Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Two Judicial Nominations, One Marshal Nomination, Patent Bill To Full Senate

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee advanced two judicial nominations and one U.S. Marshal nomination to the full Senate, continuing the Committee’s work to bring balance to the federal judiciary and keep our communities safe. Additionally, the Committee advanced a bill to improve the collection of information on barriers inventors face in accessing the patent system.

At the top of the hearing, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, opened with brief remarks about the future of the Committee.

“[B]eginning next Congress, there will be a new Chair of the Judiciary Committee—my friend, Senator Grassley. Chuck, I look forward to working with you again, and I would be remiss if I did not thank Ranking Member Graham for his partnership over the last two years,” said Durbin.

Then, the Committee conducted business.

“We will confirm every possible nominee to the federal bench during the lame duck session. Mr. Park and Mr. Desai are highly qualified jurists who will uphold our Constitution and ensure a fairer justice system, and they are among seventeen judges eligible for a vote on the Senate floor. Senate Democrats are accomplishing a remarkable feat by confirming Biden-Harris judges, and we will run through the finish line at the end of this Congress,” said Durbin of the advanced nominations.

“The legislation advanced by the Committee today will help us understand the barriers facing inventors from producing the next great American idea. Studies have shown that women and minorities make up a disproportionately small fraction of patent holders, and this bill will help us collect demographic data to address patent gaps. I thank Senator Hirono for her efforts to support innovation, and I urge the Senate to pass this bill on a bipartisan basis,” said Durbin on the patent bill.

The following nominations and bills were reported by the indicated vote totals:

• Ryan Young Park, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit: 11-10
• Sharad Harshad Desai, to be United States District Judge for the District of Arizona: Approved by voice vote
• Bobby Jack Woods, to be United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Kentucky: 12-9
• S. 4713, IDEA Act (Hirono, Tillis, Durbin, Coons, Blumenthal, Padilla, Klobuchar, Grassley): 15-6

Under the leadership of Chair Durbin, the Senate has confirmed 215 judges to lifetime appointments on the federal bench during the Biden-Harris administration. Following the markup, seventeen lifetime judges – including five circuit court nominees and twelve district court nominees – are eligible for a vote on the Senate floor.

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