AFJ Applauds Holds on Trump Judicial Nominees

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 22, 2025 – Sen. Richard Blumenthal confirmed this week his intention to place holds on all of President Trump’s judicial nominees, limiting their ability to move through the Senate. Such procedural holds will slow down the confirmation process and likely limit the number of Trump judges that can be confirmed throughout the term.

As AFJ finishes compiling its research on Trump’s first slate of nominees, it is evident that they were selected for their extreme records attacking civil rights and for their loyalty to Trump’s authoritarian leadership style. It is no coincidence that just this week, Vice President Vance once again attacked the courts, rejecting the clearly established principle that they have an obligation to check the excesses of the administration. Dozens of courts have had to do just that to curb unprecedented unlawful behavior from this administration during its first four months. This administration would rather have judges that simply hand them what they want instead.

Alliance for Justice President Rachel Rossi issued the following statement:

“Sen. Blumenthal is absolutely right that we cannot give Trump judges any benefit of the doubt. Our courts, still largely helmed by judges committed to the rule of law and Constitution, are holding back this administration’s near-daily attacks on our democracy and our basic rights. Given this administration’s attacks on the judiciary, they must prove that their nominees will uphold the law and Constitution. We call on every senator who truly believes in their oath to the Constitution to use every mechanism possible to hold these nominees accountable to the people. If they don’t, there soon might not be a rule of law left to protect.”