WASHINGTON (NEWSnet/AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced five nominees to federal judgeships, looking to add to the more than 150 of his selections who have already been confirmed.

The announcements by the Democratic president are part of the White House's push to nominate diverse candidates as judges, especially those from a wide variety of professional backgrounds. He is also seeking to maintain that appointment push even in states with Republican senators.

The list is:

  • Nicole Berner, the general counsel of the Service Employees International Union, for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. If confirmed by the Senate, Berner would be that court's first openly LGBTQ judge.
  • Adeel Mangi, Biden's nominee for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, would be the first Muslim-American circuit court judge, if confirmed.
  • Judge Cristal Brisco, who would be the first Black woman and the first woman of color to serve as U.S. District Court judge in the Northern District of Indiana.
  • Judge Gretchen Lund, who has served on the bench for 15 years in the Northern District of Indiana.
  • Judge Amy Baggio, a former assistant federal public defender, for the District of Oregon.

Biden has appointed 154 life-tenured judicial nominees who have been confirmed by the Senate.

The White House says more judicial appointments are in the works. But the process of moving nominations through the Senate is slow.

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