Judicial Confirmation Spotlight: Whitney Hermandorfer

With the recent passage of a significant bill, Senate Republicans are now turning their attention to confirming judicial nominees put forth by President Donald Trump.

On Monday evening, the Senate confirmed Whitney Hermandorfer to serve on the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, located in Cincinnati, Ohio. This vote was predominantly along party lines and marks a quicker pace of confirmations compared to Trump’s first term.

“We need to keep building on the good work from the previous administration by filling judicial vacancies with judges who truly grasp the responsibilities of their roles,” said one GOP member. “It all starts with Hermandorfer.”

At just 38 years old, Hermandorfer is the first judicial appointment of Trump’s second term, taking over from a former appointee of President Barack Obama.

Currently, there are approximately 50 vacant judicial positions in the federal system, which is significantly lower than the number that existed at the start of Trump’s first term.

Senator Thune recently indicated that he will collaborate with Trump and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley to expedite the process for Trump’s nominees. So far, the Judiciary Committee has pushed forward five nominations, including Hermandorfer.

Hermandorfer has a noteworthy background, having previously served as a writer for Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Amy Coney Barrett, as well as for Judge Brett Kavanaugh during his time in the U.S. Court of Appeals.

Additionally, Hermandorfer is currently involved in a strategic litigation initiative within the office of Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. Skrmetti recently secured a significant legal victory by maintaining the ban on gender-transition procedures for minors in Tennessee, following a Supreme Court ruling.

Upon her appointment announcement in May, Trump praised Hermandorfer, describing her as “a solid advocate for women’s rights and women’s sports.”

However, Senate Democrats expressed opposition to her nomination. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Hermandorfer, labeling her as “unqualified” for the role. He pointed to her career focus on reproductive rights, transgender rights, and anti-discrimination policies as problematic.

The confirmation vote for Hermandorfer marked the 384th roll-call vote of the current Congress, a figure that exceeds the number of votes taken in Congress over the last 35 years to this point, as noted by the Senate Republican Communication Center.