President Trump named new judicial nominees on Wednesday, including three spots on the federal courts of appeals.
Trump picked Colorado Supreme Court Justice Allison H. Eid to fill the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals vacancy created by Justice Neil Gorsuch’s confirmation to the Supreme Court. Trump had included Eid on his Supreme Court short lists, and conservatives were quick to praise her selection for the appeals court slot. Judicial Crisis Network chief counsel Carrie Severino praised Trump’s newest selection.
“Many of the nominees [named Wednesday] are well known in the conservative legal movement and have shown commitment to principled and even-handed application of the law throughout their careers,” Severino said. “For the many Americans whose top concern in November was electing a president who would put committed constitutionalists to the courts, this is another major victory.”
Trump also selected U.S. District Court Judge Ralph R. Erickson from North Dakota for the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals and University of Pennsylvania Law School professor Stephanos Bibas for the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals.
“President Trump continues to put forward superlative judicial nominees with sterling credentials and impressive intellects,” said Jonathan Adler, Case Western Reserve University law professor. “It’s especially notable that President Trump continues to pick current and former academics for the appellate bench — more so than any recent president. This will only magnify the impact his nominees are likely to have on the federal courts.”
Some conservative legal experts have lamented the pace at which Trump was naming and the Senate was considering judicial nominations. Wednesday’s developments may sate their appetite for the time being.
