patrick mcneil (he/him)
@patrickryne.bsky.social
Four more white men will likely be given lifetime judicial appointments this week following last week's confirmation of four white judges to North Carolina district courts. Not the best moment for judicial diversity in America!
Here's what's happening: nominationnotes.substack.com/p/more-white...
Here's what's happening: nominationnotes.substack.com/p/more-white...
More White Men Are Set to Become Lifetime Federal Judges This Week
Mississippi and Louisiana nominees will be the Senate’s priority beginning today.
nominationnotes.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Four more white men will likely be given lifetime judicial appointments this week following last week's confirmation of four white judges to North Carolina district courts. Not the best moment for judicial diversity in America!
Here's what's happening: nominationnotes.substack.com/p/more-white...
Here's what's happening: nominationnotes.substack.com/p/more-white...
NEW: The ABA's Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary just released two more ratings for judicial nominees. William Crain, who will likely be confirmed tomorrow, was rated Well Qualified with one recusal. Alexander Van Hook received a Qualified rating. He could be confirmed later this week.
December 8, 2025 at 3:06 PM
NEW: The ABA's Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary just released two more ratings for judicial nominees. William Crain, who will likely be confirmed tomorrow, was rated Well Qualified with one recusal. Alexander Van Hook received a Qualified rating. He could be confirmed later this week.
Reposted by patrick mcneil (he/him)
ICYMI: As the president spewed racism and hate-filled language all week, the Senate prioritized the confirmation of his nominees to serve as federal judges.
Four white people were confirmed to lifetime judgeships in North Carolina this week. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/north-caro...
Four white people were confirmed to lifetime judgeships in North Carolina this week. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/north-caro...
North Carolina Just Got Four More White Federal Judges
And far too many Senate Democrats voted for three of them.
nominationnotes.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 3:23 PM
ICYMI: As the president spewed racism and hate-filled language all week, the Senate prioritized the confirmation of his nominees to serve as federal judges.
Four white people were confirmed to lifetime judgeships in North Carolina this week. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/north-caro...
Four white people were confirmed to lifetime judgeships in North Carolina this week. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/north-caro...
Reposted by patrick mcneil (he/him)
My birthday is in four days and I'd love to reach 100 Substack subscribers <3
If you're interested in judicial nominations/diversity-related issues, consider subscribing (it's all free!) to stay updated on what's happening with lifetime appointments to the judiciary. nominationnotes.substack.com
If you're interested in judicial nominations/diversity-related issues, consider subscribing (it's all free!) to stay updated on what's happening with lifetime appointments to the judiciary. 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 5, 2025 at 6:29 PM
My birthday is in four days and I'd love to reach 100 Substack subscribers <3
If you're interested in judicial nominations/diversity-related issues, consider subscribing (it's all free!) to stay updated on what's happening with lifetime appointments to the judiciary. nominationnotes.substack.com
If you're interested in judicial nominations/diversity-related issues, consider subscribing (it's all free!) to stay updated on what's happening with lifetime appointments to the judiciary. nominationnotes.substack.com
My birthday is in four days and I'd love to reach 100 Substack subscribers <3
If you're interested in judicial nominations/diversity-related issues, consider subscribing (it's all free!) to stay updated on what's happening with lifetime appointments to the judiciary. nominationnotes.substack.com
If you're interested in judicial nominations/diversity-related issues, consider subscribing (it's all free!) to stay updated on what's happening with lifetime appointments to the judiciary. 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 5, 2025 at 6:29 PM
My birthday is in four days and I'd love to reach 100 Substack subscribers <3
If you're interested in judicial nominations/diversity-related issues, consider subscribing (it's all free!) to stay updated on what's happening with lifetime appointments to the judiciary. nominationnotes.substack.com
If you're interested in judicial nominations/diversity-related issues, consider subscribing (it's all free!) to stay updated on what's happening with lifetime appointments to the judiciary. nominationnotes.substack.com
Reposted by patrick mcneil (he/him)
NEW: Senate has confirmed four white judges to lifetime district court judgeships in NC this week — the same number of lifetime district court judges of color who've EVER served in the state (in history). Three received fair amount of bipartisan support. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/north-caro...
North Carolina Just Got Four More White Federal Judges
And far too many Senate Democrats voted for three of them.
nominationnotes.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:50 PM
NEW: Senate has confirmed four white judges to lifetime district court judgeships in NC this week — the same number of lifetime district court judges of color who've EVER served in the state (in history). Three received fair amount of bipartisan support. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/north-caro...
