy challenges.
Biden's administration leaves just 36 current and 11 future federal court vacancies, a stark contrast to the 112 vacancies Trump inherited. Republicans, however, anticipate the opportunity to fill seats in red states like Texas and Florida during Trump's second term, should he win re-election. Meanwhile, Biden has vetoed a bill proposing 66 additional district court judgeships, which had passed the House after the 2024 election, signaling continued contention over the federal judiciary's composition.