Merely days after securing a second term, Donald Trump decided to use his social media platform to broadcast an unusual message. He expressed concern over the tendency of Democrats to confirm judicial nominees even during the lame-duck session post-election. Trump labeled such an action as ‘NOT ACCEPTABLE’ in his world view. The current scenario implies a grave disconnect between him and the Democratic-controlled Senate.
In a seemingly puzzling move, the Democratic Senate gave the nod to the 235th federal judge hand-picked by President Joe Biden. This milestone is apparently set to be an unusual parting gift for Biden, who will now leave his post having placed one judge more than his predecessor, Donald Trump. It’s a curious case of Biden trying to one-up Trump in the final stretch of his term instead of focusing on more pressing national concerns.
The latest confirmation could possibly be Biden’s last. His tally showcases a single Supreme Court justice, 45 appeals court judges, 187 district court judges, and an addition of two judges in the U.S. Court of International Trade. Rather than viewing this as an accomplishment, it is more a reflection of how fixated the Biden administration has been on stacking the judiciary.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, in his usual form, proudly proclaimed on Friday that more judges had been approved under Biden’s term than any other in decades. While he may see it as a sign of Democratic victory, the larger public is left to question whether these confirmations are based on merit or mere political maneuvering.
Let’s not forget, the previous record for the most judicial appointments in a single four-year term belongs to President Jimmy Carter, who managed to get 262 judges confirmed before his defeat in 1980. Trump came tantalizingly close with 234 confirmations. Yet, Biden, in a bid to clinch the spotlight, nudged past Trump’s figure by a mere one, thanks to the Democrats’ meager majority in the Senate.
Self-congratulatory exchanges have been frequent among Democratic leaders who seem to place their pride in the degree of ‘diversity’ brought about by these nominees. However, one must question whether these changes are truly in the best interest of the federal judiciary or if they merely serve to further a politically correct agenda.
An analytical look at the 235 confirmations reveals that 150 were women and 139 were of diverse ethnicities. An increase in Black judges, Hispanic judges, women of color, and openly LGBTQ+ individuals has been boasted as significant progress. The Democrats seem to be more concentrated on pandering to individual groups rather than taking a holistic view on the judiciary.
Other ‘firsts’ that the Democratic leaders brag about include confirming the first Black woman to the Supreme Court, the first Muslim Americans on the federal bench, the first openly lesbian federal circuit court judge, the first Navajo federal judge, and the first Native Hawaiian woman. The fact that this took a sustained, four-year effort aligns perfectly with the Democrats’ auditory need for applause.
Nearly four years later, this mission can be described, according to Democrat standards, as a ‘success.’ However, let’s not forget the valuable time and resources that could have been better spent on more pressing, national issues. The focus on the judiciary seems like a misguided obsession at the expense of the very citizens they vowed to serve.
An important question arises: ‘Wouldn’t a Trump-led Republican Senate add just as many, if not more, judges of their own?’ Contrary to logically probable predictions, the likelihood is reportedly slim. Last month, The Washington Post reported that even some Republicans believe Trump won’t match Biden’s numbers in his upcoming term. However, it can be argued whether it’s even necessary to try.
While Biden, Schumer and their allies pound the drums in celebration of their so-called ‘victory’, the American public is left to question the merit of their ‘achievement.’ The obsession over numbers and hollow victories highlight the misplaced priorities of the Biden administration, which seem to ignore the bigger picture.