Trump Drops Obama Picks, N.Y., Calif. Names From Judges List (1)

In its new list of judicial nominees, the White House dropped at least five names previously put forward by Barack Obama when he was president as well as a number of appellate and district court nominees from California, New York, and Illinois, all Democratic strongholds.

The White House didn’t immediately return a request for comment or offer an explanation for its decision-making around the renomination package sent to the Senate Jan. 23.

But the omission of certain names affiliated with Democrats or Blue states could indicate a backlash by the Republican administration against certain figures or simply reflect the state ...