Senate Confirms 20th Judge of Second Trump Administration

WASHINGTON, D.C., December 2, 2025 – Today the Senate voted to confirm David Alan Bragdon to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, making him the 20th confirmed federal judge of the second Trump administration. Bragdon, like almost all of his predecessors this year, has an extreme record across multiple issues. This includes zealous support for the death penalty, belief in fetal personhood, and disdain for people living in poverty.

Bragdon joins the likes of other extremists confirmed to the courts this year, who bring not only their own disturbing records, but documented loyalty to President Trump himself. This includes Jennifer Mascott, confirmed to the Third Circuit, who defended the Supreme Court ruling granting Trump broad immunity and endorsed the unitary executive theory. It includes Rebecca Taibleson, confirmed to the Seventh Circuit, who defended Trump’s practice of blocking his critics on social media. There was Whitney Hermandorfer, confirmed to the Sixth Circuit, who defended Trump’s effort to rescind the birthright citizenship protections of the Fourteenth Amendment. And there was Emil Bove, confirmed to the Third Circuit, Trump’s personal lawyer who weaponized the Justice Department in unprecedented ways and instructed staff to violate court orders in order to obey Trump instead of the law.

Several more confirmations are expected before the end of the year, although this administration has far fewer vacancies to fill compared to the first Trump administration.

Alliance for Justice President Rachel Rossi issued the following statement:

“This year, we have seen some of the most disturbing nominees ever elevated to our federal courts. As President Trump attacks our democracy from all sides, he is trying to protect himself with judges loyal to him instead of the Constitution and the rule of law. As lifetime appointees, these extremists will continue to twist and distort the law to fit Trump’s agenda long after he’s gone. David Alan Bragdon literally sees ‘equality’ and ‘liberty’ as contradicting principles, yet Senate Republicans did not flinch in confirming him today. We must continue to demand integrity from our courts, as they are one of the only institutions still upholding our republic.”