Great piece from @zackford.bsky.social @afj.org describing how 8th Circuit nominee Justin Smith — along with now-Senator Eric Schmitt and now-SG John Sauer — "advocated for some odious policies, including joining the effort to invalidate Biden’s 2020 win in four states." afj.org/article/this...
Collins’ office hasn't responded to multiple requests for comment since Thursday afternoon, when she also voted against ending debate on Davis’ nomination.
There's nothing on her website or X account explaining her vote, but I'd love to know more (it could of course just be for political reasons).
I'm not sure where other senators were, but Senator Warner's daughter just passed away.
Collins previously opposed Emil Bove’s confirmation to the 3rd Circuit. Senator Lisa Murkowski also opposed Bove’s confirmation, in addition to the confirmation of Jennifer Mascott to the 3rd Circuit.
During Trump’s second term, they have been the only two GOP senators to oppose a judicial nominee.
BREAKING: The Senate just confirmed Andrew Davis to the Western District of Texas. Davis is now the first Trump 2.0 district court nominee confirmed with bipartisan opposition, with Senator Susan Collins voting against confirmation. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/andrew-dav...
Kennedy asked Mattivi about a scenario in which McDonald's refuses to hire someone because they wear a burqa. Mattivi replied that “The law prohibits the application of a religious test applied by the government, right? Not by private employers."
Really hope senators follow up in written questions.
Here's a clip of the exchange, via @afj.org. It's transcribed in my post linked above. bsky.app/profile/afj....
NEW: Last week's nominations hearing was all about Justin Smith, but three senators stayed to question the Kansas district court nominees as well.
Senator Kennedy asked Kansas nominee Tony Mattivi about employment discrimination — and it did not go well. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/kansas-jud...
I appreciate @jaketapper.bsky.social’s coverage of this, which has been a pattern among every Trump 2.0 judicial nominee (which is DOZENS of them) to date. I’ve been covering this since last year on Substack if you’re interested in real-time updates: nominationnotes.com
Rest in Power to a major figure in the AIDS treatment activism in the 1980s, a time when many were indifferent or looking away.
Jesse McCartney singing Beautiful Soul on the new episode of Hacks is very important to me.
Let me know what you decide 😭
I've gotten 10 new subscribers on Substack this week (which is A LOT for me) and I'm nearing 200 total. Over the last 7 months I've published 116 stories about federal judicial nominations, judicial diversity, & more.
Please consider sharing/subscribing to help me grow! nominationnotes.substack.com
A screenshot of the Nomination Notes homepage, which shows the last five stories published.
This week I've covered four nominees' responses to written questions, a nominee who will be confirmed next week, two lifetime confirmations in Texas and Arkansas, a hearing on four other nominees, and Democrats' engagement in the confirmation process.
Take a look and consider subscribing!
Very much looking forward to going here!
I've gotten 10 new subscribers on Substack this week (which is A LOT for me) and I'm nearing 200 total. Over the last 7 months I've published 116 stories about federal judicial nominations, judicial diversity, & more.
Please consider sharing/subscribing to help me grow! nominationnotes.substack.com
A chart titled "Questions for the record asked through the first 40 lifetime nominees." It shows how many written questions have been asked by the 10 Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Here's how many written questions for the record each Democratic member of the committee has asked so far during Trump's second term (for the 40 lifetime judicial nominees who have already responded to written questions).
Andrew Davis, nominated to the Western District of Texas, will receive a confirmation vote at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. He will likely become Trump's 37th lifetime judge confirmed during his second term — and the 271st total.
Here's some more about him. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/leader-thu...
NEW: Senate Democrats on the Judiciary Committee could be doing a lot more to engage in the judicial confirmation process.
Senator Padilla hasn't been to a hearing since last July. Many senators don't ask written questions. Lots of room for improvement. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/senators-c...
Senator Susan Collins voted NO yesterday on whether to invoke cloture (end debate) on the nomination of Andrew Davis to serve as a judge on the Western District of TX.
According to Davis' Senate questionnaire, he “made phone calls on a volunteer basis to support Susan Collins for Senate" in 2020. 🙃
I feel like I missed something. Why is the Senate coming back tomorrow?
If Collins votes NO next week, Andrew Davis will be the first district court nominee during Trump's second term to receive bipartisan opposition on the final vote.
Collins previously opposed the confirmation of Emil Bove. Murkowski opposed Bove & Jennifer Mascott. That's been it re: GOP opposition.
NEW: The Senate just voted (49-48) to end debate on the nomination of Andrew Davis to serve on the Western District of Texas. Senator Collins voted NO.
His confirmation vote will be next week. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/leader-thu...
sorry I misread your message last night (I shouldn't be posting so late!) and just wanted to clarify that yes, 10 district court nominees have gotten votes from Democrats, but I don't think circuit vs. district is the sole factor. going to write something about this!
No. I can write more specifically about this, but this is not the case.
Looks like Andrew Davis, Trump’s anti-civil rights nominee for the Western District of Texas, likely won’t be confirmed until Monday evening. His cloture vote is tomorrow afternoon (the Thursday 1:45 vote is usually the Senate’s last vote of the week).
No Democrat has voted for one of Trump’s circuit court nominees during his second term. Smith won’t be the first to get support.
If there’s anything bipartisan about this vote, it will be bipartisan opposition.
I do wish that Senators Booker, Coons, Klobuchar, and Padilla had shown up to today’s hearing.
NEW: Trump's lawyer and 8th Circuit nominee Justin Smith just had his hearing and was asked about his election denial, legal representation of Trump, connections to Leonard Leo, and far-right extremism.
Democrats were not pleased with his responses.
nominationnotes.substack.com/p/trump-lawy...