President Joe Biden has recently announced his plans to nominate a former Cherokee Nation attorney general to a US trial court based in Oklahoma, in his continued effort to fill existing vacancies, particularly in red states. The proposed nominee, Sarah Hill, has dedicated most of her professional career to the Cherokee Nation before transitioning into private practice.
Hill is being considered for a seat on the Northern District of the state where she had previously served as a special assistant US Attorney. According to Bloomberg Law, the White House also revealed plans to nominate John Russell, a former assistant US Attorney in the same district, to another seat in the court.
Apart from her role in serving the Cherokee Nation, details about Sarah Hill’s specific legal contributions or achievements in her career were not immediately clear. Meanwhile, details about John Russell’s contributions or career milestones before being considered for this role are yet to be disclosed as well.
This move is seen as part of Biden’s broader strategy of diversifying the federal bench, although it is expected to experience some resistance in Senate confirmation processes, especially given the political leanings of the states involved.