Federal Circuit Judges Seek First Black Colleague as Seat Opens

An upcoming opening on the only federal appeals court that’s never had a Black member gives President Joe Biden a chance to make good on his promises to consider diversity in judicial appointments.

Two sitting judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit told Bloomberg Law, in recent interviews before this week’s announcement of the opening, that it’s time to bring a Black judge onto the bench.

“We need more Black judges, we need more Black people in positions of power,” Judge Kathleen M. O’Malley said. “I know that there are talented people out there who could ...