patrick mcneil (he/him)
@patrickryne.bsky.social
That enough Democratic senators couldn’t muster the courage to vote for the nation’s first Muslim federal appellate judge — and instead allowed Trump to fill the vacancy with Emil Bove — is just so shameful. Adeel Mangi should be there.
Full CA3 new Republican majority w/ Trump 2.0 judges Bove & Mascott is gonna say NJ can’t ban guns at public gatherings, zoos, parks&rec, beaches, libraries, museums, bars, entertainment facilities, casinos, hospitals, public transit, playgrounds, youth sports
www2.ca3.uscourts.gov/opinarch/231...
www2.ca3.uscourts.gov/opinarch/231...
December 11, 2025 at 11:38 PM
That enough Democratic senators couldn’t muster the courage to vote for the nation’s first Muslim federal appellate judge — and instead allowed Trump to fill the vacancy with Emil Bove — is just so shameful. Adeel Mangi should be there.
Reposted by patrick mcneil (he/him)
Breaking: Indiana State Senate rejects 9-0 Republican gerrymandered congressional map, stands up to Trump’s pressure campaign of threats and intimidation. Huge victory for democracy & defeat for Trump in gerrymandering war he started
December 11, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Breaking: Indiana State Senate rejects 9-0 Republican gerrymandered congressional map, stands up to Trump’s pressure campaign of threats and intimidation. Huge victory for democracy & defeat for Trump in gerrymandering war he started
As I noted in my coverage of this morning's markup, @wedemandjustice.bsky.social is indeed not pleased with two of the three judicial nominees receiving bipartisan support! nominationnotes.substack.com/p/senate-jud...
NEW: @durbin.senate.gov, @klobuchar.senate.gov, & @whitehouse.senate.gov just voted to advance Trump judicial nominees who refused to tell the truth about the 2020 election and January 6th.
December 11, 2025 at 8:31 PM
As I noted in my coverage of this morning's markup, @wedemandjustice.bsky.social is indeed not pleased with two of the three judicial nominees receiving bipartisan support! nominationnotes.substack.com/p/senate-jud...
Tommy Tuberville couldn't let the Senate adjourn for the week without first delivering an anti-Muslim, hate-filled, racist floor speech. A truly terrible person who has no business being a senator.
December 11, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Tommy Tuberville couldn't let the Senate adjourn for the week without first delivering an anti-Muslim, hate-filled, racist floor speech. A truly terrible person who has no business being a senator.
Several cloture filings by Senate Majority Leader John Thune just now, but none on judicial nominations. If he doesn't come back and file more, there will be no more lifetime judges confirmed until at least next Wednesday.
Four nominees remain pending on the floor following this morning's markup.
Four nominees remain pending on the floor following this morning's markup.
December 11, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Several cloture filings by Senate Majority Leader John Thune just now, but none on judicial nominations. If he doesn't come back and file more, there will be no more lifetime judges confirmed until at least next Wednesday.
Four nominees remain pending on the floor following this morning's markup.
Four nominees remain pending on the floor following this morning's markup.
NEW in Nomination Notes: The Senate Judiciary Committee just advanced three more of Trump's lifetime judicial nominees — two with bipartisan support.
If all pending nominees are confirmed by next week, Trump will hit 30 lifetime confirmations this year. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/senate-jud...
If all pending nominees are confirmed by next week, Trump will hit 30 lifetime confirmations this year. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/senate-jud...
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Three More Lifetime Judicial Nominees
Two received bipartisan support, and their confirmations could come as soon as next week.
nominationnotes.substack.com
December 11, 2025 at 4:28 PM
NEW in Nomination Notes: The Senate Judiciary Committee just advanced three more of Trump's lifetime judicial nominees — two with bipartisan support.
If all pending nominees are confirmed by next week, Trump will hit 30 lifetime confirmations this year. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/senate-jud...
If all pending nominees are confirmed by next week, Trump will hit 30 lifetime confirmations this year. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/senate-jud...
NEW: Senate Judiciary Committee advanced three more lifetime judicial nominees — Nick Ganjei for the Southern District of Texas, Clay Fowlkes for the Western District of Arkansas, and Aaron Peterson for the District of Alaska.
Fowlkes and Peterson received bipartisan support. Ganjei was party line.
