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patrick mcneil (he/him)

@patrickryne.bsky.social
1.2K followers 88 following 2.4K posts

pro-democracy independent journalist, civil and human rights advocate 🏳️‍🌈 writing: nominationnotes.com email: patrick@nominationnotes.com more: linktr.ee/patrickryne

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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 16m
Confirmed: Osete is officially listed as a witness at tomorrow’s hearing.
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Reposted by patrick mcneil (he/him)
patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 4h
Missouri nominee Jesus Osete, currently Harmeet Dhillon's deputy at the Civil Rights Division, is expected to have his hearing tomorrow. Osete has spent his career attacking civil rights across the board. I did a deep dive into his alarming record. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/missouri-n...
nominationnotes.substack.com
Missouri nominee has spent his short legal career attacking civil rights
Jesus Osete, who is currently Harmeet Dhillon’s deputy at DOJ, is up for a lifetime judgeship.
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Reposted by patrick mcneil (he/him)
patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 2h
NEW: A letter I obtained shows that nominee Zach West failed to disclose fellowships at the Claremont Institute, Alliance Defending Freedom, and Heritage Foundation. Plus several other items. He finally disclosed these items the day before his hearing. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/oklahoma-n...
nominationnotes.substack.com
Oklahoma nominee failed to disclose the extent of his conservative ties — and more — to the Judiciary Committee
Zach West wrote to senators the day before his hearing to disclose additional items.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 1h
The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing tomorrow morning on more of Trump's judicial nominees. But at almost 10 p.m. ET, the hearing page still doesn't list who the nominees are. Thursday's markup has already been cancelled. Those nominees will presumably be deemed held over.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 1h
There is no indication at the moment that the Senate will be confirming any other judicial nominees before the midterms. With the Senate adjourned and no cloture filed, a nominee could not be confirmed until at least Friday (if cloture is filed tomorrow), and the Senate is usually gone by then.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 2h
NEW: A letter I obtained shows that nominee Zach West failed to disclose fellowships at the Claremont Institute, Alliance Defending Freedom, and Heritage Foundation. Plus several other items. He finally disclosed these items the day before his hearing. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/oklahoma-n...
nominationnotes.substack.com
Oklahoma nominee failed to disclose the extent of his conservative ties — and more — to the Judiciary Committee
Zach West wrote to senators the day before his hearing to disclose additional items.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 4h
Missouri nominee Jesus Osete, currently Harmeet Dhillon's deputy at the Civil Rights Division, is expected to have his hearing tomorrow. Osete has spent his career attacking civil rights across the board. I did a deep dive into his alarming record. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/missouri-n...
nominationnotes.substack.com
Missouri nominee has spent his short legal career attacking civil rights
Jesus Osete, who is currently Harmeet Dhillon’s deputy at DOJ, is up for a lifetime judgeship.
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Reposted by patrick mcneil (he/him)
patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 10h
Speaking of Senator Eric Schmitt, he will likely introduce this nominee at tomorrow's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Osete worked for Schmitt in the Missouri attorney general's office, along with almost every Missouri nominee during Trump's second term. Not a great group!
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 9h
NEW: A coalition of 40+ organizations sent a letter to senators today drawing a connection between Trump’s judicial appointments and the nation’s affordability crisis. The letter urges senators to reject anti-worker, anti-consumer judicial nominees. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/coalition-...
nominationnotes.substack.com
Coalition says Trump’s judicial appointments are worsening America’s affordability crisis
“Federal judges confirmed today will shape the rules of our economy for decades to come,” the groups say.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 10h
Speaking of Senator Eric Schmitt, he will likely introduce this nominee at tomorrow's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Osete worked for Schmitt in the Missouri attorney general's office, along with almost every Missouri nominee during Trump's second term. Not a great group!
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 10h
NEW: Missouri nominee Jesus Osete, currently Harmeet Dhillon's deputy at the Civil Rights Division, is expected to have his hearing tomorrow. Osete has spent his career attacking civil rights across the board. I did a deep dive into his alarming record. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/missouri-n...
nominationnotes.substack.com
Missouri nominee has spent his short legal career attacking civil rights
Jesus Osete, who is currently Harmeet Dhillon’s deputy at DOJ, is up for a lifetime judgeship.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 11h
There is a hearing tomorrow on more of Trump's judicial nominees. Would love to see Senator @blumenthal.senate.gov confront the nominees with what this official government website says — and see if they'll agree. Let's get this on a large poster in the Judiciary Committee hearing room.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
NEW: More of Trump's lifetime judicial nominees have responded to senators' written questions for the record. They provided predictable responses related to the 2020 election and January 6. I've pulled out some other interesting answers in this report: nominationnotes.substack.com/p/more-judic...
nominationnotes.substack.com
More judicial nominees respond to senators’ written questions
They continued to say that Joe Biden was “certified” as the winner in 2020 — and much more.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Leader Thune just filed cloture on Keith Sonderling's nomination to be Secretary of Labor. On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to hold a hearing on Brad Kelley's nomination to the Eastern District of Louisiana. Kelley served as chief counsel to Sonderling when he was at EEOC.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
NEW: More of Trump's lifetime judicial nominees have responded to senators' written questions for the record. They provided predictable responses related to the 2020 election and January 6. I've pulled out some other interesting answers in this report: nominationnotes.substack.com/p/more-judic...
nominationnotes.substack.com
More judicial nominees respond to senators’ written questions
They continued to say that Joe Biden was “certified” as the winner in 2020 — and much more.
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Reposted by patrick mcneil (he/him)
patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
NEW: 5th Circuit Judge Leslie Southwick is taking senior status, opening up another seat on the court. One 5th Circuit nominee, Anna St. John, is now pending on the Senate floor. Time is, of course, running out in 2026 to nominate & confirm more judges. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/another-fi...
nominationnotes.substack.com
Another Fifth Circuit judge is taking senior status
Judge Leslie Southwick is stepping aside, allowing Trump to name his replacement.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
We'll see if Leader Thune files cloture on any judicial nominations today. Three lifetime nominees are pending on the floor.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
NEW: 5th Circuit Judge Leslie Southwick is taking senior status, opening up another seat on the court. One 5th Circuit nominee, Anna St. John, is now pending on the Senate floor. Time is, of course, running out in 2026 to nominate & confirm more judges. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/another-fi...
nominationnotes.substack.com
Another Fifth Circuit judge is taking senior status
Judge Leslie Southwick is stepping aside, allowing Trump to name his replacement.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
I have a LOT planned for nominationnotes.com next week before the Senate leaves town, including nominee-specific stories, hearing coverage, & more. Please share/subscribe! These judges will serve long past Trump’s time in office, and I’m doing comprehensive (& interesting!) reporting on all of it.
nominationnotes.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 with hundreds of subscriber...
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
While campaigning for AL Supreme Court, Cook repeatedly warned of the “woke mob” & told voters “we cannot let the Democrats win." “Wokeness is finally losing ground,” he said after Trump’s reelection. “Savor this moment.” Now up for a lifetime judgeship: nominationnotes.substack.com/p/alabama-no...
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
NEW: Daniel Rendleman promised senators he'd set aside his anti-abortion views. His past comments, including a radio interview that's gone unreported, reveal the depth of his beliefs. If confirmed, he could hear veterans’ reproductive health care claims. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/a-trump-no...
nominationnotes.substack.com
A Trump nominee promised to set aside his anti-abortion views. His past comments reveal the depth of his beliefs.
Daniel Rendleman could hear veterans’ reproductive health care claims if confirmed.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
NEW: Daniel Rendleman promised senators he'd set aside his anti-abortion views. His past comments, including a radio interview that's gone unreported, reveal the depth of his beliefs. If confirmed, he could hear veterans’ reproductive health care claims. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/a-trump-no...
nominationnotes.substack.com
A Trump nominee promised to set aside his anti-abortion views. His past comments reveal the depth of his beliefs.
Daniel Rendleman could hear veterans’ reproductive health care claims if confirmed.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
The Senate this week confirmed Angela Colmenero to the federal bench in Texas. She is the first Latina, and just the second woman of color, confirmed to a lifetime judgeship during Trump 2.0. Meanwhile, more than three dozen white men have been confirmed — and more than a dozen remain pending.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Gregory Cook has repeatedly warned of the "woke mob" & has proven his loyalty to Trump in many ways. His lifetime nomination is now pending on the Senate floor. My reporting on his nomination: nominationnotes.substack.com/p/trump-name... And much more: nominationnotes.substack.com/p/alabama-no...
