President Donald Trump notched his first judicial confirmation of his second term as the Senate approved Whitney Hermandorfer to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, a key federal bench based in Cincinnati. The vote—46-42 along party lines—marks the beginning of a renewed Republican effort to reshape the federal judiciary.
Hermandorfer, 38, is a prominent conservative legal figure who previously clerked for Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Amy Coney Barrett, as well as Justice Brett Kavanaugh when he served on the D.C. Circuit. She most recently led a strategic litigation unit in Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti’s office, where she defended the state’s near-total abortion ban and challenged federal protections for transgender students.
Conservative Legal Background
Hermandorfer’s close ties to three sitting conservative justices underscore her alignment with Trump’s long-standing goal of appointing judges who share a strict constitutionalist philosophy. Her confirmation also brings Trump’s total number of judicial appointments to 235, matching the figure achieved by former President Joe Biden.
Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune emphasized the GOP’s mission to fill roughly 50 remaining judicial vacancies with nominees who “respect the limited role of the judiciary” and avoid “legislating from the bench.”
Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley praised Hermandorfer’s qualifications and commitment to conservative legal principles, vowing to push forward with more confirmations despite what he described as Democratic “obstruction.”
Pushback from Democrats
Democrats opposed the nomination, citing Hermandorfer’s relative inexperience—she graduated from law school just over a decade ago—and her record of defending policies aligned with Trump’s agenda. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused the president of appointing “foot soldiers in black robes” to advance a partisan agenda from the bench.
Broader Judicial Strategy
Trump has made clear he intends to use his second term to continue transforming the judiciary, especially after expressing frustration with judges who blocked aspects of his immigration and budget policies. Hermandorfer is the first of 15 nominees Trump has announced since taking office for his second term.
If confirmed in similar numbers to his first term, Trump could significantly extend conservative influence in the federal judiciary for decades.