Fowlkes and Peterson received bipartisan support. Ganjei was party line.
December 11, 2025 at 3:48 PM
NEW: Senate Judiciary Committee advanced three more lifetime judicial nominees — Nick Ganjei for the Southern District of Texas, Clay Fowlkes for the Western District of Arkansas, and Aaron Peterson for the District of Alaska.
Fowlkes and Peterson received bipartisan support. Ganjei was party line.
Fowlkes and Peterson received bipartisan support. Ganjei was party line.
During his introductory remarks at this morning's markup, Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley said “I’d like to process even more judicial nominations, but I’m waiting on the president to get those nominations up here."
Honestly, NO RUSH!
Honestly, NO RUSH!
December 11, 2025 at 3:31 PM
During his introductory remarks at this morning's markup, Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley said “I’d like to process even more judicial nominations, but I’m waiting on the president to get those nominations up here."
Honestly, NO RUSH!
Honestly, NO RUSH!
"This is just the start of the necessary response to Bove’s actions over the course of this year, however, given that he has made it abundantly clear he is manifestly unfit to be a government official, let alone a federal appellate judge. As soon as possible, Bove must face impeachment proceedings."
NEW: Emil Bove, thumbing his nose at America, is making a mockery of the rule of law.
Attending Trump's rally on Tuesday, Judge Emil Bove let it be known that his DOJ actions were just the beginning. Bove must face accountability, and ultimately impeachment.
Today, at Law Dork:
Attending Trump's rally on Tuesday, Judge Emil Bove let it be known that his DOJ actions were just the beginning. Bove must face accountability, and ultimately impeachment.
Today, at Law Dork:
Emil Bove, thumbing his nose at America, is making a mockery of the rule of law
Attending Trump's rally on Tuesday, Judge Emil Bove let it be known that his DOJ actions were just the beginning. Bove must face accountability, and ultimately impeachment.
www.lawdork.com
December 11, 2025 at 4:44 AM
"This is just the start of the necessary response to Bove’s actions over the course of this year, however, given that he has made it abundantly clear he is manifestly unfit to be a government official, let alone a federal appellate judge. As soon as possible, Bove must face impeachment proceedings."
This editorial is both poorly written and absolutely appalling. It calls the elimination of disparate impact a "reasonable correction to past overreach" and says that "Bondi’s memo is a model for other disparate-impact provisions across the federal code to be identified and repealed." NO.
Washington Post editorial board really speaking truth to power
December 11, 2025 at 3:45 AM
This editorial is both poorly written and absolutely appalling. It calls the elimination of disparate impact a "reasonable correction to past overreach" and says that "Bondi’s memo is a model for other disparate-impact provisions across the federal code to be identified and repealed." NO.
"It might be more alarming that even after getting the promotions they wanted, these people are still so smitten with Trump that their idea of fun is spending a few hours on a weeknight taking in his xenophobic vaudeville show in person."
I don't know if it's possible for Democrats to make a federal judge a mainstream issue in the 2026 midterms. But if anything like this is ever going to work, it's "Emil Bove is a corrupt war crimes enthusiast who attends Trump rallies for fun, and we will impeach him on our first days in office"
Emil Bove Will Always Be a Trump Rallygoer First
Trump demands loyalty from his judicial nominees. As Emil Bove demonstrated on Tuesday, his nominees are very comfortable with displaying that loyalty in public.
ballsandstrikes.org
December 11, 2025 at 3:39 AM
"It might be more alarming that even after getting the promotions they wanted, these people are still so smitten with Trump that their idea of fun is spending a few hours on a weeknight taking in his xenophobic vaudeville show in person."
I don’t know what this means, because I don’t have that many subscribers yet, but I love it! Check it out: nominationnotes.com
December 10, 2025 at 11:34 PM
I don’t know what this means, because I don’t have that many subscribers yet, but I love it! Check it out: nominationnotes.com
A Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing has been noticed for December 17. Expected to include Justin Olson for the Southern District of Indiana, Brian Lea for the Western District of Tennessee, and Megan Benton for the Western District of Missouri. www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-ac...
December 10, 2025 at 7:48 PM
A Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing has been noticed for December 17. Expected to include Justin Olson for the Southern District of Indiana, Brian Lea for the Western District of Tennessee, and Megan Benton for the Western District of Missouri. www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-ac...
