Senate Confirms Unqualified and Extreme Nominee as First Judge of Trump’s Second Administration

WASHINGTON, DC — Senate Republicans today confirmed Whitney Hermandorfer to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals (which covers Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee), despite the fact that Donald Trump’s first confirmed judicial nominee in this administration lacks even the basic level of legal experience recommended by the American Bar Association.

Alison Gill, director of nominations and democracy at the National Women’s Law Center, issued the following statement in response.

“Senate Republicans could not have confirmed a more unqualified candidate to serve in our federal courts, especially one as influential as the 6th Circuit. Hermandorfer has so far focused her brief legal career on attacking the civil rights of women and LGBTQ+ people. In separate cases challenging Tennessee’s laws that completely prohibited abortions and banned essential health care for trans youth, Hermandorfer demonstrated a blatant disregard for the lives of women denied medically necessary abortion care and asserted legal theories that would broadly undermine nondiscrimination protections for women and girls. She has also led multi-state lawsuits challenging federal rules to protect trans people from discrimination and defended Trump’s efforts to eliminate birthright citizenship provided by the U.S. Constitution.”

“In addition to lacking experience to perform the role, Hermandorfer has proven that she will not be a fair-minded judge who will protect the rights of all people.”