NEW: Senate has confirmed four white judges to lifetime district court judgeships in NC this week — the same number of lifetime district court judges of color who've EVER served in the state (in history). Three received fair amount of bipartisan support. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/north-caro...
North Carolina Just Got Four More White Federal Judges
And far too many Senate Democrats voted for three of them.
nominationnotes.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:50 PM
NEW: Senate has confirmed four white judges to lifetime district court judgeships in NC this week — the same number of lifetime district court judges of color who've EVER served in the state (in history). Three received fair amount of bipartisan support. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/north-caro...
Judge Rodriguez was just confirmed, with 11 Senate Democrats (including King) voting in favor of her confirmation.
Susan Courtwright Rodriguez is set to become the first woman to ever serve as a lifetime judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of NC. Her record, though, is troubling — and her nomination is a reminder of where more progress is needed. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/a-woman-ha...
A Woman Has Never Served on the Western District of NC. That Could Soon Change.
Susan Courtwright Rodriguez is set to make history. Still, her record is troubling.
nominationnotes.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Judge Rodriguez was just confirmed, with 11 Senate Democrats (including King) voting in favor of her confirmation.
Senator Tillis is presiding over the Senate at the moment — eagerly awaiting this vote to end so he can celebrate confirmation of four North Carolina district court judges since Tuesday.
December 4, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Senator Tillis is presiding over the Senate at the moment — eagerly awaiting this vote to end so he can celebrate confirmation of four North Carolina district court judges since Tuesday.
Exactly this. That's why my coverage of Trump's judicial nominations (& other issues) calls out what's happening — namely, that a white nationalist is appointing (almost all white) judges to serve for LIFE on our federal courts. Too many senators are going along with it. nominationnotes.substack.com
this clip encapsulates so much of what has been wrong about MSM Trump coverage for the past decade -- treating Trump's lies and bigotry as a valid "side" of a debate instead of calling it out, because calling it out makes it seem as though you're biased
MSNBC reporter presents Trump's shameful racism towards Somalis as merely "a different view"
December 3, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Exactly this. That's why my coverage of Trump's judicial nominations (& other issues) calls out what's happening — namely, that a white nationalist is appointing (almost all white) judges to serve for LIFE on our federal courts. Too many senators are going along with it. nominationnotes.substack.com
Hours after @wedemandjustice.bsky.social launched a $1M campaign targeting Democrats who are voting for Trump’s judicial picks, several Dems just voted for one.
Matthew Orso, a white man, will serve on the Western District of NC — one of many courts where a lifetime judge of color has never served.
Matthew Orso, a white man, will serve on the Western District of NC — one of many courts where a lifetime judge of color has never served.
By a vote of 57-41, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Matthew E. Orso to be US District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina.
December 3, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Hours after @wedemandjustice.bsky.social launched a $1M campaign targeting Democrats who are voting for Trump’s judicial picks, several Dems just voted for one.
Matthew Orso, a white man, will serve on the Western District of NC — one of many courts where a lifetime judge of color has never served.
Matthew Orso, a white man, will serve on the Western District of NC — one of many courts where a lifetime judge of color has never served.
Reposted by patrick mcneil (he/him)
No nominees to date have mustered the courage to say that federal judges who rule against the administration are not “monsters” — debasing themselves, perhaps, in pursuit of proving their loyalty to the man who nominated them.
New in Nomination Notes: nominationnotes.substack.com/p/trump-call...
New in Nomination Notes: nominationnotes.substack.com/p/trump-call...
Trump Called Federal Judges “Monsters.” His Nominees Won’t Say If They Agree.
They debase themselves in pursuit of proving their loyalty to the president.
nominationnotes.substack.com
December 3, 2025 at 7:28 PM
No nominees to date have mustered the courage to say that federal judges who rule against the administration are not “monsters” — debasing themselves, perhaps, in pursuit of proving their loyalty to the man who nominated them.
New in Nomination Notes: nominationnotes.substack.com/p/trump-call...
New in Nomination Notes: nominationnotes.substack.com/p/trump-call...
Remember when Trump called some federal judges USA hating monsters who want our country to go to hell? Ranking Member @durbin.senate.gov has been asking Trump's judicial nominees about this for months, and none of them will answer. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/trump-call...
Trump Called Federal Judges “Monsters.” His Nominees Won’t Say If They Agree.
They debase themselves in pursuit of proving their loyalty to the president.
nominationnotes.substack.com
December 3, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Remember when Trump called some federal judges USA hating monsters who want our country to go to hell? Ranking Member @durbin.senate.gov has been asking Trump's judicial nominees about this for months, and none of them will answer. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/trump-call...
