US Judge Promises No Bias in Her Circuit Amid GOP Concerns

A top US appellate judge told two Republican senators she is committed to ensuring that courts in her circuit are “free of discrimination,” after the lawmakers questioned judicial orders that aimed to promote diversity in oral arguments.

The Feb. 16 letter from Chief Judge Diane Sykes of the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit comes in response to conservative backlash over standing orders by three federal judges in Illinois indicating they would be more likely to grant argument if the arguing attorney is newer, a woman, or a person of color.

Responding to concerns by Senate Judiciary Committee ...