Gabe Roth of @fixthecourt.com has filed a complaint against 3rd Circuit Judge Emil Bove following his attendance of Trump's rally last night. It alleges Bove violated multiple canons of the Code of Conduct for US Judges & says he should be admonished for his behavior. fixthecourt.com/wp-content/u...
December 10, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Gabe Roth of @fixthecourt.com has filed a complaint against 3rd Circuit Judge Emil Bove following his attendance of Trump's rally last night. It alleges Bove violated multiple canons of the Code of Conduct for US Judges & says he should be admonished for his behavior. fixthecourt.com/wp-content/u...
The Senate confirmed more white men to lifetime judgeships yesterday — in fewer than six hours — than Black women who have been appointed by Trump to the same position in his almost five years in office.
Zero women of color have been nominated in 2025. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/as-senate-...
Zero women of color have been nominated in 2025. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/as-senate-...
As Senate Confirms Three White Men to Judiciary in One Day, No Women of Color Have Been Nominated This Year
The demographic and professional diversity of Trump’s judicial nominees is almost nonexistent.
nominationnotes.substack.com
December 10, 2025 at 6:58 PM
The Senate confirmed more white men to lifetime judgeships yesterday — in fewer than six hours — than Black women who have been appointed by Trump to the same position in his almost five years in office.
Zero women of color have been nominated in 2025. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/as-senate-...
Zero women of color have been nominated in 2025. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/as-senate-...
ON MY BIRTHDAY.
The U.S. Senateconfirmed two conservative Mississippi Supreme Court justices to serve as federal trial court judges, despite what Democrats called their extreme stances on abortion, LGBTQ rights and sentencing @nateraymond.bsky.social reut.rs/4q5cciB
December 10, 2025 at 2:56 AM
ON MY BIRTHDAY.
Reposted by patrick mcneil (he/him)
On my birthday today, please consider subscribing to Nomination Notes, where I cover issues related to federal judicial nominations & judicial diversity — sharing perspectives and asking questions that aren’t being raised elsewhere.
Please share — it would mean a lot <3 nominationnotes.substack.com
Please share — it would mean a lot <3 nominationnotes.substack.com
nomination notes | Patrick McNeil | Substack
Nomination notes covers nominations to the federal bench, judicial diversity, democracy, and more. Click to read nomination notes, by Patrick McNeil, a Substack publication. Launched 2 months ago.
nominationnotes.substack.com
December 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM
On my birthday today, please consider subscribing to Nomination Notes, where I cover issues related to federal judicial nominations & judicial diversity — sharing perspectives and asking questions that aren’t being raised elsewhere.
Please share — it would mean a lot <3 nominationnotes.substack.com
Please share — it would mean a lot <3 nominationnotes.substack.com
Reposted by patrick mcneil (he/him)
Emil Bove is, by all appearances, a criminal who flagrantly broke the law on Trump’s behalf multiple times before his confirmation. The fact that he has since donned the black robe is all the more reason to investigate and punish his extreme wrongdoing. This man is a stain on the judiciary.
December 10, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Emil Bove is, by all appearances, a criminal who flagrantly broke the law on Trump’s behalf multiple times before his confirmation. The fact that he has since donned the black robe is all the more reason to investigate and punish his extreme wrongdoing. This man is a stain on the judiciary.
A reminder that Third Circuit Judge Emil Bove used his free will to attend this event, knowing Trump would be railing against Joe Biden, Ilhan Omar/Minnesota's entire Somali population, all trans people, and more. Astonishingly bad judgment for someone with a powerful lifetime judgeship.
Trump polls his audience as to whether they prefer "Sleepy Joe" or "Crooked Joe" and then says, "he's a sleepy son of a bitch"
December 10, 2025 at 1:00 AM
A reminder that Third Circuit Judge Emil Bove used his free will to attend this event, knowing Trump would be railing against Joe Biden, Ilhan Omar/Minnesota's entire Somali population, all trans people, and more. Astonishingly bad judgment for someone with a powerful lifetime judgeship.
This is so deeply inappropriate and unacceptable. He has no shame.
Via MS NOW: Emil Bove is in attendance at Trump’s speech in Pennsylvania tonight.
