Biden names first slate of federal court nominees, wants to bring 'broad diversity' to bench

President Biden on Tuesday announced the names of his first round judicial nominees to the federal bench, in what the White House says is the president's attempt to "reflect the full diversity of the American people – both in background and in professional experience."

The group of 11 includes three black females for circuit court openings, the first Asian-American woman for the district court in Washington, D.C., and the first woman of color for the district court in Maryland, according to NBC News.

In all, Biden nominated nine women.

"Each is deeply qualified and prepared to deliver justice faithfully under our Constitution and impartially to the American people," the Democratic president said in a statement announcing the names. "Together they represent the broad diversity of background, experience, and perspective that makes our nation strong."

Among the appointees is Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, whom Biden will nominate to serve on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

Brown Jackson would fill the vacancy left by Attorney General Merrick Garland. Since 2013, she has served on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and previously was vice chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission.

See the White House press release and the full list of nominees here: 

Brown Jackson has been considered for months for the job, which some observers speculate could put her in position for a future appointment to the Supreme Court, NBC also reports.

Others include Judge Zahid N. Quraishi, who is Muslim, will be nominated to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. He has served as a magistrate judge for that court since 2019.