Trump was out of circuit court vacancies for awhile, then magically got four more with judges taking senior status. But with recent nominations of Ben Flowers & Matt Schwartz and tonight's nominations of Daniel Traynor & Dan Domenico, he's back to zero without nominees. Will more judges step aside?

Folks might remember Judge Traynor as the person who thought gender affirming surgery was being performed on transgender newborn infants. ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...

In responses to questions for the record, Kuntz disclosed that he was asked about this pro-Trump ruling during his interview for the judgeship. “During my interview at the White House in February 2025, I was asked about the reasoning of several of my cases, including the Trump v. Alexander case."

NEW: After humiliating themselves at last month's hearing, four judicial nominees — in response to written questions — conceded that Trump can't be elected president in 2028. Still, they dodged questions about the 2020 election & January 6 insurrection. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/four-judic...

Two federal circuit courts have never had a woman of color serving as a judge — the 8th and 10th. Tonight Trump named nominees for both courts, and they are both white men named Daniel.

BREAKING: Trump is nominating Daniel Traynor to serve on the 8th Circuit (North Dakota) and Daniel Domenico to serve on the 10th Circuit (Colorado). Both men were appointed to the district court during Trump's first term.

BREAKING: In written questions for the record, Senator @coons.senate.gov followed up on his question (from the 4/29 hearing) about the 22nd Amendment and whether Trump can run again. All four nominees conceded that No, Trump is not "eligible to be elected President for a third term in 2028."

Black people are giving it these Confederates raw and uncut. This is how it’s gonna be now. You wonder what we’re thinking? It’s this. I believe this is activist Gary Chambers again in Louisiana.

Trump’s judicial nominees seem to share his white supremacist vision for America. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/trumps-jud...

These nominees are now answering written questions for the record, and their responses could be made public on Monday or Tuesday. I hope senators asked some good ones!

This ties in nicely to what I just published about Trump’s judicial nominees sharing his white supremacist vision for America. One of them in particular, Ben Flowers for the 6th Circuit, has filed briefs with America First Legal & reposts the group on X. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/trumps-jud...

NEW: Trump’s judicial nominees seem to share his white supremacist vision for America. His newest picks for the judiciary — two circuit court nominees who will likely appear before the Judiciary Committee on May 20 — underscore this point. Here's why: nominationnotes.substack.com/p/trumps-jud...

Absolutely outrageous Virginia Supreme Court invalidated redistricting referendum approved by the voters when voters haven’t been able to weigh in on a single gerrymander passed in red states

A slower week on my Substack with the Senate on recess, but I did finally just reach 200 subscribers. They include journalists, Senate staffers, fair courts advocates, friends/family, total strangers, and — yes — a pending judicial nominee. Lots planned. Subscribe now! nominationnotes.substack.com

I just cannot get over the fact that Black voters in Memphis, the city where MLK was assassinated and led the Poor People’s Campaign, will no longer have basic representation in Congress

Many accounts are posting video of the 22nd Amendment exchange this week as if it’s breaking news. It’s not. I reported on it in real time, posted a video that day, and immediately published comprehensive hearing coverage. Follow me and subscribe! nominationnotes.substack.com/p/judicial-n...

Heads-up on the North Carolina Supreme Court election this year. @anitaearls.bsky.social is running for reelection - former civil rights atty, brilliant jurist. Get registered and re-elect her.

Reminder. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/trumps-sup...

A slower week on my Substack with the Senate on recess, but I did finally just reach 200 subscribers. They include journalists, Senate staffers, fair courts advocates, friends/family, total strangers, and — yes — a pending judicial nominee. Lots planned. Subscribe now! nominationnotes.substack.com

"Roberts just doesn’t like the accountability that comes along with being a part of the political process in the U.S. In that sense, this complaint from Roberts is the most Trump-like thing about him."

Two things didn't happen yesterday. 1) The Senate Judiciary Committee didn't notice a hearing for 5/13, so the next hearing (on judicial nominees) is likely 5/20. They're required to publicly announce one week in advance. 2) No new nominees (publicly) announced, so there may not be a 6/3 hearing.

White supremacy in action.

"Louisiana’s fight against Calvin Duncan is part of a larger, longstanding war on the political power of the state’s Black residents, who just watched the U.S. Supreme Court take a wrecking ball to their right to vote last week."

The Senate Judiciary Committee has noticed a markup next Thursday where they'll vote on the nominations of Justin Smith (Trump's personal lawyer, nominated to the 8th Circuit) and Jeffrey Kuhlman, Tony Mattivi & Tony Powell (all for the District of Kansas). www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-ac...

ICYMI: 2nd Circuit nominee Matthew Schwartz wrote an article in college after Princeton's chapel hosted its first same-sex wedding. “Judeo-Christian objections to homosexuality arise from the Bible, which makes homosexuality a capital crime," he wrote. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/second-cir...

As of now, there are no publicly known judicial nominees for the next open hearing date, June 3. It seems like only Flowers and Schwartz will appear at the May 13 hearing, so that's four district court nominees that Trump has missed out on. The WH will need to pick more noms by tomorrow for June 3.

