Schiff Replaces Butler on Senate Judiciary to Move Judge Picks

California’s senator is joining the Senate Judiciary Committee to sustain the panel’s Democratic majority amid efforts to confirm President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees before Republicans take control of the White House and Senate.

Adam Schiff replaces interim senator Laphonza Butler, who served out the remainder of Dianne Feinstein’s term following her passing in September of 2023.

The move preserves the panel’s 11-10 Democrat majority, as two California district court picks are slated for committee votes Thursday: Benjamin Cheeks for the Southern District of California and Serena Raquel Murillo for the Central District of California.

If Cheeks and Murillo advance, three nominees for lifetime appointments will be out of committee and awaiting floor votes. A confirmation vote on Noël Wise for the Northern District of California is slated for Wednesday evening.

Another three never received hearings before the Judiciary Committee due to a lack of support from their home state senators or other reasons: Danna Jackson for the District of Montana; Detra Shaw-Wilder for the Southern District of Florida; and Rebecca Kanter for the Southern District of California.

Biden hasn’t formally nominated Tali Farhadian Weinstein for the Southern District of New York, despite announcing his intent a few days after the Nov. 5 election. It’s unlikely she’d get a hearing into time to see a committee vote and floor action.

Four appellate nominees also likely won’t get floor votes, after a Senate agreement struck by the two parties to drop the four circuit picks in exchange for advancing Biden’s remaining district nominees without Republican stalling tactics. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) office confirmed that they didn’t have the votes for the circuit nominees.

The deal has roiled progressive groups who’ve urged Senate Democrats not to capitulate before relinquishing control over the chamber. They hope aggressive efforts to confirm all of Biden’s remaining nominees will leave Trump with fewer vacancies to fill as he gets a second time to further shape the courts with mostly younger, White, and male conservative judges.

A coalition of progressive groups left sleeping bags at more than two dozen Democratic senators offices on Tuesday to push their message: “Work late. Work weekends. Confirm every judge.”

“Every vacancy that doesn’t get a Biden judge will be left for Trump to fill with a loyalist committed to dismantling our rights,” said Keith Thirion, interim co-president of Alliance for Justice, in a statement.