Stacking the Courts: The Fight Against Trump’s Extremist Judicial Nominees
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Federal courts have been rejecting Trump’s unconstitutional policies, so now Trump is trying to change the courts. In nomination after nomination, his picks for federal courts are hostile to civil rights in general and specifically hostile to LGBTQ rights. As the Senate tries to rubberstamp and rush these nominees through, Lambda Legal has spearheaded a broad effort to expose their records and inform both senators and the public of the dangers they pose to our rights, to the rule of law, and to the nation itself.
As explained in our recent report, many of these nominees (1 in 3) have deep histories of anti-LGBTQ advocacy, which is why Lambda Legal is working so hard to defeat them. You can help by calling your senators and asking them to reject unqualified people for lifetime judgeships.
Listed here, by state, are all the nominees, the status of their nominations, Lambda Legal statements, blogs, and coalition letters detailing their positions and our reasons for opposing their confirmation.
Last updated 10/16/2018.
Choose your state:
Supreme Court
District of Columbia
First Circuit
No current nominees.
Second Circuit
Court of Appeals
- Richard J Sullivan; nominated 5/7/2018, CONFIRMED 10/11/2018
Third Circuit
Court of Appeals
- Stephanos Bibas; nominated 6/19/2017 for seat vacated 7/1/2015, CONFIRMED 11/2/2017
- Paul B. Matey; nominated 4/10/2018
- David J. Porter; nominated 4/10/2018 for seat vacated 2/1/2017, CONFIRMED 10/11/2018
Fourth Circuit
Court of Appeals
- Allison Jones Rushing; nominated 8/28/2018
Fifth Circuit
Court of Appeals
- Stuart Kyle Duncan; nominated 10/2/2017 for seat vacated 12/31/2016, CONFIRMED 04/24/2018
- Announcement
- Coalition Letter of Opposition
- Coalition Letter of Opposition - Full Senate
- Statement: Lambda Legal Condemns Confirmation of Virulent Anti-LGBT Judge
- Statement: Lambda Legal Urges U.S. Senate to Heed “Chorus of Opposition” and Vote No On Kyle Duncan
- Statement: Lambda Legal on the Front Lines This Week Opposing Trump’s Extremely Dangerous Nominees to the Federal Bench
- Statement: Lambda Legal: Chairman Grassley and Senate Judiciary GOP Bulldoze Judicial Nomination Process to Stack Federal Courts with Extremist Nominees
- Blog: Lambda Legal Condemns Confirmation of Virulent Anti-LGBT Judge
- Blog: Lambda Legal Urges U.S. Senate to Heed “Chorus of Opposition” and Vote No On Kyle Duncan
- Blog: On the Front Lines This Week Opposing Trump’s Extremely Dangerous Nominees
- Blog: Trump Nominee Kyle Duncan Has Spent His Whole Career Working to Annihilate Civil Rights Progress
- Kurt Engelhardt; nominated 1/8/2018, CONFIRMED 5/8/2018
- James Ho; nominated 9/28/2017 for seat vacated 12/31/2013, CONFIRMED 12/14/2017
- Announcement
- Letter of Concern
- Letter of Concern - Full Senate
- Statement: Lambda Legal Urges Senate to Oppose Trump’s Anti-LGBT Judicial Nominees as McConnell Prepares Today to Advance Confirmations of Three More Extreme Nominees to Lifetime Appointments on the Federal Bench
- Statement: Lambda Legal to Senate: Indecent, Extremist, Anti-LGBT Nominees Have No Place on the Federal Bench
- Statement: Lambda Legal: Senate Takes Two Steps Backwards with Dangerous Judicial Confirmations While Rest of the Nation Takes Giant Step Forward Standing Against Division and Hatred
- Andrew S. Oldham; nominated 2/12/18, CONFIRMED 6/18/2018
