Nancy Maldonado, a notable judicial trailblazer for Hispanic women, has advanced her federal appellate nomination without any support from Republicans. Maldonado has been nominated for a position in the U.S Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11-10 in favour of Maldonado, whose nomination will now be evaluated by the full Senate. Bloomberg Law reported on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote that occurred on Thursday.
Maldonado is set to replace Ilana Rovner, the first woman to have served on the Seventh Circuit, following Rovner’s announcement of her plans to semi-retire in January. If confirmed, Maldonado’s appointment will not only uphold but will further the representation of women in the Courts. Maldonado was introduced into the judiciary by President Joe Biden in 2022, becoming the first Latina trial court judge on the Northern District of Illinois.
Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), has stood firmly on the defence of Maldonado’s trial court record against any backlash. More details about the final decision by the full Senate regarding Maldonado’s nomination will be closely monitored and reported in the upcoming weeks.