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
NEW: A coalition of 30+ groups this week wrote to the Senate Judiciary Committee to express strong concerns about Trump’s newest batch of judicial nominees — and specifically, the nominees’ records of undermining reproductive freedom and voting rights. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/organizati...
nominationnotes.substack.com
Organizations call out Trump’s anti-abortion, anti-voting rights judicial nominees
More than half of Trump’s August nominees have concerning records on these issues, the groups say.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
With no cloture filed on judicial nominees, there won’t be more confirmations until at least next Wednesday or Thursday. Three lifetime nominees — Domenico for 10th Circuit, St. John for 5th Circuit, and Cook for N.D. Alabama — are pending on the floor. A hearing is also scheduled for Wednesday.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
NEW: The Judiciary Committee this morning advanced 13 nominees, including two for lifetime judgeships (Anna St. John and Gregory Cook), four for the US Sentencing Commission, AAG for the Antitrust Division, and more. Next up: full Senate consideration. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/judiciary-...
nominationnotes.substack.com
Judiciary Committee advances more of Trump’s extremist nominees
Two judicial nominees — and a DOJ nominee who failed to disclose 100+ items — were among them.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Tomorrow morning the Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to advance a bunch of nominees, including two lifetime judicial nominees (Anna St. John for the 5th Circuit and Greg Cook for the Northern District of Alabama), US Sentencing Commission nominees, DOJ Antitrust nominee Adam Candeub, & more.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Susan Collins has voted to confirm three anti-abortion judges in the past eight days.
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Reposted by patrick mcneil (he/him)
Nate Raymond @nateraymond.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
"The order ​of the president of the United States I think fairly read expresses the view that transgender citizens don't exist," Judge Young told a DOJ attorney. "Please tell me I'm wrong." DOJ lawyer: "I can't."
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
NEW: The Senate just confirmed Angela Colmenero to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Vote was 50-47. This is the 290th lifetime judicial confirmation across Trump's two terms. Sixteen lifetime nominees remain pending. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/texas-judi...
nominationnotes.substack.com
Texas judicial nominee Angela Colmenero spent years defending the state’s anti-civil rights agenda
This week, she could become a lifetime federal judge.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
NEW: The next nominations hearing includes Bobby Long, a Florida judge who argued for "race-blind redistricting" — calling it "an example of my general approach to constitutional interpretation.” Groups have also called out one of his abortion rulings. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/trump-nomi...
nominationnotes.substack.com
Trump nominee points to “race-blind redistricting” as example of his constitutional approach
Bobby Long has repeatedly highlighted a voting rights opinion he wrote on Florida's appeals court.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Watching 93-year-old Chuck Grassley open up this Judiciary Committee hearing re: trans sports participation is deeply uncomfortable. Interesting note: He said committee Democrats left their two witness slots empty. Not sure if they didn't ask anyone, or couldn't find anyone available to testify.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The Senate Judiciary Committee has officially noticed the hearing at which Jack Smith will testify next Tuesday. www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-ac...
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The Senate is voting at 2:15 p.m. tomorrow on the confirmation of Angela Colmenero to serve as a lifetime judge on the Southern District of Texas. Colmenero has spent years advising Greg Abbott and defending the state's anti-civil rights agenda. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/texas-judi...
nominationnotes.substack.com
Texas judicial nominee Angela Colmenero spent years defending the state’s anti-civil rights agenda
This week, she could become a lifetime federal judge.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Justin Olson, confirmed earlier this year to the federal bench in Indiana, litigated anti-trans athlete cases alongside William Bock — and served as counsel with him for Kim Jones’ organization. Bock and Jones are testifying tomorrow on this issue. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/the-trump-...
nominationnotes.substack.com
The Trump judge connected to tomorrow’s trans sports Senate hearing
Justin Olson litigated alongside William Bock and served as counsel for Kim Jones’ organization. Bock and Jones will testify on Wednesday.