- Don Willett; nominated 10/3/2017 for seat vacated 8/1/2012, CONFIRMED 12/13/2017
- Announcement
- Coalition Letter of Opposition
- Coalition Letter of Opposition - Full Senate
- Statement: Lambda Legal on the Front Lines This Week Opposing Trump’s Extremely Dangerous Nominees to the Federal Bench
- Statement: Lambda Legal: Don Willett Does Not Reflect the “Best of Texas;” Part of a Long Line of Extreme and Dangerous Nominees to Lifetime Appointments on the Federal Bench
- Statement: Lambda Legal to Senate Judiciary Committee: Stop Advancing Trump’s Dangerous Judicial Nominees on the Backs of LGBT Americans
- Statement: Lambda Legal Urges Senate to Oppose Trump’s Anti-LGBT Judicial Nominees as McConnell Prepares Today to Advance Confirmations of Three More Extreme Nominees to Lifetime Appointments on the Federal Bench
- Statement: Lambda Legal to Senate: Indecent, Extremist, Anti-LGBT Nominees Have No Place on the Federal Bench
- Statement: Lambda Legal Slams U.S. Senate for Continued Degradation of the Federal Judiciary This Week
- Blog: On the Front Lines This Week Opposing Trump’s Extremely Dangerous Nominees
- Blog: Don Willett Does Not Reflect the “Best of Texas”
Sixth Circuit
Court of Appeals
- John Kenneth Bush; CONFIRMED 7/20/2017
- Coalition Letter of Opposition
- Statement: Lambda Legal Condemns Confirmation of John K. Bush to Federal Bench, Vows to Continue Fighting Anti-LGBT Judicial Nominees Poised for Lifetime Appointments
- Blog: Meet the Newest Federal Court Judge John K. Bush, Who Just So Happens to Have Extreme Anti-LGBT Beliefs
- Joan Louise Larsen; nominated 5/8/2017, CONFIRMED 11/1/2017
- Eric E. Murphy; nominated 6/18/2018
- Chad A. Readler; nominated 6/18/2018
Seventh Circuit
Court of Appeals
- Amy Coney Barrett; nominated 5/8/2017 for seat vacated 2/18/2015, CONFIRMED 10/30/2017
- Michael Brennan; nominated 8/3/2017 for seat vacated 1/7/2010, CONFIRMED 5/10/2018
- Announcement
- Statement: Lambda Legal Statement Following Brennan’s Confirmation Hearing In Senate Judiciary Committee
- Statement: With Brennan’s Confirmation, One in 10 Judges on U.S. Courts of Appeals Now a Trump Pick
- Blog: With Brennan’s Confirmation, One in 10 Judges on U.S. Courts of Appeals Now a Trump Pick
- Amy J. St. Eves; nominated 2/12/2018, CONFIRMED 5/14/2018
- Michael Y. Scudder, Jr.; nominated 2/12/2018, CONFIRMED 5/14/2018
Eighth Circuit
Court of Appeals
- Ralph Erickson; nominated 6/7/2017 for seat vacated 4/22/2015, CONFIRMED 9/28/2017
- L. Steven Grasz; nominated 8/3/2017, CONFIRMED 12/12/2017
- Coalition Letter of Opposition
- Coalition Letter of Opposition - Full Senate
- Statement: Lambda Legal: Rush by Sen. McConnell to Jam Through Anti-LGBT Judicial Nominees Threatens to Choke Justice Across the Country
- Statement: Lambda Legal: America Deserves Better – Rather Than Attacking ABA, Senators Should Reject Unqualified Judicial Nominees
- Statement: Lambda Legal Brings Together 28 Other LGBT Organizations to Oppose Nominations of L. Steven Grasz and Mark Norris to Federal Bench Ahead of Senate Judiciary Vote Today, Citing Extreme Anti-LGBT Records
- Statement: Lambda Legal to Senate Judiciary Committee: Stop Advancing Trump’s Dangerous Judicial Nominees on the Backs of LGBT Americans
- Statement: Lambda Legal Urges Senate to Oppose Trump’s Anti-LGBT Judicial Nominees as McConnell Prepares Today to Advance Confirmations of Three More Extreme Nominees to Lifetime Appointments on the Federal Bench
