Happy Obergefell anniversary. Just a reminder that Second Circuit nominee Matthew Schwartz (Trump's personal lawyer and former Alito clerk) railed against same-sex marriage when he was at Princeton, referring to homosexuality as a “capital crime." nominationnotes.substack.com/p/second-cir...

On a judicial survey in 2020, Matthew Byrne, now nominated to a federal judgeship, was asked how supportive he is of this statement: “The judiciary does not possess the authority to expand the definition of marriage to include anything but one man and one woman.” He answered “Fully supportive.”

This: “By making excuses for the president’s bigotry, the Republican justices are not only making a mockery of the law—they are placing the lives of people of color in jeopardy.”

At yesterday's hearing, Ranking Member Durbin entered a statement into the record from Senator Bennet related to the 10th Circuit nomination of Colorado's Daniel Domenico. We now know what that statement said. Bennet won't support him this time around. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/senator-be...

NEW: @bennet.senate.gov opposes 10th Circuit nominee Daniel Domenico of Colorado. Says this nomination comes "at a moment when the Trump Administration has spent years undermining the rule of law and eroding the independence of the federal courts. I cannot support his nomination in this context."

I hate that Justice Sotomayor had to do this on her birthday.

I'm not a Supreme Court reporter, but I do cover Trump's appointment of loyalists and anti-civil rights extremists to the bench. This week's 6-3 decisions were made possible by Trump's appointees — and he is continuing to do real damage to the lower courts. Learn more: nominationnotes.substack.com

The Senate yesterday confirmed John Marck to serve on the Southern District of Texas. When Trump announced the nomination, he wrote that "John has worked tirelessly to help us deport Criminal Illegal Immigrants." It's not just SCOTUS. Trump's lower court judges are coming for immigrants' rights.

Matthew Schwartz, Trump's personal lawyer, is set to receive a confirmation vote on July 14 to serve on the Second Circuit. The following day, the Senate Judiciary Committee will begin its hearing on Todd Blanche, Trump's former lawyer, to serve as attorney general. This cannot be the new normal.

Yesterday in the Senate.

I'm not a Supreme Court reporter, but I do cover Trump's appointment of loyalists and anti-civil rights extremists to the bench. This week's 6-3 decisions were made possible by Trump's appointees — and he is continuing to do real damage to the lower courts. Learn more: nominationnotes.substack.com

Former Alito clerk Matthew Schwartz, whom the Senate will confirm to the Second Circuit next month, said in written responses that Alito is his ethical role model and that he considers Alito foundational to his judicial philosophy because he "carefully studies the facts and law of each case."

Today's decisions come on the anniversary of Shelby County v. Holder. Not a good day for multiracial democracy!

NEW: The Senate adjourned late last night after confirming two lifetime judges and invoking cloture on two more — teeing up confirmation votes for July. Trump now has 45 lifetime judges confirmed during his second term. About 70 percent are white men. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/senate-adj...

The Senate Judiciary Committee today held a hearing on two white guys to serve as lifetime federal judges. Then the Senate confirmed two other white guys to serve as lifetime judges. Then the Senate voted to invoke cloture on the nominations of two other white guys to serve as lifetime judges.

This vote (which should not have happened until tomorrow) suggests that Democrats agreed to hold it early so the Senate can leave sooner for their two-week Independence Day recess. SCHWARTZ IS TRUMP'S PERSONAL LAWYER. Democrats should be doing everything in their power to delay his confirmation.

Ohio judicial nominee Matthew Byrne stated on a judicial candidate survey: "At our wedding, my wife and I insisted on including a prayer for the unborn in the Prayers of the Faithful. In other words, my pro-life credentials cannot be questioned." His hearing was today — on the anniversary of Dobbs.

BREAKING: The Senate confirmed Mike Hendershot to serve as a lifetime judge on the Northern District of Ohio. Hendershot has an anti-civil and human rights record, including working against abortion access and reproductive freedom. The Senate chose to confirm him today on the anniversary of Dobbs.

More coverage of today's hearing from @michaelkarlik.bsky.social (a good follow for Colorado-based news in particular). www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/06/24/t...

Byrne's hearing happened. Hendershot was confirmed. Happy Dobbs anniversary.

BREAKING: The Senate confirmed Mike Hendershot to serve as a lifetime judge on the Northern District of Ohio. Hendershot has an anti-civil and human rights record, including working against abortion access and reproductive freedom. The Senate chose to confirm him today on the anniversary of Dobbs.

NEW: 10th Circuit nominee Daniel Domenico and Ohio district court nominee Matthew Byrne had their confirmation hearing today — where they dodged question after question about the 2020 election, January 6, and their (bad) records. Here's what happened: nominationnotes.substack.com/p/judicial-n...

The Senate just confirmed the 44th lifetime judge of Trump's second term. Number 45 is coming this afternoon, and 46 likely tomorrow morning. All three are white men. For their loyalty to Trump and hostility to fundamental rights and freedoms, they are being rewarded with lifetime judgeships.

This is unacceptable. But this man is also an anti-abortion activist who had his hearing today ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF DOBBS. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/senate-rep...

Sen. @blumenthal.senate.gov is asking Ohio judicial nominee Matthew Byrne about the outcome of the 2020 election, and you can see him in real time going through all the scripts in his head for how to avoid saying "Joe Biden won the election." It's incredibly pathetic. Same with January 6 questions.

