Overview
- Five of Trump’s 11 new judicial picks, led by Missouri Solicitor General Joshua Divine and Tennessee lawyer Whitney Hermandorfer, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 4
- Nominees built their reputations by suing to block Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan, defending state abortion bans and restricting transgender health protections
- Hearings follow Trump’s public split with Leonard Leo and the Federalist Society, marking a shift toward more politically loyal judicial appointments
- Emil Bove, former Trump defense lawyer and Justice Department official, is the only appellate nominee lacking ties to the Federalist Society
- Senate Republican leaders vow swift confirmation votes to reinforce a conservative judiciary aimed at curbing federal agency power