Senate Judiciary Committee Update

The committee is racing to process all of the Trump judicial nominees in the pipeline, even ignoring committee practices and norms and flirting with bending the rules. They are aware that, with the incoming Democratic majority, the new committee chair is expected to be Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) who will lead a committee that might have a two-seat advantage for Democrats. 

A hearing and mark-up are planned for November 10. 

Nominees expected to appear at the hearing are: Phil Axt to the District Court for the District of North Dakota; Brad Kelley to the District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana; Samuel Adkisson to the District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee; and Todd Butler to the Fifth Circuit Court.  

Six nominees are expected to be voted on the same day: Trevor Pemberton to the District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma; Zach West to the District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma; Kyle Reardon to the District Court for the District of Arkansas; Courtney Coker to the District Court for the Northern District of Texas; Richard Bennett to the District Court for the Southern District of Texas; and Daniel Ballou to the District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. 

Another hearing is planned for November 18 which is expected to include the latest nominee, James Sullivan, only two-weeks after his nomination instead of the usual month. The following day, a mark up is planned for four nominees. Take Action! Let your senators know that you oppose a rushed and irregular process by calling them at 202-224-3121!

Virtual Panel Nov. 17

HOLDING COURT: The Role of the Courts in Midterm Elections

You are invited to an important discussion, Holding Court: The Role of the Courts in Midterm Elections, taking place on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 1 PM ET.  

Moderated by AFJ Federal Research and Advocacy Director Christine Zinner, the virtual event will feature Travis Crum, Treiman Professor of Law at Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, and Allegra Lawrence-Hardy, Managing Partner at Krevolin Horst, LLC.

No matter what the outcome of midterm elections is, state and federal judges at every level will make key decisions that impact voter turnout and election norms. 

Join us as we: 

• Review the key decisions at every level of state and federal courts that impacted election results, voting rights, voter turnout, or election administration, and potential reforms to ensure our elections and our courts reflect our core principles of democracy.

• Discuss the role of the judicial branch in elections, including emergency relief and court decisions at state and federal levels related to redistricting, absentee ballots, voter eligibility, and government efforts to obtain voter information.

• Explain the role of the Supreme Court’s shadow docket in shaping election policy.

• Consider strategies for movement attorneys and democracy advocates to support fair and free elections in 2028, including various court reform options to democratize our courts.

Sign Up to Join the Conversation!

Supreme Court Oral Arguments

Weekly Wrap Up: November 9

What a difference a day makes — especially when that day is Election Day! By now the entire world knows that the 2026 Midterm Election saw a record 124+ million votes cast that flipped party control of both the House and Senate by significant margins. 

In the Senate where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in this Congress, the breakdown for the 120th Congress (which convenes January 3, 2027) is currently at 54-44 (Democrats in the majority) with races in Mississippi and Alaska yet to be finalized. 

The Senate returns to Washington, DC, in what might be characterized as the lamest of lame duck sessions. Senators who lost their reelection bids and others who will be headed to retirement will convene, seeking to push through as much of President Trump’s agenda as possible, including and especially the confirmation of more than 20 pending judicial nominees.

In order to expedite this goal in the short time left, Republicans have already made clear that they are ready to abandon Senate procedures, customs, and even bend the rules to ensure that Trump’s nominees get approved for lifetime seats on the federal district and circuit courts. And, although he has repeatedly denied it, Justice Samuel Alito (and Justice Clarence Thomas for that matter) may well decide to retire so that the Republican-controlled Senate would be responsible for filling that seat. 

Courts Matter Illinois has joined many other organizations in insisting that no action be taken on filling a Supreme Court seat in the lame duck session, a message that should be communicated to ALL current senators. 

We expect cloture to be filed on three nominees next week: Anna St. John to the Fifth Circuit Court; Daniel Domenico to the Tenth Circuit Court: and Gregory Cook to the District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. The White House continues to name nominees for vacancies, the latest being James Sullivan to the District Court for the Western District of Texas. Sullivan just lost his election to retain his seat on the Texas Supreme Court. 

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