The letter, penned by incoming White House counsel Dana Remus, asks senators to provide diverse names based on race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, veteran status and disability.
Remus requested that all recommendations be sent “as soon as possible and not later than January 19, 2020,” indicating that Biden intends to prioritize filling vacant seats upon assuming office.
“Joe Biden proudly championed the historic confirmations of Justices Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan, and reshaped the Senate Judiciary Committee to reflect the diversity and breadth of America,” transition spokesman Jamal Brown said in a statement.
“As president, he will nominate the first Black woman to the Supreme Court, and appoint judges who share his commitment to the rule of law, and upholding individual civil rights and civil liberties.”
If either of the incumbent Republicans, Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, holds onto their seats, their party will maintain its Senate majority.
If Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock both prevail, however, Democrats would gain control of the Senate thanks to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ tie-breaking vote as president of the Senate.
“Send me these two men,” Biden said during a rally for the two Democratic candidates earlier this month, “and we will control the Senate and change the lives of people in Georgia.”