Cindy Carr, cindy.carr@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, the Senate voted 49-47 to confirm Nancy Abudu as a judge for the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, which encompasses Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. Judge Abudu is the first Black woman and only the third Black judge in the 11th Circuit’s history. Judge Abudu has a lengthy track record, previously serving as the Strategic Litigation Director at the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Legal Director of ACLU Florida, and staff attorney with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in the early 2000s. She started her legal career at Tulane University Law School’s Environmental Law Clinic. Abudu is an expert in crucial areas of law related to the work of the 11th Circuit. She is among the most experienced litigators in the nation on criminal law and constitutional law, including religious expression, voting, civil liberties, and administrative law.
Judge Abudu’s confirmation comes just days after the Senate confirmed Bradley N. Garcia to the DC Circuit Court, where he will serve as the first Latinx judge on that court. To date, the Senate has confirmed nearly 130 of President Biden’s judicial nominees, with even more excellent and highly-qualified nominees like Rachel Bloomekatz and Dale Ho waiting for their confirmation votes.
In response, Leslie Fields, Sierra Club’s National Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Legal, released the following statement:
“The Sierra Club congratulates Nancy Abudu on her confirmation to the 11th Circuit. Throughout her career, Judge Abudu has demonstrated a tireless commitment to upholding the rights of all people and safeguarding democracy. She is a staunch defender of civil liberties, and her track record lends us every confidence that she recognizes the government’s obligation under the law to protect public health and the environment, values the public’s right to access the courts to hold government and industries accountable, and understands the difference between facts and politics.
“We also applaud Majority Leader Schumer and the Senate for confirming such a highly-qualified and well-regarded nominee and President Biden for nominating her to this important Appellate Court. We call on the Senate to continue advancing and swiftly confirming all of President Biden’s judicial nominees."
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.