2nd Circuit nominee Matthew Schwartz wrote an article at Princeton bashing a same-sex wedding held at the school's chapel. He referred to homosexuality as a "capital crime" and said “the emotional harm caused to God-fearing Princetonians is inexcusable.” nominationnotes.substack.com/p/second-cir...

I didn't say this in the story, but President Biden appointed two openly LGBTQ+ women to the 2nd Circuit — the first two openly LGBTQ+ women to EVER serve on any federal appellate court in America (he also appointed the third to another court). Soon, they may be serving alongside Matthew Schwartz.

Last week, during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, four of Trump's judicial nominees remained silent when Sen. Coons asked them whether Trump can run for a third term (that was, of course, after one of them didn't know what the 22nd Amendment says). nominationnotes.substack.com/p/judicial-n...

When two male Princeston students got married in the university chapel in 1997, Trump's Second Circuit nominee, Matthew Schwartz, wrote a column blasting the "gay movement" for pushing its "misconeived notion of equal rights," and for inflicting "emotional harm on "God-fearing Princetonians"

Can you imagine an LGBTQ+ person ever being safe, let alone being treated fairly under the law, in this man's courtroom?

fuckin yikes

NEW: 2nd Circuit pick Matthew Schwartz disclosed to senators an article he wrote in college when Princeton hosted a same-sex wedding. “Judeo-Christian objections to homosexuality arise from the Bible, which makes homosexuality a capital crime," he wrote. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/second-cir...

The Senate is out this week, but I WILL be publishing stories about judicial nominees (and perhaps those awful US Attorney nominees who are included in the en bloc package). Subscribe now (I’m two away from 200 subscribers) to get the latest, starting tomorrow morning. nominationnotes.substack.com

During the hearing, after all nominees refused to respond, Sen. Whitehouse said: "I hope you realize how ridiculous the four of you look — spouting these preposterous, canned answers...If you can’t even sit here and say that Joe Biden won that election or that the Capitol was attacked? What’s left?"

I'm three subscribers away 😇

“In a time of crisis, these three senators have chosen a delusion of normalcy over their obligation to their country, their constituents, their party, and the Constitution," said @joshorton.bsky.social, president of @wedemandjustice.bsky.social. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/senator-wh...

Since mid-October, I've written 125+ stories about federal judicial nominations (and related issues) — many about things that aren't being covered elsewhere. I'm super close to 200 subscribers and would love your help spreading the word. Please consider signing up! nominationnotes.substack.com

Since mid-October, I've written 125+ stories about federal judicial nominations (and related issues) — many about things that aren't being covered elsewhere. I'm super close to 200 subscribers and would love your help spreading the word. Please consider signing up! nominationnotes.substack.com

And the lawyer representing Trump in the defamation case brought by Carroll? That's Justin Smith. Trump nominated him to the 8th Circuit, and he is currently pending before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

I've written about these men, and their nominations should alarm EVERYONE. Example: Phillip Williams has said parents of trans children should be drowned. He also compared efforts to support gender-affirming care to slavery and the Holocaust. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/us-attorne...

"It is alarming that Schwartz has defended a mortgage company who engaged in reverse redlining, making communities of color more likely to lose their homes — and also supported efforts to criminalize people who don’t have a place to live." nominationnotes.substack.com/p/second-cir...

It's been almost 2,000 days since January 6, and judicial nominee Mike Hendershot won't say whether the Capitol was attacked that day — and says he hasn't really seen many videos of it. Rob Jones and Jeffrey Kuntz also won't say whether it was attacked. Thank you Senator @blumenthal.senate.gov.

NEW: Last month, Senator Whitehouse told four judicial nominees "I hope you realize how ridiculous the four of you look — spouting these preposterous, canned answers." This morning, he voted to advance one of their nominations to the floor. What changed? nominationnotes.substack.com/p/senator-wh...

Remember when @whitehouse.senate.gov said "I hope you realize how ridiculous the four of you look" and stated that "If you can’t even sit here & say that Joe Biden won that election or that the Capitol was attacked? What’s left?" Today, he voted to advance one of these nominees to the Senate floor.

NEW: The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced four judicial nominees today, including one who got support from three Democrats. All four refused to say Biden won in 2020 and wouldn't comment on January 6. Could be confirmed as soon as the week of May 11. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/judiciary-...

BREAKING: The Senate Judiciary Committee just advanced four judicial nominees, three for lifetime seats. Katie Lane, Kara Westercamp, and Evan Rikhye received party-line votes (12-10). Sheria Clarke advanced 15-7, with Senators Durbin, Whitehouse, and Coons voting with Republicans.

I love Sen. Padilla, but today marks 9 months since he's attended a judicial nominations hearing & asked questions of judicial nominees. He also hasn't asked any questions for the record since the nominees who were at that hearing last July. He votes NO on all of them, but he needs to show up, too.

It's been almost 2,000 days since January 6, and judicial nominee Mike Hendershot won't say whether the Capitol was attacked that day — and says he hasn't really seen many videos of it. Rob Jones and Jeffrey Kuntz also won't say whether it was attacked. Thank you Senator @blumenthal.senate.gov.

Yesterday afternoon, four of Trump’s lifetime judicial nominees refused to say that Joe Biden won the 2020 election, that the U.S. Capitol was attacked on January 6, and that Trump can't run for a third term. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/judicial-n...