WASHINGTON, D.C, June 20, 2023 – Today the Senate voted to confirm Julie Rikelman to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, including bipartisan support from Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins. Rikelman was first nominated last August, meaning she has been waiting nearly a year for her confirmation.
Rikelman has spent her career fighting for civil and human rights, including serving as Litigation Director for the Center for Reproductive Rights for the past decade. She becomes the first Jewish woman and first immigrant woman to serve on the First Circuit.
Alliance for Justice President Rakim H.D. Brooks issued the following statement:
“As we mark a year since the devastating Dobbs decision, we continue fighting back with every tool at our disposal. Today, it was confirming an unapologetic defender of civil and human rights, particularly reproductive freedom. Julie Rikelman is precisely the kind of judge we need on the federal bench.
“It is exciting and encouraging to see bipartisan support for Julie Rikelman. That support speaks to the painful lessons we’ve learned about just how important reproductive justice is to the health of our nation. With dozens of vacancies still awaiting nominees, we hope the White House and Senate see this as an opportunity to reconsider the blue slip and continue nominating stalwart champions of justice who will uphold equal justice for all.”