Chicago Tuesday, July 15th, 2025
Trump’s Judicial Nominee Confirmed
The US Senate has confirmed President Donald Trump’s first judicial nominee of his second term. Whitney Hermandorfer, a lawyer working under Tennessee’s attorney general, will serve as a life-tenured judge on the Cincinnati-based 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals. She previously clerked for three conservative Supreme Court justices: Samuel Alito, Amy Coney Barrett, and Brett Kavanaugh. The Senate voted 46-42 along party lines, with Republicans supporting her nomination.
Partisan Divide
The confirmation highlights the partisan divide in the Senate. Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune emphasized the need for judges who “understand the proper role of a judge” and interpret the law without legislating from the bench. In contrast, Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Trump’s appointments, saying they’re trying to appoint “foot soldiers in black robes” to the courts.
Impact on Judiciary
With Hermandorfer’s confirmation, Trump has now tied former President Joe Biden’s total of 235 judicial appointments. This milestone is significant as Trump aims to further shift the ideological balance of the judiciary to the right. Republicans plan to push forward with more nominations despite Democratic objections.
