"Senate Confirms First Openly LGBTQ+ Judge to 4th Circuit Court of Appeals"

The U.S. Senate confirmed Nicole Berner, the general counsel for the Service Employees International Union, as the first openly LGBTQ judge on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Her confirmation aligns with President Biden's commitment to diversify the federal judiciary, with Berner becoming the 30th woman and 11th openly LGBTQ judge appointed under his administration. Republicans opposed her nomination due to her advocacy against right-to-work laws and liberal causes, but she ultimately secured the position, furthering the push for more pro-union labor lawyers in the judiciary.