Sen @whitehouse.senate.gov just spoke for 6+ minutes with a circuit court nominee sitting before him. "I'd like to take the time that we have here to raise an unrelated issue. You can relax," he said. He does this a lot. Asks no questions. He could do this any other time, but uses his hearing time.

Senator @blumenthal.senate.gov just asked 10th Circuit nominee Daniel Domenico who won the 2020 election. Domenico tried to cite KBJ's response to a different written question (one of their dodges). Blumenthal is, as usual, pissed off. Domenico also won't say the Capitol was attacked on January 6.

NEW: On the anniversary of Dobbs today, the Senate is taking action on multiple of Trump's anti-abortion judicial nominees. This morning, the Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing on Matthew Byrne. This afternoon, the Senate votes on Mike Hendershot. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/senate-rep...

This is the third of Trump’s personal lawyers who’ll likely be confirmed to a lifetime seat on a federal appeals court since last year. Super normal, no big deal!

dang. love that i went to watch the phillies tonight in dc and then left before they scored 12 runs in the last three innings.

ICYMI: Judicial nominees, including ones supported by their Democratic home-state senators, are clinging to the bizarre new script that Joe Biden won the 2020 election "as a matter of law." They said this repeatedly in responses to written questions. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/judicial-n...

Kind of surprised the Court's extremist majority didn't celebrate today's Title IX anniversary by banning transgender girls and women from playing on girls’ and women’s school sports teams.

Amused by this: Judicial nominee Michael Martin said he's talked to Blanche once since Nov 2024. "I spoke to Todd Blanche...when he visited the US Attorney’s Office...To the best of my recollection, I spoke briefly with him about our mutual enjoyment of the Netflix television series, 'Quarterback.'”

Today was an absolute blood bath at SCOTUS for the less powerful to enforce civil rights in the federal courts. TL;dr - SCOTUS rules 6-3 that only corporations have rights that are enforceable in federal court??

Senator @coons.senate.gov asked Texas district court nominee Kasdin Mitchell "When it comes to conducting yourself ethically, who in the legal profession do you see as a role model?" Her response was "Justice Thomas." (she clerked for him from 2016-2017) Definitely known for being super ethical.

Sen @coons.senate.gov asked 8th Circuit nominee Daniel Traynor about his Nov. 2016 tweet saying “It feels good to be deplorable. #MAGA" Traynor said "This post was made following a political election campaign while I was a private citizen. At that time supporters adopted the moniker 'deplorables.'”

FLAG: Senate Majority Leader John Thune just filed cloture on the nominations of John Marck for the Southern District of Texas, Mike Hendershot for the Northern District of Ohio, and Rob Jones for the Southern District of Texas. Votes should begin on these nominations on Wednesday.

NEW: More judicial nominees responded to written questions for the record — including the ones who recently said at their hearing that Joe Biden won the 2020 election "as a matter of law." In written responses, they clung to this bizarre new script. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/judicial-n...

Nope. Collins' legislation was a watered down compromise bill that she hyped up while trashing the Women's Health Protection Act, which is supported by every Dem/Independent senator and groups that advocate for reproductive freedom and civil & human rights. That's what Schumer wanted passed instead.

That's Judge Sparkle Sooknanan — Biden appointee and former DOJ Civil Rights Division lawyer.

One week ago, the Senate confirmed Trump's lawyer Justin Smith to a lifetime seat on the 8th Circuit. Three days later, the Judiciary Committee advanced the nomination of Matthew Schwartz, another Trump lawyer, to the 2nd Circuit. Thune could file cloture on Schwartz's nomination as soon as today.

"The nominees' responses reflect a lack of candor at best and, at worst, immoderate obeisance to the president. Such sycophancy in a judge does not pass the smell test; this retired judge smells a rat."

It doesn't appear that Leader Thune filed cloture on any nominees before the Senate adjourned today. No more judicial confirmations until at least next Wednesday if cloture is filed when they return on Monday. Seven lifetime nominees are now pending on the Senate floor.

FYI: This morning the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced legislation to require open proceedings of the U.S. Supreme Court to be televised. The Cameras in the Courtroom Act, introduced by Chair Grassley and Ranking Member Durbin, passed by voice vote.

During this morning's Senate Judiciary Committee markup, Senator @whitehouse.senate.gov said that Berthiaume has a "record of integrity as an inspector general. Integrity is a quality sorely lacking in this Department of Justice." And then voted to advance his nomination.

Next week, ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF DOBBS, the Judiciary Committee is holding a nominations hearing. The witness list is expected to include anti-abortion activist Matthew Byrne, who wrote on a judicial survey: “My pro-life credentials cannot be questioned." nominationnotes.substack.com/p/ohio-judic...

These four district court nominees all advanced to the Senate floor this morning.

Remember this guy? Trump's personal lawyer and 2nd Circuit nominee Matthew Schwartz advanced to the Senate floor this morning. Happy Pride!

His nomination advanced to the Senate floor this morning.

NEW: On the eve of Juneteenth, Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee just advanced the nominations of six white men — with troubling civil rights records — to serve as lifetime federal judges. And of course: One is Trump's personal lawyer. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/judiciary-...