Election Law Expert & Latinx Americans Among Diverse Slate of Judicial Nominees 

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 15, 2022 – This morning, the White House announced President Biden’s nineteenth slate of judicial nominees, featuring three circuit court nominees and four district court nominees (including three for the District of Puerto Rico). Among the seven nominees are five women of color plus the first-ever Latino nominee to the D.C. Circuit. 

Roopali H. Desai, nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, brings not only extensive legal experience but expertise on election law, leading her firm’s Election and Political Law Group. She would be the first person of South Asian descent to serve on the Ninth Circuit.  

Bradley N. Garcia, nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, has been serving as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel since earlier this year. For the previous decade, he served as an appellate litigator in over 50 cases, including significant pro bono work. He also served as a law clerk for Justice Elena Kagan on the United States Supreme Court and for Judge Thomas Griffith on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Garcia would be the first Latino judge to ever serve on the D.C. Circuit. 

Judge Dana M. Douglas, nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, brings several years of experience as a U.S. Magistrate Judge. She would be the first woman of color to ever serve on the Fifth Circuit. 

Jerry W. Blackwell, nominated the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, has notable trial court experience, including serving on the prosecution team in the Derek Chauvin murder trial, for which he delivered the opening and closing arguments. He is also the founder of the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers. 

María del R. Antongiorgi-Jordán, Judge Gina R. Méndez-Miró, and Judge Camille L. Vélez-Rivé are all nominated the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. Méndez-Miró would be the first LGBTQ+ judge to serve on this court. 

Alliance for Justice Senior Legislative Counsel Kimberly Humphrey issued the following statement: 

“The White House is once again to be commended for a slate that brings essential diversity to our federal courts. This administration has made significant dents in the racial, gender, and professional hegemonies of our courts, and it’s important that work continues. The inclusion of Latino and LGBTQ+ nominees is particularly important, as these groups have been underrepresented. AFJ will continue our work to identify and support professionally diverse lawyers for the bench. 

“The onus is now on the Senate to see these and other nominees confirmed in a timely fashion. With the looming threat of Republican senators blocking all future nominees, we know this is urgent and there is no time to waste in filling every vacancy possible.”