Dangerous and Unqualified: What To Know About Trump’s Latest Judicial Nominees Ahead of Their Senate Hearing

Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold confirmation hearings for President Donald Trump’s latest slate of judicial nominees. Among the nominees are jurists with clear records of putting their loyalty to Donald Trump above the Constitution and advancing an ideological agenda that is out of step with regular Americans.  

“Donald Trump’s first term was marked by a crusade to capture the courts and install judges who would do corporate special interests’ bidding. This time, Trump is taking his campaign even further with judicial picks whose primary qualification is their loyalty to the President above all else,” said Accountable.US President Caroline Ciccone. “These nominees – all of whom are up for lifetime appointments – have repeatedly put Donald Trump and his priorities over impartiality. And every American should be clear-eyed that if these judicial nominees are confirmed, they will roll back fundamental freedoms and enact an out-of-touch agenda that harms families.”

Here’s what you need to know about Trump’s latest judicial nominees ahead of next week’s confirmation hearing:

• Emil Bove, nominee to Third Circuit Court of Appeals: Emil Bove is a far-right ideologue and former defense attorney for Donald Trump, who has emerged as Trump’s “enforcer” and his “hatchet man” in the Justice Department. At DOJ, Bove has forced transfers of top nonpolitical officials opposing political interference, fired Capitol riot prosecutors, and sought after FBI agents involved in January 6th cases. As a loyal member of Trump’s defense team, Bove repeatedly made longshot arguments often shot down by judges. Earlier this year, Bove created chaos in the Justice Department after dropping the corruption charges against New York City mayor Eric Adams. Eight veteran attorneys resigned in protest, and Bove represented the government himself, alone, in a highly unusual move following the internal turmoil and chaos. As a federal prosecutor, Bove faced criticism for his temper and belittlement of subordinates. His harsh management style prompted an internal inquiry into his leadership, which initially concluded with a recommendation to demote Bove until he pleaded with his bosses.
• Jordan E. Pratt, nominee to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida: As both a litigator and appellate judge, Jordan E. Pratt has sought to undermine fundamental freedoms, like reproductive choice and access to the ballot box. Pratt worked as senior counsel at the far-right religious legal organization First Liberty Institute, the same institution that cultivated Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, the federal judge who tried to unilaterally rescind the FDA’s approval of the abortion pill mifepristone and gut protections for LGBTQ+ employees. Pratt represented a church that successfully knocked down a New York law prohibiting concealed carry in places of worship that had been put in place after a rash of mass shootings in synagogues and churches. As a Florida judge, Pratt has also already ruled to strike down abortion protections. In May 2025, Pratt ruled that a decades-old Florida law allowing minors to have abortions without their parents’ consent was unconstitutional.
• John Guard, nominee to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida: John Guard has been on the front lines of using the courts to advance a far-right conservative agenda and culture wars. Guard defended Florida’s restrictive 15-week abortion ban in court, which the Florida Supreme Court ultimately upheld, clearing the way for the state’s six-week abortion ban. Guard represented Governor DeSantis in a lawsuit brought by Disney, which accused the governor of waging a “relentless campaign to weaponize government power” amidst their ongoing culture war feud. He has also sued to allow LGBTQ+ discrimination in health care and challenged a federal firearms dealer regulation.
• Kyle Dudek, nominee to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida: Despite having less than three years of experience as a magistrate judge, Dudek has been nominated to a lifetime appointment in the Northern District of Florida. As a corporate lawyer, Dudek has represented clients who have been accused of sexually assaulting a minor, sexually harassing and discriminating against an employee, and bragging about the use of violence against subjects.
• Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe, nominee to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida: Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe is a Federalist Society contributor with a record of suppressing ballot measure efforts. In 2022, Moe struck down a county-wide ballot measure that would have funded a transportation and transit overhaul, claiming that its language “misleads the public” and would confuse voters. Moe’s ruling was overturned by a higher court, allowing the ballot measure to proceed. Between 2019 and 2023, Moe also sat on the board of a Christian private school that, during her tenure, was the plaintiff in a lawsuit against the state seeking to legalize public prayers ahead of sports matches. The school was represented by the First Liberty Institute, a far-right legal group known for incubating the career of notable judge-shopping target Matthew Kacsmaryk.
• Ed Artau, nominee to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida: Ed Artau has a record of putting his loyalty to Trump above all else and has a history of siding with billion-dollar corporations over American consumers. He’s helped give Trump a legal win against the free press by greenlighting Trump’s defamation case against the Pulitzer Prize board in February 2025. Artau has repeatedly sided with big corporations and investors, including striking down a multimillion-dollar penalty against Big Tobacco. He also holds deep ties to the right-wing Federalist Society.

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