Trump Appoints 27 Judges In Second Term, None Of Them Women of Color

February 5, 2026

President Trump has appointed 27 federal judges during his second term, with approximately 63 percent being white men and no women of color among them. This pattern resembles his first term's demographics but occurs alongside more aggressive rhetoric against diversity initiatives and judicial independence. Legal scholars emphasize that judicial representation affects not only symbolic fairness but also practical courtroom dynamics, as research shows decisions by women and judges of color face more challenges and these judges often receive less prestigious assignments.

Who is affected

Women and people of color seeking federal judgeships
Litigants appearing before federal courts with less diverse judicial panels
Women judges and judges of color already serving, who research shows face additional scrutiny
Progressive judicial advocacy organizations like Demand Justice
The broader American public whose cases are decided by federal courts

What action is being taken

President Trump is appointing federal judges (27 confirmed so far in his second term)
The administration is dismantling diversity initiatives across the federal government
Trump is publicly praising judges who rule in his favor and condemning those who rule against him

Why it matters

Federal judges serve lifetime appointments and shape American law for generations. The appellate courts decide approximately 40,000 cases annually—far more than the Supreme Court's fewer than 100—making these appointments crucial to how federal law develops. Research demonstrates that judicial diversity affects courtroom dynamics functionally, not just symbolically, as women judges and judges of color face more challenges to their decisions and are assigned less visible, lower-impact work. The lack of diversity perpetuates power imbalances and may affect the quality and fairness of legal outcomes for all Americans.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle