Judicial Appointments Under Trump Highlight Party Dynamics
Recent judicial appointments by Donald Trump have brought attention to both Republican strategic initiatives and perceived Democratic shortcomings. Among the appointments is an attorney notable for involvement in significant anti-transgender litigation.
Over the past week, Trump nominated four district court judges and one appellate judge. Throughout his first term, Trump made 234 judicial appointments, and his second term offers opportunities for further similar actions.
The district court appointees, all from Missouri, are established Republican litigators. Two have previously served the Republican Missouri attorney general. Their backgrounds as practicing litigators rather than traditional academic profiles mark a strategic distinction. Whether this trend continues or reverts to past practices involving Federalist Society affiliates remains to be observed.
A noteworthy nomination is Whitney Hermandorfer for the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, replacing Obama appointee Jane Branstetter Stranch. Hermandorfer, if confirmed, would succeed Stranch, who entered senior status pending a successor’s confirmation.
Joe Biden had previously nominated Karla Campbell, a former clerk of Stranch, during a Democrat-controlled Senate, which ultimately did not confirm her. Campbell’s rejection became part of a broader deal by Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, which left several circuit judge nominees unconfirmed, aiming instead for a larger count of district court appointments.
Hermandorfer’s impending confirmation by the Republican Senate appears likely. Her credentials include membership in the Federalist Society and clerking experience with prominent conservative judges such as Brett Kavanaugh and Supreme Court justices Samuel Alito and Amy Coney Barrett.
Hermandorfer currently serves in Tennessee’s Attorney General’s office. Her involvement in the controversial case US v. Skrmetti, concerning Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors, has illustrated her influence in significant cultural legal battles.
Certain Republican commentators, including Michael Fragoso, praise Hermandorfer’s nomination, interpreting it as a reconciliation between Trump and mainstream conservative legal ideologies.
At 37, Hermandorfer has a potentially long tenure ahead. This contrasts with past Democratic trends of nominating more senior jurists, resulting in repeated vacancies.
The Sixth Circuit Court, which oversees states like Michigan and Ohio, may see its Republican representation solidified, potentially expanding these influences through additional appointments before the term’s end.
The ongoing judicial appointment strategies reveal significant dynamics within both major political parties concerning control of the federal judiciary, a contentious arena that may bear long-term implications for U.S. legal and social policies.
