Springfield Standard

On June 13, 2024, Senator Eric Schmitt joined Senator JD Vance (R-OH) and Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Roger Marshall (R-KS), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) in issuing a joint statement announcing a sweeping hold policy on judicial nominees. This move is in response to what they describe as the Biden Administration's use of lawfare against former President Donald Trump.

"The Biden Administration and Democrats have engaged in unprecedented lawfare and weaponized our judicial system. My colleagues and I are fighting back. The continued political prosecutions of President Trump show just how low Biden and Democrats are willing to go — preventing Democrats from establishing the precedent of prosecuting their opponents starts with us," said Senator Eric Schmitt.

The hold policy currently applies to several nominees, with the potential for additional names if further nominations are announced by the Biden administration. The list includes:

- Johnny C. Gogo, nominated to be a United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and Northern Mariana Islands

- April M. Perry, nominated to be a United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois

- Joshua S. Levy, nominated to be a United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts

- Rebecca C. Lutzko, nominated to be a United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio

- Joseph Russell Palmore, nominated to be an Associate Judge for the DC Court of Appeals

- Carmen G. Iguina Gonzalez, nominated to be an Associate Judge for the DC Court of Appeals

- John Cuong Truong, nominated to be an Associate Judge for the DC Superior Court

- Rahkel Bouchet, nominated to be an Associate Judge for the DC Superior Court

- Ray D. McKenzie, nominated to be an Associate Judge for the DC Superior Court

- Erin Camille Johnston, nominated to be an Associate Judge for the DC Superior Court

- Sherri Malloy Beatty-Arthur, nominated to be an Associate Judge for the DC Superior Court

- Anne Hwang, nominated to be a Judge for the Central District of California

- Cynthia Valenzuela Dixon, nominated to be a Judge for the Central District of California

- Michelle Williams Court, nominated to be a Judge for the Central District of California

- Stacey D. Neumann, nominated to be a Judge for the District of Maine

- Adam B. Abelson, nominated to be a Judge for the District of Maryland

... [list continues]

This action represents part of ongoing tensions between Republican senators and Democratic leadership over judicial appointments and perceived politicization within legal proceedings involving high-profile figures.