Press Release - President Biden Names Forty-First Round of Judicial Nominees

The President is announcing his intent to nominate five individuals to federal district courts—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.

This will be President Biden's forty-first round of nominees for federal judicial positions, bringing the number of announced federal judicial nominees to 198.

United States District Court Announcements

1. Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina

Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin has been a United States Magistrate Judge for the District of South Carolina since 2011. Previously, Judge Austin worked in private practice at Womble Carlyle Sandridge and Rice, PLLC as an associate from 1999 to 2006 and as a partner from 2006 to 2011. Prior to that, she worked as an associate at Hardaway Law Firm from 1997 to 1999. Judge Austin served as a law clerk for Judge Matthew J. Perry, Jr. on the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina from 1996 to 1997. She received her J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1996 and her B.S. from the University of South Carolina School of Engineering in 1989.

2. Judge Jacqueline Becerra: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Judge Jacqueline Becerra has been a United States Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Florida since 2019. She previously worked as a Shareholder at the law firm Greenberg Traurig, P.A. in Miami, Florida from 2004 to 2018. Judge Becerra served in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, first as an Assistant U.S. Attorney from 1999 to 2002 then as a Special Counsel from 2002 to 2004. Judge Becerra first joined the U.S. Department of Justice through its Honors Program, serving in the Civil Division Federal Programs Branch from 1994 until 1997 and then in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia from 1997 to 1999. She received her J.D. from Yale Law School in 1994 and her B.A. from the University of Miami in 1991.

3. Judge Melissa Damian: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Judge Melissa Damian has been a United States Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Florida since 2022. Previously, Judge Damian worked in private legal practice as Of Counsel at Damian & Valori from 2013 to 2021, appellate counsel at The Ferraro Law Firm from 2010 to 2013, and an associate at Kenny Nachwalter, P.A. from 1997 to 1999. Judge Damian also served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida from 1999 to 2010. Judge Damian served as a law clerk for Judge Ursula Ungaro on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida from 1995 to 1997. She received her J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in 1995 and her B.A. from Princeton University in 1990.

4. David S. Leibowitz: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

David S. Leibowitz has been corporate counsel for Braman Management Association in Miami, Florida since 2012, and Secretary and General Counsel since 2015. Before joining Braman Management, Mr. Leibowitz served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York from 2003 to 2012. From 2001 to 2003, Mr. Leibowitz served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Office of the District Attorney for Middlesex County in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Mr. Leibowitz served as a law clerk for Associate Justice Robert G. Flanders, Jr. on the Supreme Court of Rhode Island from 2000 to 2001. He received his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2000, his Ph.D. from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1998, and his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1993.

5. Judge Julie S. Sneed: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida

Judge Julie S. Sneed has served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Middle District of Florida since June 2015. She previously worked as a partner at Akerman LLP from 2012 to 2015; an associate and later a partner at Fowler White Boggs Banker, P.A. from 2004 to 2012; and a litigation associate at Trenam, Kemker, Scharf, Barkin, Frye, O'Neill & Mullis, P.A. from 1997 to 2000. Judge Sneed served as a law clerk for Judge James D. Whittemore on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida from 2000 to 2004 and Judge Chris W. Altenbernd on the Florida Second District Court of Appeal from 1995 to 1997. She received her J.D. from Florida State University College of Law in 1994 and her B.S. from the University of Florida in 1991.