Black women leaders applaud diverse slate of judicial nominees

Statement by In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda President and CEO Marcela Howell

WASHINGTON — Yesterday, President Biden nominated a diverse group of appointees to fill vacancies in federal courts. Marcela Howell, president and CEO of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, issued the following statement in response:

“President Biden has selected 11 highly qualified people who are representative of our diverse country and who reflect the wide diversity within the legal field. They are renowned jurists who have served in the military, private sector and public service at all levels of government and who will begin to balance the federal bench. President Biden nominated three Black women and four Asian American women, including the first Muslim. As all eyes in the nation watch the trial of George Floyd’s killer, the president has also nominated four public defenders to the federal bench.

“All these new judges will bring an important perspective to their work, as they understand firsthand the unjust impacts of racism, sexism and classism. They will all serve with a sense of justice and fairness.

“That’s why In Our Own Voice encourages the Senate to confirm these nominees immediately. We must move swiftly to help balance the scales of justice by making the federal bench reflect the diversity of this country.”

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In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda is a national-state partnership focused on lifting up the voices of Black women leaders at the national and regional levels in our fight to secure reproductive justice for all women, femmes and girls. Our eight strategic partners are Black Women for Wellness, Black Women’s Health Imperative, New Voices for Reproductive Justice, SisterLove, Inc. SisterReach, SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW, The Afiya Center and Women With A Vision.