- Statement: Lambda Legal Condemns Senate for Confirming Unqualified, Anti-LGBT Judicial Nominee to a Lifetime Appointment on the Federal Bench
- Blog: Donald Trump Keeps Losing in the Courts, so He’s Trying to Take Them Over
- Blog: America Deserves Better: Rather Than Attacking ABA, Senators Should Reject Unqualified Judicial Nominees
- Blog: We've Joined With 28 Other LGBT Organizations To Oppose Trump's Radically Anti-LGBT Judicial Nominees Norris and Grasz
- Blog: The Senate Just Confirmed an Unqualified, Anti-LGBT Judge to a Lifetime Appointment on the Federal Bench
- David Ryan Stras; nominated 5/8/2017 for seat vacated 11/29/2016, CONFIRMED 01/30/2018
- Questionnaire
- Letter of Opposition
- Statement: Lambda Legal: Chairman Grassley and Senate Judiciary GOP Bulldoze Judicial Nomination Process to Stack Federal Courts with Extremist Nominees
- Statement: Following U.S. Senate Confirmation of Supreme Court “Short-Lister” David Stras to Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Blog: Judicial Nominee and Supreme Court Shortlister David Stras Passed Trump’s Litmus Test - and That Should Scare You
- Blog: U.S. Senate Confirms Supreme Court “Short-Lister” David Stras to Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Jonathan A. Kobes; nominated 6/11/2018
Ninth Circuit
Court of Appeals
- Mark J. Bennett; nominated 2/12/2018, CONFIRMED 7/10/2018
- Ryan Wesley Bounds; nominated 9/7/2017, WITHDRAWN 7/19/2018
- Blog: Mitch McConnell Was Just Forced to Withdraw a Trump Nominee: Here's Why It Matters
- Statement: Lambda Legal on Withdrawal of Ryan Bounds’ Nomination
- Statement: Lambda Legal: Another Anti-LGBT Nominee Passes Senate Judiciary Committee with Trump’s Rhetoric
- Coalition Letter of Opposition
- Statement: Lambda Legal: Ninth Circuit Nominee’s Demonstrated Lack of Judgment is Disqualifying
- Blog: Lambda Legal: Ninth Circuit Nominee’s Demonstrated Lack of Judgment is Disqualifying
- Ryan D. Nelson; nominated 05/07/2018, CONFIRMED 10/11/2018
- Eric D. Miller; nominated 7/19/2018
- Bridget Shelton Bade; nominated 8/28/2018
Tenth Circuit
Court of Appeals
- Joel M. Carson III; nominated 12/20/2017, CONFIRMED 5/15/2018
- Allison Eid; nominated 6/7/2017 for seat vacated 4/7/2017, CONFIRMED 11/2/2017
Eleventh Circuit
Court of Appeals
- Elizabeth L. Branch; nominated 9/7/17, CONFIRMED 2/27/2018
- Britt C. Grant; nominated 4/10/2018, CONFIRMED 7/31/2018
Supreme Court
Brett Kavanaugh; nominated 7/9/18, CONFIRMED 10/6/2018
- Blog: Lambda Legal Decries Kavanaugh Vote & Republican Manipulation of Confirmation Process
- Blog: Lambda Legal Appeals to Senate to Vote No on Kavanaugh
- Blog: The American People Deserve the Truth about Kavanaugh’s LGBTQ Record Before His Hearings Begin on September 4th
- Letter: 63 National, State and Local LGBT Groups Oppose Confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh
- Blog: LGBTQ Advocates Oppose Brett Kavanaugh Confirmation to US Supreme Court as a Threat to Queer Lives
- Statement: LGBTQ Advocates Oppose Brett Kavanaugh Confirmation to US Supreme Court as a Threat to Queer Lives
- Blog: We Reviewed All of Judge Kavanaugh's Record. Here's What We Found.
- Blog: Nominee Judge Kavanaugh Would Guarantee 40 More Years of Trump Values on the Supreme Court
- Statement: Lambda Legal on the Nomination of Brett Kavanaugh
- Blog: These Are Trump's 3 Most Likely Supreme Court Picks. They're Not Good.