December 9, 2025 at 11:48 PM
This is so deeply inappropriate and unacceptable. He has no shame.
Senate has confirmed three white men to lifetime judgeships today. Trump, in nearly five years in office now, has only appointed two Black women, total, to lifetime judgeships. He’s doing all he can to make the judiciary as white — and as loyal to him — as possible. It’s an emergency for democracy.
By a party-line vote 51-46, the #Senate confirmed the nomination of James Maxwell to be a District Judge for the Northern District of Mississippi. Senators not voting: Duckworth, Justice, and McCormick.
December 9, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Senate has confirmed three white men to lifetime judgeships today. Trump, in nearly five years in office now, has only appointed two Black women, total, to lifetime judgeships. He’s doing all he can to make the judiciary as white — and as loyal to him — as possible. It’s an emergency for democracy.
A must-read: "But after witnessing this Administration destroy much of our work, we made the heartbreaking decision to leave—along with hundreds of colleagues, including about 75 percent of attorneys. Now, we must sound the alarm about the near destruction of DOJ’s once-revered crown jewel."
Today is the 68th anniversary of the creation of the DOJ Civil Rights Division, and over 200 recent employees have shared an open letter decrying the near-destruction of the division’s mission and expressing the hope to one day rebuild it.
An Open Letter from Former Civil Rights Division Employees
On the 68th anniversary of the Civil Rights Division, former employees share an open letter decrying the near-destruction of the division’s mission and expressing the hope to one day rebuild it.
open.substack.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:38 PM
A must-read: "But after witnessing this Administration destroy much of our work, we made the heartbreaking decision to leave—along with hundreds of colleagues, including about 75 percent of attorneys. Now, we must sound the alarm about the near destruction of DOJ’s once-revered crown jewel."
The Senate will vote around 5:30 p.m. to confirm the third judge of the day. James Maxwell will be the 26th lifetime judge confirmed during Trump 2.0. Four more judges could be confirmed before the end of next week — getting Trump to 30 this year.
All votes today have been party line, at least.
All votes today have been party line, at least.
The #Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of James Maxwell to be a District Judge for the Northern District of Mississippi on a party line vote of 49-46.
Not voting: Capito, Duckworth, Justice, Tillis and Tuberville.
We expect a vote on confirmation of Maxwell at approximately 5:30 p.m.
Not voting: Capito, Duckworth, Justice, Tillis and Tuberville.
We expect a vote on confirmation of Maxwell at approximately 5:30 p.m.
December 9, 2025 at 8:43 PM
The Senate will vote around 5:30 p.m. to confirm the third judge of the day. James Maxwell will be the 26th lifetime judge confirmed during Trump 2.0. Four more judges could be confirmed before the end of next week — getting Trump to 30 this year.
All votes today have been party line, at least.
All votes today have been party line, at least.
The Senate just confirmed William Crain to a lifetime seat on the Eastern District of Louisiana. I previously wrote about the significant opposition to his confirmation and about how he (incorrectly, in my view) answered whether he is pro-civil rights. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/judicial-n...
Judicial Nominee Tries to Redefine What It Means to Be Pro-Civil Rights
His stunning written response is at odds with his long and disturbing record.
nominationnotes.substack.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:00 PM
The Senate just confirmed William Crain to a lifetime seat on the Eastern District of Louisiana. I previously wrote about the significant opposition to his confirmation and about how he (incorrectly, in my view) answered whether he is pro-civil rights. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/judicial-n...
And this latest move from DOJ comes as the Senate is set to confirm three more lifetime judges today — all conservative white men who will serve on southern district courts with immense power to rule on issues related to civil and human rights. The attacks and rollbacks are coming from all angles.
They're just taking an ax to the Civil Rights Act
Department of Justice Rule Restores Equal Protection for All in Civil Rights Enforcement
Today, the Justice Department issued a final rule updating its regulations under Title VI of the Civil Rights of 1964. This rule ensures that our nation’s federal civil rights laws are firmly grounded...
www.justice.gov
December 9, 2025 at 5:24 PM
And this latest move from DOJ comes as the Senate is set to confirm three more lifetime judges today — all conservative white men who will serve on southern district courts with immense power to rule on issues related to civil and human rights. The attacks and rollbacks are coming from all angles.