Judicial Nominees Impress At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing 

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 22, 2022 – Today the Senate Judiciary Committee heard from two more panels of federal judicial nominees, including two circuit court nominees and two district court nominees. They will hopefully soon join the growing number of federal judges nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the Senate. 

Among the incredible nominees questioned by the committee was Rachel S. Bloomekatz, nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Bloomekatz brings extensive experience in labor and economic justice law, advocating for workers and consumers, as well as handling cases defending voting rights, gun safety, and the environment. As part of her pro bono practice, she also represented indigent women and children seeking asylum. She previously clerked for Associate Justice Stephen Breyer and has taught courses as an Adjunct Professor at the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.  

Another highlight from today’s hearing is Judge Elizabeth Wilson Hanes, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Hanes would add to the growing ranks of judges with extensive experience as a public defender, having served as an Assistant Federal Public Defender in the very district to which she is nominated for seven years. She represented hundreds of indigent clients, often as lead counsel, handling preliminary hearings, jury and bench trials, and sentencing. She also worked as a consumer protection civil litigator, representing lower-income individuals, military service members, and veterans against predatory lending practices. She has served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in her district since 2020. 

The other nominees who participated in today’s hearing were Florence Y. Pan (nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit) and Ana C. Reyes (nominated to the U.S. District Court for D.C.). 

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

“The nominations of Rachel Bloomekatz and Judge Elizabeth Hanes are essential to the future of our federal courts. There’s still an incredible imbalance of judges who have only represented corporations and employers or that have only served as prosecutors. With more judges like Bloomekatz who have advocated on behalf of working Americans, we can establish greater trust and restore fairness in our courts.   

“We are confident all of today’s nominees will advance quickly out of committee to the floor for final confirmations in the Senate. In the meantime, we need to see more nominees with public interest law backgrounds filling the more than 100 outstanding vacancies by the end of 2022.”