November 15th, 2023 by WCBC Radio
U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) today praised President Joe Biden’s nomination of Maryland attorney Nicole Berner to fill a vacant Maryland seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
“Nicole Berner has been fighting for civil rights and worker rights throughout her career and we are excited to have her bring this experience and deep knowledge of the law to the federal bench in Maryland. As the general counsel of the 2-million-member strong Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Ms. Berner oversees their legal work in complicated areas of the law, including labor, healthcare regulation, and immigration. With this background, I am confident that she will uphold the judicial oath to ‘do equal right to the poor and to the rich,’” said Senator Cardin. “I also appreciated the opportunity to meet with Ms. Berner recently and was pleased to hear that she intends, if confirmed, to have her judicial chambers in the Baltimore Courthouse to better be a part of the diverse and vibrant Maryland legal community.”
“Throughout her career, Nicole Berner has provided outstanding legal representation to advance the rights of working families and historically underrepresented communities — demonstrating her commitment to delivering equal justice to all. Her diverse legal experience shows that she is dedicated to the rule of law, fairness, and the principles of democracy, which is why I enthusiastically support her nomination to serve the American people on the Fourth Circuit. As the first openly LGBTQ nominee for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, Nicole would also break glass ceilings in our judicial system. We look forward to advancing her nomination through the Senate,” said Senator Van Hollen.
Ms. Berner has been nominated to fill the vacancy created when Judge Diana Gribbon Motz took senior status in September 2022. Judge Motz was appointed to the Fourth Circuit by President Bill Clinton in 1994.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is one of twelve regional appellate courts within the federal judicial system and sits just below the United States Supreme Court. The Fourth Circuit is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, and hears appeals from nine federal district courts in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and from federal administrative agencies.
