Eastern District of New York / Appointed 2023 / Active
Orelia Eleta Merchant
Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
Appointed by President Joseph R. Biden in 2023 and confirmed by the Senate 51–48, Orelia Eleta Merchant is a Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. She earned a law degree from Tulane University Law School in 1998. Sources: FJC Biographical Directory · Senate confirmation, May 3, 2023
- Appointed by
- Joseph R. Biden, 2023
- Confirmed
- 51–48
- Education
- Dillard 1992 · Tulane Law School 1998
- Succeeded
- William Francis Kuntz II
Federal judicial service
| Year | Court | Appointed by | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Eastern District of New York · succeeded William Francis Kuntz II | Biden (D) | 51–48 |
A per-senator roll-call isn’t shown for this confirmation. The Senate’s recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989; many confirmations (especially before then, and most to the lower courts) were by voice vote or unanimous consent.
Education
| Dillard University | B.S. | 1992 |
| College of William and Mary | M.A. | 1995 |
| Tulane University Law School | J.D. | 1998 |
Sources
3 years on the Eastern District of New York. Data last verified 2026-06-28. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).