Carter’s Judicial Picks Reshaped the Federal Bench Across the Country
Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. president (1977-1981), significantly diversified the lower federal courts by appointing a record number of female and minority judges. During his one-term presidency, he named 41 women to the federal judiciary, including 12 to circuit courts and 29 to district courts. This marked a significant shift from previous appointments, where only two women had ever been named to circuit courts and six to district courts before Carter’s tenure[1][3]. His appointments also included 57 people of color, including prominent federal appellate judges like Leon Higginbotham, Amalya Kearse, and Damon Keith[1]. Carter’s emphasis on diversity was praised by civil rights advocates, who noted it improved the legitimacy and quality of judging[1].
