President Joe Biden’s nominee for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, Embry Kidd, experienced minimal resistance from GOP members during his Senate confirmation hearing. Kidd, currently serving as a U.S. magistrate judge in Orlando, Florida, is poised to become only the second Black man appointed to a federal appeals court in the last ten years if confirmed.
Kidd navigated the questioning from Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans with ease, particularly addressing constitutional law queries from Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.). His performance contrasted with other nominees who have faced more contentious and partisan scrutiny during their hearings. Notably, Kidd avoided viral GOP-fueled moments that have previously impeded nominees.
Kidd’s background as a former federal prosecutor and his current judicial role were significant factors during the hearing. For more details on the proceedings, refer to the Bloomberg Law coverage.