District Court Judicial Nominees Shine At Lame Duck Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 30, 2022 – The Senate Judiciary Committee today heard from five more of President Biden’s nominees to the federal courts — likely one of the last hearings of this session of Congress. There were several standouts who will help shape the courts to better serve the American people. 

Judge Rita Lin, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, has already served since 2018 as a judge on the Superior Court of San Francisco. In her legal career before serving as a judge, she focused on complex civil litigation, including a challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act to ensure a federal employee could receive health benefits for her same-sex spouse. Judge Lin would be the second Asian Pacific American woman — and first Taiwanese American woman — to serve on the District Court for the Northern District of California. 

Judge Ramon Reyes, nominated to the U.S. District court for the Eastern District of New York, has served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the same district for 16 years. During that time, he has repeatedly demonstrated his commitment to equal justice and the rule of law in cases related to civil rights, criminal law, labor law, personal injury and trademark law. Judge Reyes would be only the second Latino man seated on the Eastern District of New York. 

Alliance for Justice President Rakim H.D. Brooks issued the following statement: 

“As we see with each hearing, there is no shortage of incredible nominees ready to serve on our federal courts. Today’s hearing included phenomenal judges who have already proven themselves on their respective courts. We urge the Senate to move with utmost urgency to see all of President Biden’s nominees confirmed by the end of this year. With every nominee heard as the time winds down, Leader Schumer and Chairman Durbin must create pathways to finalize these historic changes to our federal judiciary.”