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Trump’s new approach to picking judges: A tighter circle and a personal touch
The article outlines a sharper, more personal process for selecting federal judges in Trump’s second term, highlighting direct presidential involvement in announcements and an emphasis on nominees with ties to the administration and conservative records. It also notes a continued influence from the Federalist Society and details several nominations and backgrounds shaping the judiciary.
Why It Matters
The described changes could affect how quickly nominations move, the ideological balance of federal courts, and the potential for a more centralized, presidentially driven selection process.
Timeline
5 Events
April 19, 2026: Article reports tightened vetting process and personal approach to nominations
April 19, 2026
The White House has reset its judicial nomination process in Trump’s second term, adopting a tighter circle and more personal involvement. White House Counsel David Warrington and deputy Stephen Kenny lead vetting, with input from America First Legal and Mike Davis; nominees are favored if they have direct connections to Trump or the administration and hold conservative records on social issues.
April 2026: Nine appellate nominees; at least six have worked for Trump or his administration
April 2026
Of the nine people Trump has nominated to seats on powerful U.S. appeals courts, at least six have either worked for him or his administration, underscoring the administration’s emphasis on immediate connections to the White House.
February 2026: Trump personally informs Jeffrey Kuhlman of Kansas judgeship
February 2026
Jeffrey Kuhlman was tapped to be a federal judge in Kansas, and President Trump phoned him directly to deliver the news, treating him like a Supreme Court nominee.
2025: LaCour confirmed to Alabama federal trial court in fall 2025
2025
Edmund LaCour was confirmed to a federal trial court in Alabama in fall 2025, a background detail noted in discussions of Trump’s judicial nominees.
2024: LaCour co-wrote a brief urging upholding gender-affirming care bans
2024
Edmund LaCour, who later served as Alabama solicitor general and was nominated to a federal trial court in Alabama, co-wrote a brief in 2024 urging the Supreme Court to uphold state laws banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors.