Biden gets chance to leave mark on federal judiciary as judges step aside

[DonViejo]

BY MELISSA QUINN

FEBRUARY 19, 2021 / 6:01 AM / CBS NEWS

Washington – The opportunity for President Biden to make his own stamp on the federal judiciary and chip away at his predecessor's impact on the courts has quickly come knocking at the White House's door, with a slew of federal judges announcing their plans to step down over the past several weeks.

Already, 39 judges on the federal circuit courts and trial courts have announced plans to vacate their seats in the wake of the inauguration either by retiring or taking "senior status," a form of semi-retirement in which judges have a reduced caseload, according to data from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

"I think the experience for progressives of the Trump years really brought home the importance of judicial nominations, and I think that means the Biden administration is starting out recognizing that this needs to be a priority," Elizabeth Wydra, president of the Constitutional Accountability Center, told CBS News.

In all, there are 62 current vacancies on the U.S. district and circuit courts, and another 26 seats that will open up in the coming weeks and months.

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https://www.cbsnews.com/news/federal-judges-retiring-biden-choices/

[patricia92243]

1. We have one elderly gentleman on the Supreme Court who may retire.