Washington, D.C. — Today, the Senate confirmed Tiffany Cunningham to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, making her the first Black judge to sit on that court. In response, Maggie Jo Buchanan, director of Courts and Legal Reform at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
Tiffany Cunningham will bring deep expertise and much-needed diversity to the Federal Circuit, which has never had a Black judge in its 39-year history. But the fact that it has taken nearly four decades for a Black person to be appointed to the Federal Circuit speaks to the severe lack of diversity that still plagues our federal courts. The Biden administration has made great strides so far in working to fill judicial vacancies with nominees that represent the diversity of our country. We look forward to supporting future nominees who will continue to bring critical yet underrepresented perspectives to the bench, helping to strengthen the judiciary and the rule of law in America overall.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected] or 202-478-6327.