Pennsylvania Senate Confirms Mary Kay Costello as Judge

The U.S. Senate confirmed Mary Kay Costello as a federal judge in Philadelphia with a 52-41 bipartisan vote, marking her as the twelfth openly LGBTQ judge appointed under President Biden, surpassing former President Obama's record. Costello, a veteran and long-time assistant U.S. attorney, was celebrated for her historic appointment, which highlights ongoing efforts to diversify the judiciary amid a backdrop of limited representation for LGBTQ individuals on the federal bench. Meanwhile, Kevin Ritz, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, was confirmed to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals by a 48-46 vote, despite opposition from Republican senators in his home state, who argued they were not adequately consulted on his nomination. Ritz's confirmation, which was largely along party lines, adds to Biden's tally of confirmed judicial nominees as he aims to surpass Trump's record of 234. Both confirmations reflect the Biden administration's commitment to increasing diversity and addressing representation gaps within the judicial system.