On August 1, 2024, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced two of President Biden's nominees for U.S. appeals court vacancies to a full Senate vote. The committee's decision, split along party lines with an 11-10 vote, moves forward the nominations of Julia Lipez for the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and Karla Campbell for the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
This development is part of a broader initiative by the Biden administration to reshape the federal judiciary. As of the committee's vote, the Senate has confirmed 205 of Biden's judicial nominees, including 43 appointments to the nation's 13 federal appeals courts. The President's focus on appointing women and minorities aims to increase diversity on the bench.
Karla Campbell, a labor lawyer specializing in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), brings extensive experience to her nomination. ERISA, enacted in 1974, plays a crucial role in protecting employee benefit rights. Campbell's background includes clerking for Judge Jane Stranch of the Sixth Circuit, which covers Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee.
Julia Lipez, serving on the Maine Superior Court bench since 2022, brings a background in prosecution to her nomination for the 1st Circuit, which oversees cases from Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Puerto Rico, and Rhode Island. Her work on cases involving sexual assault and domestic violence has garnered support from survivor advocacy groups.
The nominations have not been without controversy. Senator Marsha Blackburn criticized the selection of Campbell, citing opposition from Tennessee's senate delegation. In response, Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin pointed out that Republicans had previously eliminated a process giving home-state senators more influence in judicial nominations, known as the "blue slip" process.
"Karla Campbell is a highly experienced trial attorney and appellate practitioner."
The committee also advanced nominations for several district court positions, including seats in Pennsylvania, Vermont, Minnesota, and California. These courts, some of the oldest in the nation, play vital roles in the federal judiciary system.
As the nominations move to the full Senate, they reflect the ongoing transformation of the federal bench. With women currently making up about 34% of active federal judges, and the potential for the first Muslim American federal appeals court judge, these nominations represent a significant step in diversifying the judiciary.
The confirmation process for federal judges, who are appointed for life terms, underscores the long-lasting impact of these nominations on the American legal landscape. As the Senate prepares for the final votes, the outcome will shape the composition of the federal courts for years to come.