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In It to Win It

(12,356 posts) Tue Dec 2, 2025, 06:01 PM Dec 2

US Senate confirms 2 Trump-picked judges in North Carolina, including former Thomas clerk

Dec 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Tuesday voted in favor of two federal prosecutors in North Carolina joining the federal bench as trial judges, including a former clerk to conservative U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas whose views on abortion and the death penalty have spurred Democratic opposition.

The Republican-led Senate voted 53-45 to confirm David Bragdon to serve as a life-tenured judge in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina and 60-39 in favor of Lindsey Ann Freeman who was appointed to the same court.

The votes increased the number of judges confirmed during President Donald Trump's second term to 21, building on the 234 appointments he made in his first term that helped shift the judiciary to the right.

Bragdon had been the appellate chief at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, while Freeman most recently served as second-in-command at the Middle District's U.S. Attorney's Office.

https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-senate-confirms-2-trump-picked-judges-north-carolina-including-former-thomas-2025-12-02/

14 replies

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US Senate confirms 2 Trump-picked judges in North Carolina, including former Thomas clerk (Original Post) In It to Win It Dec 2 OP

How John Coktosten Dec 2 #1

1) They're in the minority, and (2) both North Carolina senators are Republicans so we can't use blue slips In It to Win It Dec 2 #2

Minority? John Coktosten Dec 2 #3

Being in the minority does matter, it means you have no power in judicial confirmations In It to Win It Dec 2 #4

Not true John Coktosten Dec 2 #5

Not true. Blue slips give home-state senators veto power. "Home" is North Carolina in this case. In It to Win It Dec 2 #6

Wrong John Coktosten Dec 3 #9

I never said you said it. I'm saying it. In It to Win It Dec 3 #10

This is simply not true. Only home state senators could attempt to use a blue slip tritsofme Dec 3 #7

Wrong John Coktosten Dec 3 #8

If only your stating it so strongly could make it be true... Wounded Bear Dec 3 #12

Wow John Coktosten Dec 3 #13

LOL.. Wounded Bear Dec 3 #14

I'm now convinced this person is trolling us 😂 In It to Win It Dec 3 #11

John Coktosten

(179 posts)

1. How

Reply to In It to Win It (Original post)

Tue Dec 2, 2025, 06:58 PM

Dec 2

How and WHY did Schumer allow Dumps judicial appointments to pass? What the hell Chuck? We should be holding everything up until Dunp makes concessions! WTH?

In It to Win It

(12,356 posts)

2. 1) They're in the minority, and (2) both North Carolina senators are Republicans so we can't use blue slips

Reply to John Coktosten (Reply #1)

Tue Dec 2, 2025, 07:03 PM

Dec 2

Nothing we could do to stop those appointments.

John Coktosten

(179 posts)

3. Minority?

Reply to In It to Win It (Reply #2)

Tue Dec 2, 2025, 10:13 PM

Dec 2

Minority doesn't matter for judicial appointments. Is North Caroina the only state with senators? Didn't think so. Any dem senator can stop this.

In It to Win It

(12,356 posts)

4. Being in the minority does matter, it means you have no power in judicial confirmations

Reply to John Coktosten (Reply #3)

Tue Dec 2, 2025, 10:51 PM

Dec 2

and, of course North Carolina is not the only state with senators, not that it would matter because Democrats are in the minority anyway.

Having at least one Democratic senator in a state matters for federal district court nominations because the senate still use blue slips for district court confirmations. We have no senators in North Carolina so the blue slip "veto" is unavailable to us. Why do you think Trump's district court nominations have only happened in states with two Republican senators? If Trump does nominate a person to a district court in a state with a Democratic senator, it will be with the cooperation of the Democratic senator. If you're in the minority, this "tradition" is only power you have.

John Coktosten

(179 posts)

5. Not true

Reply to In It to Win It (Reply #4)

Tue Dec 2, 2025, 11:38 PM

Dec 2

That's not true because it's the Senate. I agree if this were the House but the House doesn't do judicial appointments. ANY senator can use the blue slip or hold up a judicial confirmation. They DO NOT have to be from NC. Precisely the reason I spoke about Schumer.

In It to Win It

(12,356 posts)

6. Not true. Blue slips give home-state senators veto power. "Home" is North Carolina in this case.

Reply to John Coktosten (Reply #5)

Tue Dec 2, 2025, 11:43 PM

Dec 2

Not having any senators in North Carolina means no blue-slip power for us.

It's the reason Alina Habba will not be confirmed by the Senate as US Attorney of New Jersey. Both Democratic senators from New Jersey used their blue slips to block her. That's for US Attorney rather than judicial confirmations but it illustrates the "home-state senator" point in blue slips.

John Coktosten

(179 posts)

9. Wrong

Reply to In It to Win It (Reply #6)

Wed Dec 3, 2025, 08:52 AM

Dec 3

That is incorrect. As well, I've never said only home senators could use blue slips. You guys are just plain incorrect on this. End of discussion.

In It to Win It

(12,356 posts)

10. I never said you said it. I'm saying it.

Reply to John Coktosten (Reply #9)

Wed Dec 3, 2025, 09:54 AM

Dec 3

I am saying the reason we can’t use blue slips to block judicial confirmations in North Carolina is because the home state senators are Republican and they obviously won’t block Trump’s nominations in North Carolina.

You are free to look up how blue slips work for judicial confirmations. 😂

tritsofme

(19,800 posts)

7. This is simply not true. Only home state senators could attempt to use a blue slip

Reply to John Coktosten (Reply #5)

Wed Dec 3, 2025, 01:10 AM

Dec 3

for district nominees like this, not any senator.

The filibuster for these sorts of nominees was removed in 2013, if a determined Senate majority wants to confirm a nominee, there is nothing a minority can do to stop them in the end.

John Coktosten

(179 posts)

8. Wrong

Reply to tritsofme (Reply #7)

Wed Dec 3, 2025, 08:50 AM

Dec 3

Unfortunately, you're wrong on this.

Wounded Bear

(63,863 posts)

12. If only your stating it so strongly could make it be true...

Reply to John Coktosten (Reply #8)

Wed Dec 3, 2025, 09:58 AM

Dec 3

No blue slips because of the state issue. No filibuster on judicial appointments. No way for Dems to block these.

John Coktosten

(179 posts)

13. Wow

Reply to Wounded Bear (Reply #12)

Wed Dec 3, 2025, 12:35 PM

Dec 3

You"re no expert obviously. I never said what you are alleging. Reading comprehension. AND if only YOUR stating it would make it true as well. The dems can block these IF they choose to. Any senator can block these. I'm done with this discussion. Adding you to the ignore list with the others. Have a nice day.

Wounded Bear

(63,863 posts)

14. LOL..

Reply to John Coktosten (Reply #13)

Wed Dec 3, 2025, 05:18 PM

Dec 3

165 posts in and you already have an ignore "list"...

In It to Win It

(12,356 posts)

11. I'm now convinced this person is trolling us 😂

Reply to tritsofme (Reply #7)

Wed Dec 3, 2025, 09:57 AM

Dec 3

They can easily look up how wrong they are and they refuse to.

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