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Reposted by patrick mcneil (he/him)
patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
NEW: The Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing tomorrow on "standing up for women in sports." Two witnesses, Kim Jones and William Bock, have worked together on anti-trans litigation efforts. Bock's previous co-counsel? Now-Judge Justin Olson. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/the-trump-...
nominationnotes.substack.com
The Trump judge connected to tomorrow’s trans sports Senate hearing
Justin Olson litigated alongside William Bock and served as counsel for Kim Jones’ organization. Bock and Jones will testify on Wednesday.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Another anti-civil rights nominee will soon be a federal judge for life. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/texas-judi...
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
McConnell just got rolled in to vote for another awful judicial nominee.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Btw, this was the nominee who told Senator Kennedy that “I believe every word of the Bible." Senator Kennedy also asked him about a sermon in which he said that “Transgenderism, homosexuality, fornication, and all sorts of sexual perversions” were forms of hypocrisy from “shame on the inside.”
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Appalling. Senator Tuberville just spoke on the Senate floor for 18 minutes next to this poster. He repeatedly referred to being trans as a "mental illness" and condemned "mentally ill woke liberals" for supporting trans people. "It is pure insanity," he said. "What's going on in this country?"
Senator Tommy Tuberville speaks on the Senate floor next to a large poster that says "Transgenderism is a mental disease."
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
NEW: The Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing tomorrow on "standing up for women in sports." Two witnesses, Kim Jones and William Bock, have worked together on anti-trans litigation efforts. Bock's previous co-counsel? Now-Judge Justin Olson. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/the-trump-...
nominationnotes.substack.com
The Trump judge connected to tomorrow’s trans sports Senate hearing
Justin Olson litigated alongside William Bock and served as counsel for Kim Jones’ organization. Bock and Jones will testify on Wednesday.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Still wondering why Justin Smith (Trump's former lawyer) ruled in this case when the Club for Growth is involved. Smith was previously treasurer for the Missouri chapter of Club for Growth Action and has other dark money ties to the group. Is this normal? nominationnotes.substack.com/p/8th-circui...
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Watching to see if Leader Thune files cloture on Daniel Domenico's 10th Circuit nomination today 👀 He is the only nominee left to file cloture on, and the Senate often does Thursday cloture/Monday night confirmation for circuit court nominees since there's more post-cloture debate time to expire.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The Senate returns this afternoon, and its first vote of the week will be to invoke cloture on the nomination of Angela Colmenero — Trump's nominee to the Southern District of TX. Colmenero has spent years defending the state's anti-civil rights agenda. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/texas-judi...
nominationnotes.substack.com
Texas judicial nominee Angela Colmenero spent years defending the state’s anti-civil rights agenda
This week, she could become a lifetime federal judge.
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Reposted by patrick mcneil (he/him)
patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
I'm not a lawyer. But why is Justin Smith (Trump's former attorney) ruling in this case when the Club for Growth is involved? Smith was previously the treasurer for the Missouri chapter of Club for Growth Action and has other dark money ties to the group. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/8th-circui...
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
I'm not a lawyer. But why is Justin Smith (Trump's former attorney) ruling in this case when the Club for Growth is involved? Smith was previously the treasurer for the Missouri chapter of Club for Growth Action and has other dark money ties to the group. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/8th-circui...
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
The Senate has confirmed 55 lifetime judicial nominees so far during Trump's second term. Number 56 is coming this week: Angela Colmenero, nominated to the Southern District of Texas, has spent years defending the state's anti-civil rights agenda. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/texas-judi...
nominationnotes.substack.com
Texas judicial nominee Angela Colmenero spent years defending the state’s anti-civil rights agenda
This week, she could become a lifetime federal judge.
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patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
This was a Trump 1.0 appointee.
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Reposted by patrick mcneil (he/him)
patrick mcneil (he/him) @patrickryne.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
NEW: In recent days, two Obama appointees in red states announced they're taking senior status. Chief Judge Timothy Cain in South Carolina will take senior status on 10/1. Judge Robert Rossiter in Nebraska will stay on until his successor is confirmed. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/judges-in-...
nominationnotes.substack.com
Judges in South Carolina and Nebraska announce plans to take senior status
Two Obama appointees announced their semi-retirements in recent days.
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