Between now and January, patriotic Americans must take every opportunity at our disposal to resist the unprecedented attacks on our democracy in store from the newly empowered MAGA forces. Our federal courts will be more important to our safety and security than ever before.
So for the Senate, nothing is more important during the lame duck session than confirming every one of the Biden judicial nominees remaining. This is how we start to Resist Project 2025.
There are 17 nominees already fully vetted by the Judiciary Committee and ready for their confirmation votes. Anywhere from seven to nine more will likely be joining them when the committee finishes its consideration of them.
The Senate can and should confirm all of them in the weeks remaining. When we have such unquestionably qualified nominees, it would be irresponsible to leave those vacancies open for Trump to fill with MAGA judges.
Fair judges who will protect our rights
Below are some of the nominees who we must get onto our nation’s courts before the MAGA takeover:
Adeel Mangi (Third Circuit)
Adeel Mangi was born in Pakistan and is the first Muslim American ever nominated to a federal appeals court. He has done numerous cases for free to protect people’s rights. For instance, he represented the family of an incarcerated mentally ill man killed by New York prison guards. He also represented Muslims in two New Jersey cities who were illegally denied permits to build mosques by local authorities. As a judge, he will protect the rights of all people in the Third Circuit, which covers Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.
Karla Campbell (Sixth Circuit)
Karla Campbell will bring 15 years of litigation experience representing working people to the bench. She has spent her career representing employees, unions, and labor benefit plans. When working people have had their rights violated by those with power over them, they have been able to turn to Campbell for help. Her confirmation will add important professional diversity to the Sixth Circuit, whose rulings determine the rights of people in Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio.
Mustafa Kasubhai (District Court, Oregon)
Mustafa Kasubhai spent the first part of his career advocating for workers’ rights. He has been on the bench as a state judge and a federal magistrate judge since 2007. He is a cisgender man who invites people in his courtroom to say which honorific they prefer, so as not to misgender them. Judge Kasubhai says he does this because “society is only as civilized as our capacity to appreciate and support those who are the most vulnerable.”
Sarah Russell (District Court, Connecticut)
Sarah Russell is a brilliant attorney with expertise in criminal justice (including juvenile sentencing reform) who has dedicated her career to helping indigent people have legal representation. She exemplifies the commitment to justice and fairness that all judges should have.
Amir Ali (District Court, Washington DC)
Amir Ali is the executive director of the MacArthur Justice Center, whose mission is to represent people who have been harmed by the criminal justice system. His advocacy has made an enormous difference in people’s lives. His in-depth understanding gained from years of experience will make him an excellent judge. When the Senate confirms, him, he will be the first Muslim American lifetime judge on the DC District Court.
Sparkle Sooknanan (District Court, Washington DC)
Sparkle Sooknanan is currently the principal deputy attorney general at the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Before that, she was one of the few women of color partners at Jones Day, where she dedicated a third of her time to pro bono cases. For instance, she represented members of the Charlottesville, Virginia, City Council when they were sued for voting to remove a statute of Robert E. Lee. She is also an immigrant, having been born in Trinidad and Tobago.
Rebecca Pennell (Eastern District of Washington)
Rebecca Pennell has been a state court judge in Spokane, Washington since 2016, earning the respect of the legal community there. Before that, she spent 16 years as a public defender with the Federal Defenders of Eastern Washington and Idaho. Her work representing indigent people accused of crimes gives her important insight into how the system works in real life and can fail to serve justice.
Catherine Henry (Eastern District of Pennsylvania)
Catherine Henry has been a public defender for nearly 30 years. Her nomination has wide support throughout the Eastern Pennsylvania legal community, including fellow public defenders, prosecutors, civil litigators, and former federal judges.
Anne Hwang (Eastern District of California)
Anne Hwang is a California state judge in Los Angeles. She previously worked as a federal public defender for more than a decade. In 2018, the Asian American Bar Association recognized her as a “trailblazer in the law.” Her fellow judges at the Los Angeles Superior Court have praised her legal skills, her commitment to justice, and her fairness on the bench.
Cynthia Valenzuela (Eastern District of California)
Cynthia Valenzuela is a state court judge in Los Angeles. Earlier in her career, she spent several years as the national litigation director of MALDEF, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. She has held a number of positions with the federal government, including as a trial attorney in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and as a prosecutor.
Embry Kidd (Eleventh Circuit)
Embry Kidd is a respected federal magistrate judge in Florida who previously worked as a federal prosecutor. His nomination has the support of the Congressional Black Caucus, which has praised his commitment to fairness. The Eleventh Circuit covers Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. With six of its 12 active judges having been appointed by Donald Trump, it is urgent for residents of those states to have a fair-minded Biden judge confirmed to this court.
Ryan Park (Fourth Circuit)
Ryan Park is the highly respected solicitor general of North Carolina. He gained national prominence arguing before the Supreme Court in support of the state university’s affirmative action program. He has support across the political spectrum and would bring justice and fairness to people in the Fourth Circuit, which covers North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Julia Lipez (First Circuit)
Julia Lipez is a state court judge in Maine. She previously worked as a federal prosecutor. Advocates who work against domestic violence and human trafficking have praised her work with the Justice Department. The Maine State Bar Association informed the Judiciary Committee that Judge Lipez is “an incredibly gifted jurist” who has earned the respect of the state’s lawyers. When confirmed, she will be a fair judge serving the people of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Puerto Rico, and Rhode Island.
You can help get them confirmed – and strengthen our courts for the upcoming maelstrom.
Let your senators know how important fair courts are to you. Give their offices a call and tell them to confirm all of President Biden’s remaining judicial nominees. ALL of them, every single one. Given the challenges ahead, every judge matters.
Every person in the United States deserves to have their rights fully respected and protected against those who would unlawfully hurt them. The Biden White House has done its part by nominating judges who will stand for fairness and freedom.
In January, the Senate will become an arm of MAGA repression. Before that happens, the Senate must to do its job and strengthen our courts as much as possible.
Resist Project 2025. Strengthen our courts while we can.