Biden nominates longtime public defender for U.S. court in Philly
The Philadelphia Inquirer: President Joe Biden has nominated longtime public defender Catherine Henry to fill a federal judicial vacancy in Philadelphia. With nearly 30 years of experience, Henry has been defending clients who cannot afford legal representation against criminal charges in state and federal court. This nomination is part of Biden’s effort to surpass Donald Trump’s record for confirming judges before the end of his first term.
Henry earned her law degree in 1995 and has been a prominent figure in Philadelphia's federal courthouse since 2001. Her clients have included a former lieutenant to ex-Liberian President Charles Taylor and a shoe salesman involved in a notable incident at the Franklin Institute.
U.S. Senators John Fetterman and Bob Casey both support Henry’s nomination. Fetterman called her nomination “a major win for Pennsylvania,” while Casey praised her commitment to fairness and justice. Henry’s nomination is part of Biden’s broader strategy to influence the federal judiciary significantly.
Biden's administration aims to reflect diversity in the nation’s courts, with 64% of his confirmed judges being women and 62% people of color. He has already confirmed 200 judges, surpassing Trump’s 196 at the same point in his tenure. Henry is the fifth former public defender Biden has nominated for the Philadelphia region’s federal court vacancies.
Biden has had seven judges confirmed in Pennsylvania, including Cindy Chung, the first Asian American judge ever to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia — which handles civil and criminal appeals for Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware — and Arianna Freeman, the first Black woman ever to serve on that court.