Truly no reason for five Democrats to be voting to advance this nomination.
By a vote of 56-40, the #Senate invoked cloture on Matthew Orso to be a District Judge for the Western District of NC
Dem Sen. Durbin, Gallego, Kaine, Shaheen, and Whitehouse voted in favor.
Dem Sen. Fetterman voted no.
Sens Boozman, Coons, Heinrich, and Hoeven did not vote.
Dem Sen. Durbin, Gallego, Kaine, Shaheen, and Whitehouse voted in favor.
Dem Sen. Fetterman voted no.
Sens Boozman, Coons, Heinrich, and Hoeven did not vote.
December 3, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Truly no reason for five Democrats to be voting to advance this nomination.
The committee has also cancelled its markup for tomorrow morning, which included three judicial nominees — though I assume those nominees will be considered held over until next week when they'll receive votes. www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-ac...
The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on impeachment of "rogue" judges has been POSTPONED.
It was supposed to be this afternoon.
www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-ac...
It was supposed to be this afternoon.
www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-ac...
POSTPONED: Impeachment: Holding Rogue Judges Accountable | United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
www.judiciary.senate.gov
December 3, 2025 at 3:39 PM
The committee has also cancelled its markup for tomorrow morning, which included three judicial nominees — though I assume those nominees will be considered held over until next week when they'll receive votes. www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-ac...
With two more North Carolina nominees eligible for votes starting tomorrow. One, Susan Courtwright Rodriguez, will be the first woman to ever serve on the Western District of NC. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/a-woman-ha...
The Senate is still on track, somehow, to hit 30 lifetime judges this year.
The Senate is still on track, somehow, to hit 30 lifetime judges this year.
The Senate voted in favor of two prosecutors in North Carolina joining the federal bench as trial judges, including a former clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas whose college-era writings on abortion and the death penalty on a Geocities site fueled Democrats' opposition. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
US Senate confirms 2 Trump-picked judges in North Carolina, including former Thomas clerk
The U.S. Senate on Tuesday voted in favor of two federal prosecutors in North Carolina joining the federal bench as trial judges, including a former clerk to conservative U.S. Supreme Court Justice Cl...
www.reuters.com
December 2, 2025 at 9:29 PM
With two more North Carolina nominees eligible for votes starting tomorrow. One, Susan Courtwright Rodriguez, will be the first woman to ever serve on the Western District of NC. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/a-woman-ha...
The Senate is still on track, somehow, to hit 30 lifetime judges this year.
The Senate is still on track, somehow, to hit 30 lifetime judges this year.
Note: Only one person of color, Judge Curtis Collier, has ever served as a lifetime judge on the Eastern District of Tennessee. A woman of color has never served there.
And assuming Judge Varlan is replaced with a Trump nominee, four of the five active judges on that court will be Trump appointees.
And assuming Judge Varlan is replaced with a Trump nominee, four of the five active judges on that court will be Trump appointees.
December 2, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Note: Only one person of color, Judge Curtis Collier, has ever served as a lifetime judge on the Eastern District of Tennessee. A woman of color has never served there.
And assuming Judge Varlan is replaced with a Trump nominee, four of the five active judges on that court will be Trump appointees.
And assuming Judge Varlan is replaced with a Trump nominee, four of the five active judges on that court will be Trump appointees.
There is NO reason for 8 Dem/Independent senators to be voting for a Trump judicial nominee. They all refuse to answer basic questions, bring no professional (and very little demographic) diversity to the bench, and have been chosen by a white nationalist who expects loyalty above all. Unacceptable.
Dem/Ind senators voting in favor: Durbin, Hassan, Kaine, King (I), Peters, Rosen, Shaheen, and Whitehouse.
Senator Cruz did not vote.
Senator Cruz did not vote.
December 2, 2025 at 8:28 PM
There is NO reason for 8 Dem/Independent senators to be voting for a Trump judicial nominee. They all refuse to answer basic questions, bring no professional (and very little demographic) diversity to the bench, and have been chosen by a white nationalist who expects loyalty above all. Unacceptable.
A reminder for all that the white nationalist president is still installing LIFETIME federal judges! nominationnotes.substack.com/p/the-white-...
Trump on Minnesota's Somali community: "They contribute nothing. I don't want them in our country, I'll be honest with you."
December 2, 2025 at 7:43 PM
A reminder for all that the white nationalist president is still installing LIFETIME federal judges! nominationnotes.substack.com/p/the-white-...
