Author | Lightnews

patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 21h

hello! i'm a (recently laid off) civil rights advocate and writer who just started posting on Substack about nominations to the federal bench, judicial diversity, and more. here are the six stories i've posted since last Friday.

to read/support my work, please subscribe! patrickryne.substack.com

A screenshot of my Substack's homepage showing the last six stories posted.

patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 22h

Over the course of his term, President Biden doubled the number of Native American lifetime judges in the nation’s history, in addition to appointing Judge Shanlyn Park, who is the first Native Hawaiian woman to ever serve as a lifetime judge.

patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 22h

Two years ago today, President Biden nominated Sara Hill to the federal bench. Judge Hill became the first Native American woman to serve as a lifetime judge in Oklahoma and the fourth Native American judge confirmed during the Biden administration.

PABallotDatingBoveDissent102425

patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 22h

what a disgraceful man.

Josh Gerstein @joshgerstein.bsky.social · 22h

JUST IN: Judge Emil Bove's dissent to 3rd Cir denying en banc in case striking PA mail-in ballot dating rule. Bove mocks impact: 'For a voter with a functioning pen, sufficient ink & average hand dexterity, this should take less than five seconds.' Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

www.documentcloud.org

patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 22h

Senate confirmed four lifetime judges this week and is set to confirm (at least) four more next week as the government shutdown continues.

Two of Trump's most extreme district court nominees, Jordan Pratt and Edmund LaCour, are set to receive cloture & confirmation votes, likely beginning Tuesday.

patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 22h

i laughed too much at this 😆

Senate Set to Confirm At Least Four More of Trump’s Lifetime Judicial Nominees Next Week

patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 23h

Some of Trump’s worst picks for lifetime federal judgeships are heading toward confirmation. Here’s my look at what’s coming up next week: patrickryne.substack.com/p/senate-set...

And they’re some of his worst picks yet.

The Seventh Circuit Has Only Had Five Judges of Color. Trump’s About to Get His Sixth White Appointee.

patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 1d

FYI! patrickryne.substack.com/p/the-sevent...

His nominations today continue a troubling trend he started during his first term.

The Seventh Circuit Has Only Had Five Judges of Color. Trump’s About to Get His Sixth White Appointee.

patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 1d

This seat also stands out because a judge of color from Wisconsin has never served on the Seventh Circuit, and Trump has made sure, for now, that it stays that way.

patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 1d

NEW: Senate just invoked cloture on nomination of Rebecca Taibleson to serve on 7th Circuit.

Her confirmation will mean that Trump has appointed more white judges to the 7th Circuit (6) than judges of color who have EVER served on the court in history (5). patrickryne.substack.com/p/the-sevent...

His nominations today continue a troubling trend he started during his first term.

Trump’s Louisiana District Court Nominees Face Few Questions During Hearing

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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 1d

horrible news for the judiciary.

Senate Press Gallery @senatepress.bsky.social · 1d

By a vote 48-45, the Senate confirmed Stephen Chad Meredith to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky. This was a party line vote.

Not voting: Senators Blackburn, Kaine, Moran, Murkowski, Sheehy, Sullivan & Warner

patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 2d

“Our courts deserve better, and the judges who are selected to serve on them for life deserve more scrutiny. Senators can still submit written questions for the record until October 29, and they should take the opportunity to do so.”

My coverage of today: patrickryne.substack.com/p/trumps-lou...

This was their interview for a lifetime gig. It was far too easy.

Trump Judges Keep Pulling Desperate, Sweaty Stunts In the Hopes That He Gives Them Promotions

patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 2d

they are so thirsty.

Barred and Boujee aka Madiba Dennie @audrelawdamercy.bsky.social · 2d

the number of judges who suddenly start talkin like 'umm on second thought only God can judge us' when it comes time to apply the law to Donald Trump is too high for my liking

ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...

Only Ryan Nelson has the courage to ask the hard questions, like, what if the law allows Donald Trump to do whatever he wants?

ballsandstrikes.org

Reposted by patrick mcneil (he/him)

Julie O'Donoghue @jsodonoghue.bsky.social · 2d

NEW: Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Will Crain, who Trump appointed to the federal bench, put his divorce under seal for 11 months based on a new law that allows public officials to keep their info private.

(He is also dating his former law clerk.) #lalege

lailluminator.com/2025/10/22/c...

Trump federal court nominee cited new Louisiana law to keep his divorce records private • Louisiana Illuminator

Five months before a new privacy law for judges took effect, a Louisiana Supreme Court justice cited it in a request to keep information about his divorce and the end of his 40-year marriage private.

lailluminator.com

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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 2d

"After a comprehensive review...we believe his views, particularly with respect to civil rights issues, reflect a deep hostility to the principles of equality, liberty, justice and dignity under the law for LGBTQ+ people and others seeking to vindicate their civil rights,” @lambdalegal.org wrote.

patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 2d

NEW: Senate just confirmed William Mercer to the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana — another white man on a court where a person of color has never served, and where only one woman has.

Earlier this month, @lambdalegal.org told senators: "His animus against LGBTQ+ people is clear."

patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 2d

William Crain, nominated to Eastern District of LA, spoke about importance of public confidence in courts, but @afj.org notes in their opposition letter that “His confirmation would erode public confidence in the judiciary’s impartiality and jeopardize the rights of litigants who come before him.”

Trump’s Louisiana District Court Nominees Face Few Questions During Hearing

patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 2d

Senate Judiciary Committee just considered two more of Trump’s judicial nominees. Few senators spent significant time questioning the nominees, who if confirmed will serve in lifetime roles with immense power to rule on critical civil and human rights issues. patrickryne.substack.com/p/trumps-lou...

This was their interview for a lifetime gig. It was far too easy.

1 2 1

patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 2d

so frustrating! you won't be shocked to hear that i watched the hearing (for fun) 😆

patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 2d

Votes have not been scheduled, meaning terrible judicial nominees like William Mercer and Chad Meredith may stay off the bench even just one day longer. As small as it is, another day without them serving in lifetime judgeships is a good thing.

Senate Press Gallery @senatepress.bsky.social · 2d

#Senate floor update:
@SenJeffMerkley began speaking at 6:21 p.m. on Tuesday evening.

As of 12:21 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, he has held the floor for eighteen hours.
As of this time, votes have not been scheduled.

patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 2d

Ranking Member Durbin asked judicial nominee Alexander Van Hook, who was born in Shreveport and has served as acting US Attorney there, whether they need the National Guard to fight crime in Shreveport, where the murder rate is higher than the city of Chicago. Van Hook says they would be welcome.

patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 2d

incredible diversity today in the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing room.

Two judicial nominees and one DOJ nominee stand up and take the oath before testifying in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Efforts to Diversify the Federal Judiciary Have Effectively Come to a Halt Under Trump

patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 3d

looks like tomorrow's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing will consider nominations of William Crain for Eastern District of Louisiana, Alexander Van Hook for Western District of Louisiana, and Andrew Duva to serve as assistant AG of DOJ's Criminal Division. www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-ac...

patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 3d

"Instead of appointing judges who will be fair-minded & independent, he has made clear that he expects loyalty from his appointees — & expects that they will bring their bias to the bench on behalf of his administration’s white supremacist & unlawful agenda." patrickryne.substack.com/p/efforts-to...

It’s not surprising, but it’s bad for our democracy and worth calling out.