President Biden Names Twenty-Second Round of Judicial Nominees

The President is announcing six new federal judicial nominees, all of whom are extraordinarily qualified, experienced, and devoted to the rule of law and our Constitution.

These choices also continue to fulfill the President’s promise to ensure that the nation’s courts reflect the diversity that is one of our greatest assets as a country — both in terms of personal and professional backgrounds.

For example, if confirmed, this slate would include:

• The first Hispanic judge to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
• The first Hispanic judge to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
• The first openly LGBTQ Article III judge to serve in the state of Virginia

This is President Biden’s twenty-second round of nominees for federal judicial positions and his ninth slate of nominations in 2022, bringing the number of announced federal judicial nominees to 118.

President Biden has spent decades committed to strengthening the federal bench, which is why he continues to move rapidly to fill judicial vacancies. And he has won confirmation of the most lower court judges for the first year of a presidency since the Kennedy Administration.

District Court

1. Judge Margaret R. Guzman: Candidate for the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Judge Margaret R. Guzman has served as a judge on the Ayer District Court in Middlesex County, Massachusetts since 2017. From 2009 to 2017, she served as a judge on the Massachusetts Trial Court. From 2005 to 2009, Judge Guzman was a solo practitioner. She previously served as a public defender for the Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Services from 1992 to 2005. Judge Guzman received her J.D. from Boston University School of Law in 1992 and her B.A. from Clark University, with honors, in 1989.

2. Kymberly Evanson: Candidate for the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington

Kymberly Evanson is a partner at Pacifica Law Group in Seattle, Washington, where she has worked since 2011. Ms. Evanson was an associate attorney at K&L Gates in Seattle, Washington from 2009 to 2011. She served as a law clerk for Judge Emmet Sullivan on the United States District Court for the District of  Columbia from 2007 to 2008. Ms. Evanson received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 2007 and her B.A. from Seattle University in 1999.

3. Jamal Whitehead: Candidate for the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington

Jamal Whitehead is a shareholder at Schroeter Goldmark & Bender in Seattle, Washington, where he has worked since 2016.  From 2014 to 2016, Mr. Whitehead was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington. From 2010 to 2014, he was a Senior Trial Attorney in the Seattle Field Office of the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.  From 2007 to 2010, Mr. Whitehead worked as an associate at Garvey Schubert Barer (now Foster Garvey) in Seattle, Washington. He received his J.D. from Seattle University School of Law in 2007 and his B.A. from the University of Washington in 2004.

4. Judge Robert Stewart Ballou: Candidate for the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia

Judge Robert Stewart Ballou has served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Virginia since 2011. Prior to joining the bench, Judge Ballou was a partner at Johnson, Ayers & Matthews in Roanoke, Virginia, where he worked from 1992 to 2011. From 1988 to 1991, Judge Ballou was an associate at Christian, Barton, Epps, Brent & Chappell in Richmond, Virginia. Judge Ballou served as a law clerk for Judge Peter Beer on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana from 1987 to 1988. Judge Ballou received his J.D. in 1987 and his B.A in 1984, both from the University of Virginia.

5. Jamar K. Walker: Candidate for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

Jamar K. Walker has served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia since 2015. From 2012 to 2015, Mr. Walker was an associate at Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C.. He served as a law clerk for Judge Raymond A. Jackson on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia from 2011 to 2012. Mr. Walker received his B.A. from the University of Virginia in 2008 and his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2011.

6. Jorge Alberto Rodriguez: Candidate for the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York

Jorge Alberto Rodriguez has served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Attorney General of New York since 2014. Mr. Rodriguez was an associate at Deily & Glastetter in Albany from 2010 to 2014 and at Mahoney & Keane in New York City from 2005 to 2010. He received his J.D. in 2004 and B.A. in 2000, both from Vanderbilt University.