President Trump announces five new judicial appointments to federal courts in Missouri and D.C., continuing his legacy of reshaping America’s judiciary with conservative legal minds.
Key Takeaways
- President Trump has nominated Zachary Bluestone, Joshua Divine, Maria Lanahan, and Cristian Stevents for federal district court positions in Missouri, along with Edward Aloysius O’Connell for the Superior Court of D.C.
- The pace of judicial nominations in Trump’s second term has been slower than his first term, primarily due to fewer court vacancies available to fill.
- Joshua Divine brings significant experience, having clerked for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and served as chief counsel to Senator Josh Hawley.
- Trump’s judicial appointments are considered a cornerstone of his presidential legacy, with his first term seeing more appellate court judge confirmations than Biden (54 compared to 45).
- Senator Josh Hawley has expressed optimism about rapid Senate confirmations for these new nominees.
Trump’s Strategic Court Nominations
The Trump administration has unveiled a slate of five judicial nominations targeting the federal district courts in Missouri and the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. This move represents President Trump’s continuing commitment to reshape the federal judiciary with judges who respect constitutional principles. The nomination of Whitney Hermandorfer to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit last week, followed by these five additional appointments, signals that the President is ramping up his judicial selection process in his second term.
Trump Administration Releases List of Key Judicial Nominees: President Trump currently has 46 judicial vacancies to fill. https://t.co/6fT2FXc0b8 pic.twitter.com/Simx1UgnWJ
— The Western Journal (@West_Journal) May 7, 2025
Among the nominees, Joshua Divine stands out with his impressive credentials, having served as a clerk for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and as chief counsel to Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri. Edward Aloysius O’Connell, nominated for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, brings extensive prosecutorial experience from his time in the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington, D.C. In announcing O’Connell’s nomination, President Trump emphasized that the appointee would work to address violent crime in the nation’s capital by “restoring rule of law.”
Slower Pace But Strategic Impact
Observers have noted that Trump’s judicial nomination pace appears slower than during his first term. By this point in his first administration, Neil Gorsuch had already been confirmed to the Supreme Court, and a federal judge had been approved by late May. The current timeline reflects the reality that there are fewer judicial vacancies to fill compared to 2017. Despite this measured approach, the impact of Trump’s judicial appointments remains significant for the American legal landscape.
“Judges protect what we value most in society. No matter who you are, where you come from, what you look like, or who you love, we all deserve judges who can be fair and impartial. That’s why protecting our courts needs to be a two-party job. Democrats and Republicans alike owe it to the American people to ensure that the federal courts remain an impartial institution administering ‘equal justice for all,’ not just the wealthy and the powerful,” said Sharon McGowan.
Senator Josh Hawley has been vocal in urging the administration to expedite filling judicial vacancies, particularly in Missouri. With Republicans holding a majority in the Senate, confirmations are expected to proceed efficiently, continuing the successful judicial appointment strategy that marked President Trump’s first term in office.
Trump’s Judicial Legacy
During his first administration, President Trump transformed the federal judiciary at a historic pace. Five of the 12 circuit courts saw over 25% of their judges appointed by Trump, with the 8th Circuit experiencing the most significant transformation. Circuit courts often serve as the final arbiters in legal cases, with the Supreme Court hearing only a small percentage of appeals, making these appointments particularly consequential for American jurisprudence.
While President Biden slightly surpassed Trump in total judicial appointments during his term (228 to Trump’s 226), Trump appointed more judges to the appellate courts, with 54 compared to Biden’s 45. These appellate appointments are especially important as they review the decisions of trial courts and establish legal precedents that influence law throughout their circuits.
Many of Trump’s judicial nominees have been affiliated with the Federalist Society, which has grown into a network of 75,000 conservative and libertarian legal professionals. This connection underscores the administration’s commitment to appointing judges who adhere to originalist and textualist interpretations of the Constitution, ensuring a lasting impact on American jurisprudence for decades to come.
Sources:
- Trump’s Judicial Appointments Were Confirmed At Historic Pace In 2018 : NPR
- Trump Gets a Slow Start on Judges After Setting a Record Pace in First Term – The New York Times
- Trump Administration Releases List of Key Judicial Nominees
