USA Today: Biden poised to triple number of Black women on federal appeals courts
UC law dean weighs in on significance
President Biden may make history if he carries through with his promise to appoint a Black woman to the U.S. Supreme Court. Meanwhile, he’s already having an impact on the federal judiciary.
USA Today reports the White House is poised to triple the number of Black women appellate judges, from four when Biden took office, to at least 13. If all of those women are confirmed by the Senate in coming weeks, it would mean a Black woman will sit on nine of 13 federal appeals courts and would make up about 7% of the nation's 179 appellate judgeships.
Legal scholars argue that besides the significance of having federal courts that reflect the population they serve, it also builds a pool of potential candidates for future high court vacancies. UC Law Dean Verna Williams spoke to USA Today about Biden’s judiciary appointments.
"It's for the judiciary to look more like the country because it adds to the credibility of the legal system," Williams told USA Today.
Read the full USA Today story online.
Featured image is courtesy of Unsplash.
Related Stories
‘Designer drug’ shows early neuroprotective signal in acute ischemic stroke
October 28, 2025
Medscape highlighted new trial results led by the University of Cincinnati's Eva Mistry that found an experimental drug shows promise in protecting injured brain cells for patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Is menstrual fluid ‘the most overlooked opportunity’ in women’s health?
October 27, 2025
The Guardian recently reported that period blood has long been thought of as ‘stinky and useless’, but startups are exploring using the fluid to test for a wide range of health conditions — including endometriosis.
What is squalane, and how does it work to moisturize skin?
October 27, 2025
The University of Cincinnati's Kelly Dobos was featured in a Women's Health article discussing squalane, an ingredient being increasingly used in moisturizing skincare products.