Ex-President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he intends to nominate Chad Meredith, the former state solicitor general of Kentucky, to a federal judgeship in the state. The move could revive tensions with Senator Rand Paul, who was instrumental in derailing Meredith’s attempted nomination by the last administration.
Meredith, a high-profile conservative legal scholar, had previously been under consideration for the same slot in President Joe Biden’s administration. Biden had at the time agreed to nominate Meredith after receiving strong support from Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.
The action, however, raised ire among Democrats and abortion rights activists owing to Meredith’s track record of upholding Kentucky’s anti-abortion legislation. The outcry increased because the move followed closely on the heels of the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision that invalidated the constitutional right to abortion.
The ‘Blue Slip’ Rule
Senator Paul objected to the nomination on procedural grounds, alleging that McConnell had ‘cut a secret deal with the White House that fell apart’. Paul did not directly criticize Meredith at the time, but his objection brought the nomination process to a stop. “Unfortunately, rather than communicating and building support for him, Senator McConnell cut a secret deal with the White House that fell apart,” Paul stated.
The Senate traditionally abides by the ‘blue slip’ tradition, an unwritten rule that enables home-state senators to prevent judicial nominations within their areas. Due to the tradition, the Biden administration ended up not pursuing Meredith’s official nomination.
While the rule has faded in enforcement for appeals court nominees, it remains very influential with respect to district court appointments, including this one. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley has made no indications of plans to disregard the tradition.
Mixed Reactions to Trump’s Pick
In a Truth Social post, Donald Trump complimented Meredith as ‘highly experienced and well qualified’, going on to say, “Chad is a bold Patriot who knows what it takes to defend the Rule of Law, and guard our Constitution.”
McConnell reiterated the same in his own statement when he referred to Meredith as an ‘outstanding choice’. He further stated, “His shown commitment to the rule of law and the Constitution will well serve the people of Kentucky on the federal bench. I am looking forward to the Senate confirming his nomination.”
Meredith, also the former chief deputy general counsel to former Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin, is still a contentious appointment to some. Lena Zwarensteyn, senior director of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights’ fair courts program, denounced Trump’s appointment, stating, “The nomination of Chad Meredith to a lifetime judgeship should trouble everyone,” referencing Meredith’s “disturbing anti-abortion record.
Through Wednesday evening, Senator Paul’s office had not commented on whether he would again filibuster the nomination or not.
