Federal Judicial System

The judiciary committee held a hearing on July 30, featuring: Joshua Dunlap to the First Circuit Court; Eric Tung to the Ninth Circuit Court; Chad Meredith to the District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and William Mercer to the District Court for the District of Montana. The hearing was well-attended by Democratic members who asked probing questions of the nominees. Especially noteworthy was the statement Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley made at the opening, taking on a social media post by President Trump criticizing him in a deeply personal manner for keeping the Blue Slip policy. Takeaways from the hearing include some troubling answers on questions about the Obergefell decision. The committee’s next hearing will be when they return after Labor Day with a mark-up on the nominees who appeared on July 30 expected on September 11.