In a tragic moment for the judiciary, Senate Republicans, instead of waiting to get all of the facts, rushed to confirm Trump’s former criminal defense lawyer Emil Bove to a judgeship on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday. We have lived through a litany of conduct by Bove that would have made a nomination, let alone a confirmation, impossible in any other administration. But when the president values personal loyalty alone as a criteria, a Judge Bove can become a reality.
But regardless of all of this, Bove is now a judge with life tenure on one of the most powerful courts in the country.
In May, Trump attacked the Federalist Society, the right-wing conservative organization whose suggested nominees filled the ranks of the federal judiciary during his first term in office, including his three appointments to the Supreme Court. Trump posted on social media: “I am so disappointed in The Federalist Society because of the bad advice they gave me on numerous Judicial Nominations. This is something that cannot be forgotten!” So now, we have Judge Bove. For life. Someone who has repeatedly demonstrated loyalty to Donald Trump over the Constitution will have life tenure on the federal bench, perhaps even a launch pad for a seat on the Supreme Court. Trump has branched out on his own when it comes to judicial appointments, and this is what we get. Republican Senators bear their share of blame for the role they played in this debacle. Or perhaps more aptly, the one they didn’t play. They’re supposed to advise and consent on a president’s appointment, and they didn’t. They just rolled over. Like they did with Pam Bondi, Pete Hegseth, Robert Kennedy, Kash Patel, Kristi Noem, and so many others. Fifty-one percent of the current senators are law school graduates. They know that no federal judge should be confirmed simply because they possess the requisite personal loyalty to the current president. But they failed to do their constitutional duty and, in doing so, failed the country. How much impact can one judge have? If you’re a judge on one of the country’s appellate courts, a lot. Cases of all types come before them. Appellate judges, who usually sit in panels of three, decide issues that impact our daily lives. They are currently deciding whether the administration can let DOGE access our personal data, whether the administration can deport people without due process, and whether government services can be cut off by the executive branch without congressional actions. And, the appellate courts are a feeder for the Supreme Court. Justice Alito was a Third Circuit Judge until he was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2006. His seat was filled by Joseph Greenway Jr., who stepped down in 2023. That seat is now occupied by Emil Bove. A single federal judge in the United States can have a significant and wide-ranging impact on the country, especially in the long term. Federal judges, including Supreme Court justices and district judges, make decisions every day about issues that have an effect on the lives of every American. Now, Emil Bove, who has done Trump’s bidding in every regard when the opportunity to do so presented itself, will take on that role. What can we do? The bottom line is, elections matter. Whoever is in the White House picks federal judges. The only guardrail is the Senate. If your Senator voted for Emil Bove and is up for reelection in 2026, you know what to do. If you don’t, pick a state to lend your voice to. Let’s get to work. We can’t afford to have more judges like this take the bench. We’re in this together, Joyce P.S. If you haven’t decided yet whether to join our group read of 1984, some new reporting tonight may convince you that you should. The Washington Post is reporting that “The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in July removed references to President Donald Trump’s two impeachments from an exhibit display. A person familiar with the exhibit plans, who was not authorized to discuss them publicly, said the change came about as part of a content review that the Smithsonian agreed to undertake following pressure from the White House to remove an art museum director.” Rewriting history—and why a government feels compelled to do that—is right up George Orwell’s alley. Join us and read the book! You're currently a free subscriber to Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance . For the full experience, upgrade your subscription.
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Thursday, July 31, 2025
The Senate Confirms Trump's Criminal Defense Lawyer to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals
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