- Statement: Lambda Legal on the Retirement of Justice Kennedy
Circuit of the District of Columbia
Court of Appeals
- Gregory Katsas; nominated 9/7/2017 for seat vacated 8/31/2017, CONFIRMED 11/28/2017
- Carl J. Nichols; nominated 6/18/2018
- Announcement
- Coalition Letter of Opposition - Senate Judiciary Committee
- Coalition Letter of Opposition - Full Senate
- Statement: Lambda Legal: Senate Judiciary Republicans Continue Rubber Stamping Trump’s Anti-LGBT Agenda By Moving Forward With Gregory Katsas’ Nomination to Federal Bench
- Statement: Lambda Legal Brings Together 40 Other LGBT Organizations to Oppose Nomination of Gregory Katsas to Powerful D.C. Circuit, Citing “Prolific” Anti-LGBT Legal Work
- Statement: Lambda Legal to U.S. Senate: Architect of Administration’s Anti-LGBT Agenda Has No Place on Powerful DC Circuit Court
- Statement: Enough is Enough: Lambda Legal Condemns U.S. Senate for Handing Architect of Trump Administration’s Anti-LGBT Agenda Lifetime Appointment on Powerful DC Circuit Court
- Blog: Despite Opposition, Senate Judiciary Republicans Continue Rubber-Stamping Trump's Anti-LGBT Agenda
- Blog: 41 LGBT Organizations Oppose Nomination of Gregory Katsas to Powerful D.C. Circuit, Citing “Prolific” Anti-LGBT Legal Work
- Blog: Architect of Administration’s Anti-LGBT Agenda Has No Place on Powerful DC Circuit Court
- Blog: The U.S. Senate Just Handed A Lifetime Appointment To The Architect of Trump's Anti-LGBT Agenda
DC Superior Court
- Kelly Higashi; nominated 2/05/2018, CONFIRMED 7/12/2018
- Shana Frost Matini; nominated 2/05/2018
District of District of Columbia
- Dabney Friedrich; nominated 6/7/2017 for seat vacated 12/31/2015, CONFIRMED 11/27/2017
- Matthew Petersen; nominated 9/11/2017 for seat vacated 3/16/2016
Alabama
Northern District of Alabama
- Annemarie Axon; nominated 7/19/2017 for seat vacated 7/19/2017, CONFIRMED 6/6/2018
- Liles Burke; nominated 7/19/2017 for seat vacated 8/31/2013, CONFIRMED 10/11/2018
- Stephanie A. Gallagher; nominated 06/11/2018
- Cory L. Maze; nominated 05/15/2018
Middle District of Alabama
- Andrew L. Brasher; nominated 4/10/2018
- Brett Talley; nominated 9/7/2017, WITHDRAWN 12/13/2017
Alaska
- Jonathan W. Katchen; nominated 4/10/2018
Arizona
- Susan Brnovich; nominated 01/24/2018, CONFIRMED 10/11/2018
Arkansas
No current nominees.
California
No current nominees.
Colorado
- Daniel Domenico; nominated 10/2/2017 for seat vacated 4/12/2016
Connecticut
- Kari A. Dooley; nominated 12/20/2017
Delaware
- Colm F. Connolly; nominated 12/20/2017, CONFIRMED 8/1/2018
- Maryellen Noreika; nominated 12/20/2017, CONFIRMED 8/9/2018
Florida
Middle District of Florida
- Wendy Williams Berger; nominated 4/10/2017
- William F. Jung; nominated 12/20/2017, CONFIRMED 9/6/2018
- Thomas Barber; nominated 05/07/2018
Northern District of Florida
- Allen C. Winsor; nominated 4/10/2018
- T. Kent Wetherell II; nominated 05/07/2018
Southern District of Florida
- Rodney Smith; nominated 05/07/2018
- Rodolfo Ruiz; nominated 05/07/2018
- Roy Altman; nominated 05/07/2018
Georgia
Middle District of Georgia
- Michael Brown; nominated 7/13/2017 for seat vacated 7/21/2014, CONFIRMED 1/11/2018
- Tilman Self III; nominated 7/13/2017 for seat vacated 9/1/2016, CONFIRMED 3/5/2018
Northern District of Georgia
- William McCrary Ray II; nominated 7/13/2017 for seat vacated 3/31/2017, CONFIRMED 10/11/2018
- J.P. Boulee; nominated 08/28/2018
Hawaii
- Jill A. Otake; nominated 12/20/2017, CONFIRMED 8/1/2018
Idaho
No current nominees.
Illinois
Northern District of Illinois
- Steven C. Seeger; nominated 06/18/2018
- Mary M. Rowland; nominated 06/18/2018
- Martha M. Pacold; nominated 06/11/2018
Indiana
Northern District of Indiana
- Holly A. Brady; 4/10/2018
- Damon R. Leichty; nominated 07/17/2018
Southern District of Indiana
- J.P. Hanlon; 4/10/2018, CONFIRMED 10/11/2018
Iowa
- C.J. Williams; nominated 2/12/2018, CONFIRMED 9/6/2018
Kansas
- John Broomes; nominated 9/7/2017 for seat vacated 5/1/2017, CONFIRMED 4/12/2018
- Holly Teeter; nominated 8/3/2017 for seat vacated 4/22/2014, CONFIRMED 8/1/2018
Kentucky
Eastern District of Kentucky
- Robert Wier; nominated 8/3/2017 for seat vacated 5/25/2017, CONFIRMED 5/5/2018
- Claria Boom; nominated 6/13/2017 for seat vacated 1/8/2013, CONFIRMED 4/10/2018
Louisiana
Eastern District of Louisiana
- Barry Ashe; nominated 1/8/2018, CONFIRMED 8/28/2018
- Wendy Vitter; nominated 1/23/2018
Western District of Louisiana
- Terry Doughty; nominated 8/3/2017 for seat vacated 5/31/2016, CONFIRMED 3/6/2018
- Michael Juneau; nominated 8/3/2017, CONFIRMED 10/11/2018
- William McCrary Ray II; nominated 7/13/2017 for seat vacated 3/31/2017, CONFIRMED 10/11/2018
- James D. Cain, Jr; nominated 08/28/2018
Maine
- Lance E. Walker; nominated 4/10/2018, CONFIRMED 10/11/2018
Maryland
No current nominees.
Massachusetts
No current nominees.
Michigan
No current nominees.
Minnesota
- Nancy E. Brasel; nominated 2/12/2018, CONFIRMED 8/28/2018
- Eric C. Tostrud; nominated 2/12/2018, CONFIRMED 9/6/2018
Mississippi
No current nominees.
Missouri
Eastern District of Missouri
- Stephen R. Clark, Sr.; nominated 4/10/2018
Montana
No current nominees.
Nebraska
No current nominees.
Nevada
No current nominees.
New Hampshire
No current nominees.
New Jersey
No current nominees.
New Mexico
No current nominees.
New York
Eastern District of New York
- Rachel P. Kovner; nominated 05/15/2018
- Eric R. Komitee; nominated 05/15/2018
- Diane Gujarati; nominated 05/15/2018
- Gary Richard Brown; nominated 05/15/2018
Western District of New York
- John Sinatra; nominated 05/15/2018
Southern District of New York
- Mary Kay Vyskocil; nominated 05/15/2018
- Lewis J. Liman; nominated 05/15/2018
North Carolina
- Thomas Farr; nominated 1/8/2018
- Lambda Legal and Equality North Carolina Letter Opposing Thomas Farr
- Lambda Legal Condemns McConnell’s Decision to Advance Thomas Farr Nomination Despite History of Black Disenfranchisement
- Lambda Legal and Equality NC Oppose Confirmation of Thomas Farr
- Blog: Senate Judiciary Must Set New Hearing for Unqualified Judge Nominees Brett Talley and Thomas Farr
- Questionnaire
- Announcement
North Dakota
No current nominees.
Ohio
Northern District of Ohio
- Pamela A. Barker; nominated 4/10/2018
Southern District of Ohio
- Sarah D. Morrison; nominated 4/12/2018
Oklahoma
Western District of Oklahoma
- Charles Goodwin; nominated 7/13/2017 for seat vacated 7/14/2015, CONFIRMED 8/28/2018
- Scott L. Palk; nominated 5/8/2017 for seat vacated 12/1/2014, CONFIRMED 10/25/17
- Patrick Wyrick; nominated 4/10/2018
Eastern, Northern, and Western Districts of Oklahoma
- John M. O’Connor; nominated 4/10/2018
Oregon
- Karen Immergut; nominated 06/11/2018
Pennsylvania
Western District of Pennsylvania
- Susan Paradise Baxter; nominated 12/20/2017, CONFIRMED 8/28/2018
- Marilyn Jean Horan; nominated 12/20/2017, CONFIRMED 9/6/2018
- Nicholas Ranjan; nominated 07/17/2018
- Peter J. Phipps; nominated 2/12/2018, CONFIRMED 10/11/2018
Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- Chad F. Kenney; nominated 12/20/2017, CONFIRMED 10/11/2018
- John Milton Younge; nominated 07/17//2018
- Joshua Wolson; nominated 05/15/2018
Puerto Rico
- Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach; nominated 4/10/2018
Rhode Island
- Mary E. McElroy; nominated 4/10/2018
South Carolina
No current nominees.
