Democrats in the Senate have confirmed 235 federal judges during President Joe Biden’s administration, surpassing the 234 judges confirmed during President Donald Trump’s first term. This milestone marks a significant achievement for Senate Democrats, who faced challenges including an evenly divided Senate for much of Biden’s presidency.

Under the leadership of Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Democrats have filled about one-fourth of the federal judiciary. Durbin praised the party’s efforts, noting to Politico, “Two years, we’ve had a tied Senate and a tied committee, [and] we reported out almost 100 judges.”

The Democrats have focused on filling judicial seats in blue states like California, New York, and Illinois, which require approval from both senators representing the state for lower court nominations. As Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) explained, keeping these seats out of conservative hands is seen as essential for safeguarding against policies from the incoming Trump administration.

Republicans have acknowledged Durbin’s effectiveness in pushing through judicial confirmations. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) remarked, “Dick Durbin has sadly been very effective. He’s run the committee really, really efficiently. I hope Republicans will look at what he’s done in these last four years.”

Biden’s efforts leave only 36 current federal court vacancies and 11 future openings due to planned retirements. By comparison, Trump inherited 112 vacancies at the start of his first term, providing him a significant opportunity to reshape the judiciary.

Looking ahead, President Donald Trump is expected to nominate judges in Republican strongholds like Texas and Florida. “I can’t wait for President Trump to nominate some more judges — to me that was one of his great legacies,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), a senior Judiciary Committee member.

Biden recently vetoed a Republican-backed bill to add 66 district court judgeships. The bill, passed by the GOP-controlled House after the 2024 elections, would have expanded judicial capacity but failed to gain the president’s support.