NEW: 30 judicial nominees have responded to written questions this year, and all 30 have dodged any inquiry related to the outcome of the 2020 election and what happened on January 6, 2021.
PLUS: How are nominees responding to whether Democrats are evil? nominationnotes.substack.com/p/thirty-jud...
PLUS: How are nominees responding to whether Democrats are evil? nominationnotes.substack.com/p/thirty-jud...
Thirty Judicial Nominees This Year Have Refused to Say Trump Lost the 2020 Election
And a look at how nominees are responding to whether Democrats are evil.
nominationnotes.substack.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:24 PM
NEW: 30 judicial nominees have responded to written questions this year, and all 30 have dodged any inquiry related to the outcome of the 2020 election and what happened on January 6, 2021.
PLUS: How are nominees responding to whether Democrats are evil? nominationnotes.substack.com/p/thirty-jud...
PLUS: How are nominees responding to whether Democrats are evil? nominationnotes.substack.com/p/thirty-jud...
A dozen North Carolina groups wrote to senators, warning that Bragdon "serving a lifetime appointment on the bench would threaten the rule of law, legitimize extremist beliefs, and expand state punishments like the death penalty and restrict women's and pregnant people’s rights." He was confirmed.
By a vote of 53-45, the #Senate confirmed David A. Bragdon to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of North Carolina.
Party line vote with Senators Duckworth and Fetterman not voting.
Party line vote with Senators Duckworth and Fetterman not voting.
December 2, 2025 at 5:36 PM
A dozen North Carolina groups wrote to senators, warning that Bragdon "serving a lifetime appointment on the bench would threaten the rule of law, legitimize extremist beliefs, and expand state punishments like the death penalty and restrict women's and pregnant people’s rights." He was confirmed.
Here's my report on what's coming up re: judicial confirmations: nominationnotes.substack.com/p/senate-set...
The #Senate has convened...
2 votes at 11:30 on District Judge nominees for the middle district of North Carolina: Confirmation of David Bragdon and clloture on Lindsey Freeman,
Following the votes the Senate will recess until 2:15 p.m.
The confirmation vote on Freeman will be at 2:15 p.m.
2 votes at 11:30 on District Judge nominees for the middle district of North Carolina: Confirmation of David Bragdon and clloture on Lindsey Freeman,
Following the votes the Senate will recess until 2:15 p.m.
The confirmation vote on Freeman will be at 2:15 p.m.
December 2, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Here's my report on what's coming up re: judicial confirmations: nominationnotes.substack.com/p/senate-set...
Senate Judiciary Committee has noticed a markup for this Thursday, and it includes the district court nominations of Ganjei, Fowlkes & Peterson.
They should receive votes at next week's markup and then could be voted on by the full Senate the week of 12/15.
Could get Trump to 30 judges this year.
They should receive votes at next week's markup and then could be voted on by the full Senate the week of 12/15.
Could get Trump to 30 judges this year.
December 2, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Senate Judiciary Committee has noticed a markup for this Thursday, and it includes the district court nominations of Ganjei, Fowlkes & Peterson.
They should receive votes at next week's markup and then could be voted on by the full Senate the week of 12/15.
Could get Trump to 30 judges this year.
They should receive votes at next week's markup and then could be voted on by the full Senate the week of 12/15.
Could get Trump to 30 judges this year.
Update on Trump's judicial nominees: The Senate is set to confirm four North Carolina district court nominees this week — with the possibility for more. As it stands, the Senate could still hit 30 lifetime judicial confirmations this year. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/senate-set...
Senate Set to Confirm Four North Carolina District Court Nominees This Week
More white lifetime judges for the white nationalist president.
nominationnotes.substack.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Update on Trump's judicial nominees: The Senate is set to confirm four North Carolina district court nominees this week — with the possibility for more. As it stands, the Senate could still hit 30 lifetime judicial confirmations this year. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/senate-set...
NEW: The Senate just voted to invoke cloture on the nomination of David Bragdon to serve on the Middle District of North Carolina. He will be confirmed tomorrow. I wrote previously about his nomination, the NC groups opposing him, and his terrible record. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/leader-thu...
Leader Thune Tees Up Votes on Two North Carolina Judicial Nominees
David Bragdon and Lindsey Freeman are up for lifetime seats on the bench.
nominationnotes.substack.com
December 2, 2025 at 12:00 AM
NEW: The Senate just voted to invoke cloture on the nomination of David Bragdon to serve on the Middle District of North Carolina. He will be confirmed tomorrow. I wrote previously about his nomination, the NC groups opposing him, and his terrible record. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/leader-thu...