South Dakota
No current nominees.
Tennessee
Middle District of Tennessee
- William Campbell Jr.; nominated 7/13/2017 for seat vacated 4/15/2017, CONFIRMED 1/9/2018
- Eli Richardson; nominated 7/13/2017 for seat vacated 12/1/2016, CONFIRMED 10/11/2018
Western District of Tennessee
- Mark Norris Sr.; nominated 7/13/2017 for seat vacated 3/18/2017, CONFIRMED 10/11/2018
- Announcement
- Questionnaire
- Coalition Letter of Opposition
- Statement: Lambda Legal: Rush by Sen. McConnell to Jam Through Anti-LGBT Judicial Nominees Threatens to Choke Justice Across the Country
- Statement: Lambda Legal Brings Together 28 Other LGBT Organizations to Oppose Nominations of L. Steven Grasz and Mark Norris to Federal Bench Ahead of Senate Judiciary Vote Today, Citing Extreme Anti-LGBT Records
- Statement: Lambda Legal to Senate Judiciary Committee: Stop Advancing Trump’s Dangerous Judicial Nominees on the Backs of LGBT Americans
- Blog: Mark Norris: TFW Your Anti-LGBTQ Record Is Worse Than Most Other Trump Nominees
- Blog: We've Joined With 28 Other LGBT Organizations To Oppose Trump's Radically Anti-LGBT Judicial Nominees Norris and Grasz
- Thomas Parker; nominated 7/13/2017 for seat vacated 7/1/2015, CONFIRMED 1/10/2018
Texas
Southern District of Texas
-
- Jeff Mateer; nominated 9/7/2017, WITHDRAWN 12/13/2017
- Jeremy D. Kernodle; nominated 01/23/2018, CONFIRMED 10/11/2018
- Matthew Kacsmaryk; nominated 9/7/2017 for seat vacated 2/3/2016
- Karen Scholer; nominated 9/7/2017 for seat vacated 5/1/2016, CONFIRMED 3/5/2018
- David S. Morales; nominated 4/12/2018
Utah
- Howard Nielson Jr.; nominated 9/28/2017 for seat vacated 9/1/2014
- Announcement
- Coalition Letter of Opposition
- Statement: Lambda Legal: Trump’s Assault on LGBT Rights Continues with Latest Judicial Nominee
- Statement: Lambda Legal: Senate Judiciary Committee Forces Through Yet Another Anti-LGBT Nominee, Howard Nielson
- Blog: Trump’s Assault on LGBT Rights Continues with Latest Judicial Nominee
- Blog: Senate Judiciary Committee Forces Through Yet Another Anti-LGBT Nominee, Howard Nielson
Vermont
No current nominees.
Virginia
Eastern District of Virginia
- Kenneth D. Bell; nominated 4/20/2018
- Donald C. Coggins; nominated 8/3/2017, CONFIRMED 11/16/2017
- A. Marvin Quattlebaum Jr.; nominated 8/3/2017, CONFIRMED 3/1/2018
- Thomas S. Kleeh; nominated 2/15/2018, CONFIRMED 10/11/2018
- Rossie D. Alston Jr.; nominated 06/18/2018
Washington
No current nominees.
West Virginia
No current nominees.
Wisconsin
Eastern District of Wisconsin
- Gordon P. Giampietro; nominated 12/20/2017
- Statement: Civil Rights Leaders Condemn Trump Judicial Nominee Following Discovery Of Inflammatory Audio Recordings
- Statement: Trump Judicial Nominee Mocks Gay Marriage, Racial Diversity, and Justice Kennedy
- Blog: YOU Can Help Stop Trump's Latest Anti-Civil Rights Judicial Nominee, Gordon Giampetro
- Coalition Letter of Opposition
Wyoming
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