Biden nominates first Latina to sit on conservative 5th Circuit
Kaelan Deese
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President Joe Biden nominated a federal magistrate judge to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, which would make her the first Latina to sit on the bench of the notoriously conservative circuit court if confirmed in the Senate.
Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez, a longtime magistrate in the Northern District of Texas, was named to sit on the New Orleans-based appeals court. Biden also named U.S. District Judge Ana de Alba of the Eastern District of California to serve in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, which has a Democratic-appointed majority.
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The announcement marks the 32nd round of nominees and brings the total number of Biden’s federal judgeship nominations to 163.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) commended the president in a tweet for “making this historic nomination a reality.”
Four of the 16 judges on the 5th Circuit were named by Democrats. Ramirez marks Biden’s second vacancy he would get to fill on the appeals court, though her confirmation would have little impact on its ideological makeup.
Still, the appointment is significant considering the litigation playing out at the 5th Circuit. Earlier this week, a three-judge panel temporarily blocked parts of a lower court order that would have removed abortion pill mifepristone off the market, though it allowed some restrictions on access to the drug to remain in place. The Biden administration is appealing that order at the Supreme Court.
Biden won confirmation of another judge to the court, Dana Douglas, who was also a former magistrate judge and became the first black woman on the 5th Circuit.
Sources involved with the nomination process expect wide approval when it comes time for a full Senate vote. Additionally, Ramirez gained an endorsement from Republican Texas Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn for her lifetime post at the trial court level in 2016, though aides haven’t said whether the senators have endorsed her appointment at the appeals court level.
Biden’s progress on confirming new federal judges has slowed down in recent months due to absences in the Senate and the customary “blue slip” tradition that requires district court nominees to receive approval from both home state senators.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) announced Wednesday she would temporarily step down from the Senate Judiciary Committee after a number of absences from the Senate since February due to her battle with shingles.
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Although Democrats have an 11-10 advantage over Republicans on the committee, there have been delays for over a dozen of the president’s nominees for a full Senate vote due to recent absences.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said in a statement Wednesday that he would “ask the Senate next week to allow another Democratic Senator to temporarily serve on the Judiciary Committee.”