Trump Edges Closer to Flipping Second Circuit With Picks

President Donald Trump plans to nominate a new batch of federal judges, including nominees for two prominent appeals courts, the White House announced Aug. 28.

Trump wants Danielle J. Hunsaker on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. That’s the West Coast-based court that the administration has lambasted for thwarting its immigration policies. Hunsaker is an Oregon state court judge.

On the East Coast, William J. Nardini is Trump’s pick for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which covers states including New York. Nardini is a federal prosecutor in Connecticut, another state that falls under the Second Circuit’s jurisdiction. Nardini clerked for retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.

The Nardini nod, along with another pending Second Circuit nomination, gets Trump one step closer to “flipping” that circuit to a majority of Republican-appointees.

The White House also announced two nominees for the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims: Northern District of New York U.S. Attorney Grant Jaquith, and National Security Council Deputy Legal Advisor Scott Laurer.

The White House also announced ten judges to fill spots on federal trial courts around the country.

Rick Richmond, named for the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, is the founding and managing partner of Jenner & Block’s Los Angeles office. Prior to joining that firm, he spent 17 years as a partner at Kirkland & Ellis.

Shireen Matthews, currently a partner at Jones Day in San Diego, was tapped for a spot on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. She was previously an associate at Latham & Watkins.

The other nominees for federal district courts are:

• Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California;

• Adam L. Braverman, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California;

• Silvia Carreno-Coll, U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico;

• John M. Gallagher, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania;

• Barbara Bailey Jongbloed, U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut;

• Sandy Nunes Leal, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California;

• Daniel Mack Traynor, U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota; and

• Cory T. Wilson, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi.