Columbia News

Senator Eric Schmitt, a U.S. Senator from Missouri, used his social media account on September 4, 2025, to comment on the recent trends in federal judicial nominations and appointments.

In one post, Schmitt criticized President Biden’s approach to judicial nominations. On September 4, 2025, he wrote: "A large part of the problem we have faced since January is that Biden nominated (and Democrats confirmed) a historic number of radicals to lifetime positions. It is going to take 30 years to unwind that mess."

He followed with praise for former President Donald Trump’s nominees: "Here's the thing: President Trump's judicial nominees are outstanding and the data backs that up. Recent scholarship confirms their exceptional impact on our federal courts." This reflects ongoing debates about the long-term effects of judicial appointments by both presidents.

In a third post on the same day, Schmitt emphasized the urgency of filling court vacancies under Trump’s administration. He stated: "President Trump is quickly filling the vacancies on our federal courts, especially at the appellate level. We need judges who are eligible to take senior status to do so and allow President Trump to appoint their successor."

The discussion over federal judicial appointments has intensified in recent years. According to news reports and government records, both Presidents Trump and Biden have made significant numbers of appointments to lifetime positions on federal courts during their terms. Judicial appointments can have lasting impacts because appointees serve for life unless they retire or resign. The process typically involves nomination by the president and confirmation by the Senate.

Schmitt's remarks align with broader partisan debates about how these appointments shape legal outcomes for decades after an administration ends.