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Floor Speech
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Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, this is an amazing moment in the history of the Senate and of all Senates because in just a few moments, the Senate will confirm Angela Martinez to be a district judge for the District of Arizona. Judge Martinez will be the 200th Federal judge under the Biden administration and this Democratic majority. Reaching 200 judges is a major milestone.
Simply put, our 200 judges comprise the most diverse slate of judicial nominations under any President in American history. Our Federal judiciary is now far more balanced, far more diverse, far more experienced than it was just a few years before President Biden took office.
I am so proud of the 200 judges. Mr. President, 127 are women, and 125 are people of color. That is a majority of the judges--more than a majority. Over 60 percent are women. Two-thirds women, two-thirds people of color; 58 Black judges, 37 Black women judges--each a record; 36 Hispanic judges, 33 Asian American Pacific Island judges--also a record. It is amazing.
Also, there is not just demographic diversity but professional diversity. It is not just a lot of White male partners in big fancy law firms anymore; it is people who are public defenders, civil rights lawyers, labor lawyers, immigration lawyers, consumer lawyers. We have so much greater diversity on the bench, and that is so good for America because the bench, the powerful Federal judiciary filled with lifetime appointments, should reflect America. It has taken too long to get to this point. We still have more ground to make up, but we are getting there, and we are so proud of it. And, of course, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Ever since I have gotten on the Judiciary Committee, it has been my goal to diversify the bench. The judges I have chosen in New York have been like that for over two decades. But now, under the Biden administration and under the great leadership of Chairman Durbin and his Judiciary Committee, we have really moved forward.
I want to give special consideration--because she works full time on this--to my nominations director--we work so closely with the White House--and that is Catalina Tam, who has been so important and so dedicated behind the scenes in getting these judges confirmed.
This is a really fine day for America. When you look at all the trouble and all the things swirling around, and then you realize so many fine people who never would have even had access to the Federal bench are getting on the bench, it gives you faith in the future of this great country.
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