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NEWS JUNE 21, 2021 ■ 5

Biden Taps Voting Rights Advocate Myrna

Pérez for 2nd Circuit Seat

By Jacqueline Thomsen

resident Joe Biden on Tuesday announced
another round of judicial nominees, includ-
Ping a voting rights advocate for the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Myrna Pérez, the director of the Brennan Cen-
ter’s Voting Rights and Elections Program, was
already announced by Senate Majority Leader
Chuck Schumer as his recommendation to sit
on the Second Circuit. That pick was celebrated
by progressives, particularly as bills seeking to
restrict voting rights make their way through
Republican-held state legislatures, although
the Northeast-based court is unlikely to review
those challenges. Biden’s decision to select her
for the seat is certain to receive similar com-
mendations.
Biden on Tuesday also revealed a nominee for
the U.S. District Court for the District of Co-
lumbia, as well as three picks for the U.S. District
Court for the District of Connecticut. He also
tapped two nominees for the local D.C. courts.
Here’s a look at the nominees. Myrna Perez, judicial nominee for the Second Circuit.
>> Myrna Pérez, nominee for the Second Courtesy photo.
Circuit: Pérez has been with the Brennan Cen- >> Jia Cobb, nominee for the D.C. District
ter, housed at the New York University School of Court: A partner with the D.C. firm Relman
Law, since 2006. She leads the center’s research, Colfax, Cobb was recommended for the D.C. Dis-
advocacy and litigation work. If confirmed, she trict Court by Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton.
would be the second-ever Hispanic woman to sit “She has the intelligence, temperament and integ-
on the Second Circuit. Justice Sonia Sotomayor rity for this position,” Norton said in announcing
was the first. Cobb’s recommendation. “She also brings much-
Before her work with the Brennan Center, Pérez needed racial and professional diversity to the
was a civil rights fellow with the civil rights law federal bench.” If confirmed, Cobb would be the
firm Relman, Dane & Colfax. She clerked for U.S. fourth Black woman to ever sit on the D.C. trial
District Judge Anita Brody of the Eastern District court.
of Pennsylvania and Judge Julio Fuentes of the Cobb has worked at the civil rights firm since
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and 2012, and was named a partner in 2019. She pre-
has degrees from both Columbia Law School and viously spent six years working for the D.C. Public
the Harvard Kennedy School. She attended Yale Defense Service as a trial attorney, and clerked for
University for her undergraduate degree. ■ Continued on PAGE 6

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