President Joe Biden leaves the White House with 228 federal judicial appointments, narrowly surpassing the 226 judges appointed by Donald Trump in his first term. Biden’s appointments stand out for their historic diversity, with record numbers of women and racial or ethnic minorities joining the federal bench.
Biden’s total includes 187 district court judges, 45 appeals court judges, and one Supreme Court justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the nation’s highest court. While he appointed more district court judges than Trump (174), Biden appointed fewer appeals court judges (54 under Trump) and fewer Supreme Court justices (Trump appointed three).
Biden’s appointments mark a milestone in advancing diversity in the judiciary. Sixty percent of his appointees are Black, Hispanic, Asian, or part of another racial or ethnic minority group – the highest percentage of any president. This includes 85 women of color, far exceeding previous administrations. By comparison, 5% of Trump’s appointees were women of color.
Additionally, Biden named 144 women to the federal bench, representing 63% of his total appointments. This is the highest share of female appointees by any president, surpassing Barack Obama’s record of 42%.
“Biden’s judicial appointments reflect a concerted effort to make the federal judiciary more representative of the nation,” analysts note, citing his focus on appointing judges with diverse professional and personal backgrounds.
Biden’s influence is significant in shaping the current judiciary. His appointees now comprise 27% of all active federal judges, including 28% of district court judges and 25% of appeals court judges.
The report highlights a broader trend of increasing diversity in judicial appointments under Democratic administrations. However, Republicans continue to dominate the Supreme Court, holding a 6-3 majority.
As Biden’s presidency concludes, his judicial legacy is seen as a significant step toward inclusivity and representation in the federal court system. Meanwhile, Trump’s anticipated second term and Republican Senate majority could shape the judiciary further, setting the stage for continued debate over its future direction.
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