Biden's Potential Supreme Court Nominees: A Deep Dive into Diversity and Qualifications

President Biden is expected to use the successful nomination of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson as a template for navigating any future high court openings, with a focus on diversity and qualifications.

President Biden's commitment to diversity on the federal bench has been a defining characteristic of his administration, and this approach is likely to continue if he is re-elected for a second term. Sources close to the White House indicate that Biden would seek to fill any Supreme Court vacancies with individuals who represent the diversity of the nation.

One key consideration for Biden will be the presence of qualified Black and Latino jurists on the lower federal courts, putting pressure on future presidents to maintain diversity on the Supreme Court. Biden has already been actively seeking candidates to fill bench vacancies, surpassing the number of federal judges confirmed by his predecessor at this point in their presidencies.

An unofficial list of potential Supreme Court nominees for the Biden administration includes:

* Leondra Kruger: California Supreme Court Justice, 47, former Obama Justice Department lawyer

* Sri Srinivasan: D.C. Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Judge, 56, Indian-American, former deputy solicitor general

* Elizabeth Prelogar: U.S. Solicitor General, 43, former law clerk to Justices Ginsburg and Kagan

* Lisa Monaco: Deputy Attorney General, 55, former national security adviser under Obama

* Candace Jackson-Akiwumi: 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Judge, 44, daughter of judges

* J. Michelle Childs: D.C. Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Judge, 57, pushed by Rep. Clyburn for Supreme Court nomination

* Myrna Pérez: 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Judge, 48, former director of the Brennan Center's Voting Rights program

* Nancy Maldonado: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Judge, 48, potential first Hispanic judge on 7th Circuit

* Patricia Millett: D.C. Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Judge, 60, former private appellate attorney

* Cindy Kyounga Chung: 3rd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Judge, 48, Korean-American former U.S. attorney

* Roopali Desai: 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Judge, 45, Indian-American former private attorney

* Lucy Haeran Koh: 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Judge, 55, Korean-American former federal district court judge

* Jacqueline Hong-Ngoc Nguyen: 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Judge, 58, Vietnamese-American former state judge

* Michelle Friedland: 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Judge, 51, former law clerk to Justice O'Connor

* Arianna Freeman: 3rd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Judge, 45, first Black woman on 3rd Circuit

* Tamika Montgomery-Reeves: 3rd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Judge, 42, former member of Delaware Supreme Court

* Paul Watford: Former 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Judge, 56, resigned in May 2023

* Goodwin Liu: California Supreme Court Justice, 53, Taiwanese-American former law clerk to Justice Ginsburg

* Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar: Former California Supreme Court Justice, 51, Mexican-born president of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

* Jane Kelly: 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Judge, 59, former federal public defender

* David Barron: 1st Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Judge, 56, former acting assistant attorney general

* Robert Wilkins: D.C. Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Judge, 60, former civil rights plaintiff

* Cheryl Ann Krause: 3rd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Judge, 55, former law clerk to Justice Kennedy

While diversity is a key factor, Biden will also consider political pressures and the balance of the Supreme Court. The president may face pressure to appoint a Black or Latino justice to replace Justice Clarence Thomas or Justice Sonia Sotomayor if either retires. Additionally, some senators may advocate for the nomination of a member of Congress from their state or a personal acquaintance.

President Biden's approach to Supreme Court nominations is likely to prioritize diversity and qualifications. By using the successful confirmation of Justice Jackson as a model, Biden aims to build a court that reflects the nation's demographics and delivers justice fairly and impartially. The list of potential nominees provides a glimpse into the diverse talent pool at the administration's disposal as it prepares for future vacancies on the nation's highest court.