Hawkeye Reporter

The Senate has confirmed Whitney D. Hermandorfer as a United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit, marking the first judicial confirmation of the 119th Congress. The confirmation vote was 46-42.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) commented on Hermandorfer’s background and the significance of her appointment. “Whitney Hermandorfer’s confirmation is a boon to the federal judiciary. As the Director of the Strategic Litigation Unit in Tennessee, she’s led major cases on civil rights and the separation of powers and is widely praised for her legal mind, impeccable qualifications, collegial nature and constitutionalist philosophy. I was proud to lead Ms. Hermandorfer’s nomination through the Senate Judiciary Committee and am confident she will be an excellent federal judge,” Grassley said.

Grassley also addressed opposition from Senate Democrats: “Despite Democrat obstruction, Senate Republicans will push forward to confirm President Trump’s nominees. More than 80 percent of judicial nominees in the Judiciary Committee last Congress received bipartisan support. I hope Democrats can learn to let down their opposition to law and order nominees and begin good faith participation in the Senate’s advice and consent role this Congress.”

Hermandorfer previously served as Director of the Strategic Litigation Unit in Tennessee, where she worked on major civil rights cases and issues involving separation of powers.

In addition to Hermandorfer's confirmation, during the first six months of the 119th Congress, Senate Republicans have confirmed 21 members of President Trump’s Cabinet at a pace faster than recent incoming administrations. They have also confirmed 89 civilian nominees—more than during President Trump’s first administration—and approved 12 ambassador nominees, surpassing early numbers from both Biden's, Trump's first term, and George W. Bush's administrations.

The current session began with ten consecutive weeks of voting—the longest such period in over fifteen years. Overall, the Senate has been in session for 24 out of the last 27 weeks and has held more roll call votes by this point than any Congress in more than three decades.

A video of Grassley discussing Hermandorfer’s nomination on the Senate floor is available HERE.