Trump faces another Fifth Circuit nomination battle as judge announces retirement
Judge Leslie Southwick will semi-retire from the Fifth Circuit, prompting President Trump to nominate a successor amid Senate procedural hurdles.
Leslie Southwick, appointed by former President George W. Bush in 2007, announced his semi-retirement from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, stating he wants to devote more time to family. President Donald Trump responded by nominating Anna St. John, currently serving on the federal trial court in New Orleans, to fill the opening. The Fifth Circuit, known for its conservative rulings and jurisdiction over Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana, already has twelve of its seventeen judges appointed by Republican presidents, including six by Trump.
Confirmation in the Senate could be expedited through unanimous consent, but Republican Senator Kevin Cramer has placed a hold on nominees due to a disagreement over a wetland conservation rule from the Biden era. If the hold persists, Senate leaders may need to allocate floor time for cloture votes, potentially slowing the appointment process.
