Senate Confirms Trump’s Pick To Join Liberal-Majority US Appeals Court

The U.S. Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s first nominee to the Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals,

marking a shift in a court long dominated by Democratic appointees.

The Senate voted 52–46 along party lines to approve Joshua Dunlap, a conservative lawyer from Maine, to the lifetime position.

His confirmation gives Trump his first opportunity to influence this appellate court, which oversees federal cases in New England.

Until this appointment, the 1st Circuit had been the only one of the 13 federal appeals courts without a judge selected by a Republican president.

This made it a preferred venue for challenges to Trump’s policies during his earlier term.

Dunlap’s confirmation alters that balance, signaling the administration’s broader goal of reshaping the federal judiciary.

Trump had not appointed any judges to this court during his first term. His chance to do so arose when Judge William Kayatta,

appointed by President Obama, assumed senior status in late 2024.

President Biden’s nominee, Julia Lipez, was not confirmed before he left office, allowing Trump to fill the vacancy.

In July, Trump selected Dunlap, a partner at Pierce Atwood, who pledged to uphold the Constitution.

Dunlap holds degrees from Pensacola Christian College and Notre Dame Law School and previously interned at a conservative legal advocacy group.

His legal career includes work on cases challenging Maine’s voting system, family leave laws, and campaign finance regulations.

This week, the Senate also approved another Trump nominee,

Eric Tung, to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The 52–45 vote made Tung the first judge Trump appointed to that court during his second term.

Tung, a former clerk for Justices Neil Gorsuch and Antonin Scalia, was a federal prosecutor before joining Jones Day.

His confirmation narrows the Democratic majority on the 9th Circuit.

Related Posts

Strange goings-on at neighbor’s roof spark reports from Dutch village residents

Snow had settled over the Netherlands, turning streets and homes into a winter landscape. For most villagers, it was a familiar sight. Yet in one small village,…

Music Legend, 87, Overcomes Injury Ahead of Album Launch

A sudden accident has placed a beloved country music legend in the spotlight for unexpected reasons. At 87 years old, the performer suffered a serious fall that…

BREAKING NEWS…US officials: Russia is giving Iran….

US officials: Russia is providing Iran with intelligence on the locations of US forces in the Middle East US officials say Russia is providing Iran with intelligence…

–Savannah Guthrie just collapsed live on the TODAY show after police rushed to … See more

In 2026, where the “light of truth” is often obscured by the “absolute” speed of digital commentary, the network’s plea for privacy was met with a “historic”…

Pima County Sheriff issues alert for kidnapping suspect 7 miles from Nancy Guthrie’s home

Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing since February 1. Authorities believe the 84-year-old was abducted from her Tucson, Arizona home…

‘Most tattooed woman’ to undergo ‘highly illegal’ procedure in Spain

Amber Luke’s body transformation is about to take another dramatic turn as the influencer travels overseas for a controversial procedure that is “highly illegal” in Australia. Australia’s…