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Joe Biden nears 200 judges, highlighting stakes for the courts in the 2024 election

www.nbcnews.com Joe Biden lands 200 judges, highlighting stakes for the courts in the 2024 election

Biden's and Trump's records show sharp differences in what types of judges they would choose. And the winner of the fall election could appoint more Supreme Court justices.

Joe Biden lands 200 judges, highlighting stakes for the courts in the 2024 election

Biden's and Trump's records show sharp differences in what types of judges they would choose. And the winner of the fall election could appoint more Supreme Court justices.

The Democratic-led Senate is poised to confirm President Joe Biden’s 200th federal judge Wednesday, a milestone that highlights a sharp contrast with his election rival, Republican former President Donald Trump, as they seek to shape the courts over the next four years.

It’s unclear whether Biden will catch up to the 234 judges Trump secured in his presidential term. But the winners of the presidency and the Senate majority will have the power to shape the courts for the next few years, and the two men have dramatically different criteria in choosing nominees.

Whoever occupies the White House in the next term could even pick one or more new Supreme Court justices, which could shift or entrench the current 6-3 conservative majority. By the time the winner is sworn in, conservative Justice Clarence Thomas will be 76 and conservative Justice Samuel Alito will be 74. The next oldest member of the court is liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who will be 70. Chief Justice John Roberts will turn 70 a week after the swearing-in.

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