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The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
In a 46-42 vote along party lines, Tennessee attorney Whitney Hermandorfer was confirmed by the Senate to serve as a judge for the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, marking the first appointment of a Trump judicial nominee in his second term.
Hermandorfer, 38, will be replacing an Obama appointee and is the youngest to federal appeals.
Until her appointment, she worked for the Tennessee Attorney General as the Director of the Strategic Litigation Unit, focusing “on leading constitutional, statutory, and administrative-law challenges to federal agency action, as well as on defending the State in complex matters at the trial and appellate level.”
The new appointee is a graduate of Princeton University and George Washington University Law School. Hermandorfer also previously worked at D.C.-based law firm Williams & Connolly LLP and clerked for Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito in the October Term (OT) of 2018 and Amy Coney Barrett during her inaugural OT 2020 term.
Prior to those experiences she clerked for Judge Brett Kavanaugh while he was still on the D.C. Circuit and for Judge Richard Leon on the U.S. District Court for D.C.
Tennessee AG John Skrmetti offered his accolades of Hermandorfer and her appointment. “Congratulations to our exceptional colleague Whitney Hermandorfer on her appointment to the U.S. Court of appeals for the 6th Circuit! We are so proud of this incredible accomplishment and know she will serve with distinction,” the AG posted to social media.
On the flip side, Whitney’s nomination was vehemently opposed by several left-wing advocacy organizations, giving an indication that her record and values likely align more closely with conservatives.
The Alliance for Justice (AFJ), an organization committed to “fortifying the progressive movement…to transform our courts through judicial nominations,” called Hermandorfer “Unqualified and Unacceptable” on their factsheet.
Amongst others, the AFJ pointed to her stances on pro-life positions, her defense of laws “discriminating against” transgender kids, and her “inhumane stance on immigration law”, including appearing as an attorney of record on President Trump’s petition to end birthright citizenship.
Similarly, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (LCCHR), which engages in legislative advocacy to “fight for justice, inclusion, and fairness for all,” released a statement opposing Whitney’s confirmation based on her association with organizations and workplaces they called, “architects in the rolling back our civil and human rights.”
President Trump still has 49 vacancies to fill out of almost 900 federal judges and the Judiciary panel is scheduled to vote on additional judges this week.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
