With the recent announcements that U.S. District Judges Janet C. Hall and Vanessa L. Bryant have taken senior status, three of the District of Connecticut’s eight active Article III judgeships are vacant. (Judge Alvin W. Thompson assumed senior status in 2019, but the Senate failed to vote on his successor despite a presidential nomination the same year.) President Joseph R. Biden Jr. should move quickly to fill these vital positions. But as importantly, he and our two senators should ensure that the appointments reflect the diversity of our state, including occupational diversity.

One of our five active judges is Black, as are two of our seven senior judges. One active and three senior judges are women. The district has never included an Asian or South Asian judge and has not had a Latino judge since 1994. Biden should continue to improve diversity in these areas.