Cindy Chung made history by becoming the first Asian American judge confirmed to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The U.S. Senate confirmed Chung’s seat on the Philadelphia-based court on Monday evening.
Chung, who previously served as the U.S. Attorney for western Pennsylvania since November 2021, won approval in a 50-44 vote.
President Joe Biden announced her nomination in July last year.
His administration has been working towards diversifying the federal judiciary by nominating people of color, women and lawyers with broad professional experience to U.S. district and appellate court seats. Out of Biden’s 30 circuit court appointments, 23 are women.
Chung graduated from Columbia Law School in 2002.
She worked as an assistant U.S. Attorney based in Pittsburgh for seven years before serving as the top federal law enforcement officer in western Pennsylvania.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) praised Chung’s service as a prosecutor fighting hate crimes and said she was “precisely the kind of person we want on the federal bench.”
U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) also expressed his support for Chung in an announcement of the historic confirmation.
Cindy Chung has made history today. She is the first Asian Pacific American judge to sit on the Third Circuit and, thanks in part to President Biden’s commitment to making our federal courts reflect the great diversity of our Nation, she is now one of five women who will actively serve on that bench. Throughout her legal career she has demonstrated a deep understanding of the law, and during her nearly decade-long tenure in the Western District, she served the people of Western Pennsylvania with integrity and a commitment to fair and equal justice. She is a trailblazer in the legal community and I was proud to move her nomination forward and vote to confirm her.
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