More Democrats Defy Progressive Calls to Reject Trump on Judges

A large bloc of Senate Democrats voted to confirm a trial court nominee in Alabama in the strongest pushback yet on progressive calls to reject Trump judicial picks outright.

Thirteen Democrats and Angus King (I-Maine), who caucuses with Democrats, joined Republicans voting 66-32 on Tuesday to confirm Harold Mooty III to the US District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.

Six Democrats on the Judiciary Committee voted to advance the commercial litigator’s nomination for full Senate consideration Oct. 1. Additional Democrats who voted to confirm him include Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Mark Kelly of Arizona, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, along with King of Maine.

Progressive groups have urged blanket opposition to Trump’s judicial picks. Demand Justice, a liberal judicial advocacy group, has pledged under its new president to revive pressure tactics from the first Trump administration, including some that rankled Democrats.

So far they’ve waged a media pressure campaign against four Judiciary Committee lawmakers after their votes to advance Trump district court picks who declined to say definitely who won the 2020 presidential election. That includes digital and billboard ads in each of the lawmakers’ home states.

“It’s both unconscionable and unbelievable that these Democratic Senators are making it easier for Trump to trample the rule of law by installing federal judges who have sworn loyalty to him over the Constitution. It’s wrong, and it must end,” Demand Justice President Josh Horton said in a Tuesday release.