Nancy Abudu makes history as judge appointed to 11th Circuit

By a narrow vote, the U.S. Senate confirmed attorney Nancy Abudu for the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Abudu becomes the first Black person to fill a Georgia-based seat which also hears cases from federal courts in Florida and Alabama.

Abudu, a civil rights attorney who has worked at the Southern Poverty Law Center and the American Civil Liberties Union was confirmed by a final vote of 49-47, with all Senate Democrats in favor, except West Virginia’s Joe Manchin, who voted “no” with Republicans. Four senators did not vote.

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Republicans had accused Abudu of being too radical for a lifetime federal judgeship and said her track record at left-leaning organizations on subjects like voting rights made her unfit.

Georgia Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, both Atlanta Democrats, rigorously defended Abudu’s nomination. Prior to the vote, Warnock said Republicans were wrong about her. “Nancy Abudu is a remarkable public servant, a committed advocate for justice,” Warnock said. “And she, through her work, represents just the kind of perspective that we need on the bench.”


Abudu replaces former Judge Beverly Martin, who was considered one of the court’s most liberal jurists. “I’m thrilled,” Martin said after the Senate vote. “I think Ms. Abudu will be a great addition to the court. It’s just terrific news.”  

Abudu’s appointment will not change the conservative leanings of the Atlanta-based appellate court because Republican presidents appointed seven of its 12 judges.