President Trump just announced his first pick for the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, and her name is Whitney Hermandorfer. According to various sources like Reuters, the New York Times, Bloomberg Law, and more, Hermandorfer is set to replace Judge Jane Branstetter Stranch, who was chosen by former President Barack Obama. Hermandorfer currently works as the director of the strategic litigation unit at the Tennessee attorney general’s office, where she has been involved in defending the state’s abortion ban and challenging Biden administration regulations related to Title IX and transgender student rights.
Jonathan Skrmetti, the Tennessee Attorney General, praised Hermandorfer as “a lawyer’s lawyer” and one of the top litigators in the country. She has an impressive legal background, having clerked for three Supreme Court Justices, including Samuel Alito, Amy Coney Barrett, and Brett Kavanaugh. Hermandorfer’s educational background is equally impressive, having graduated from Princeton University and George Washington University Law School. She was co-captain of the women’s basketball team at Princeton and served as the editor-in-chief of the law review at George Washington University.
Trump’s selection of Hermandorfer has been described as “conventionally conservative” by the Wall Street Journal. Despite the slow pace of judicial nominations in Trump’s second term, Hermandorfer’s nomination is a significant development. The New York Times pointed out the difference in pace compared to his first term, where he quickly filled judicial vacancies with conservative judges. It remains to be seen how Hermandorfer’s confirmation process will unfold and what impact she will have on the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati.
