Senate Confirms Loyalist Trump Judge As MAGA Justices Continue To “Expedite” Lawlessness
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 14, 2025
CONTACT: [email protected]
Washington, DC– Today, the Senate voted to confirm Whitney Hermandorfer to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. The confirmation vote comes just hours after an unsigned, shadow docket ruling from the Supreme Court allowing the Trump administration to dismantle the Department of Education while legal challenges continue.
As Justice Sotomayor wrote in her dissent from today’s ruling, noting the critical importance of an independence judiciary: “When the Executive publicly announces its intent to break the law, and then executes on that promise, it is the Judiciary’s duty to check that lawlessness, not expedite it. The majority is either willfully blind to the implications of its ruling or naive, but either way the threat to our Constitution’s separation of powers is grave.”
In response, Demand Justice Interim Executive Director Maggie Jo Buchanan released the following statement:
“Today’s confirmation of Whitney Hermandorfer marks a new round of Trump and his allies’ effort to take over our courts. Hermadorfer, who has a record of defending some of the most legally alarming positions Trump has made to advance his political agenda, will now serve on a powerful appellate court for decades.
“Further, as the administration continues to make clear their disrespect for court orders, the Supreme Court—far from checking this behavior—rewards it. A broad, bipartisan majority of Americans don’t want judges to prioritize their loyalty to Trump–or any other politician. A broad, bipartisan majority of Americans don’t believe presidents should be exempt from the rule of law. And yet, Republican leadership seems unfazed by their constituents’ belief in these basic tenants of fairness.
“We call on Democrats—and any elected official who purports to stand by the rule of law—to hold the line against every single one of Trump’s judicial picks. Given what we’ve seen out of the administration, we have every reason to believe these nominees are being chosen for their loyalty to Trump and his agenda, instead of to the rule of law and rights of all people.
“Elected officials must do whatever possible to prevent any further backsliding of the independence of our courts—and be prepared to do whatever it takes in the years ahead to repair the damage that has already been done and ensure a stronger, more stable American democracy.”
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