Reshaping the Federal Bench

EIGHTH CIRCUIT STATES

AR, IA, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD

RUDOFSKY DISTRICT APPOINTMENT

2019

Eastern District of Arkansas, first Trump term

FEDERALIST SOCIETY NOMINEES

~90%

of Trump appellate picks in first term were Federalist Society members

EIGHTH CIRCUIT ACTIVE JUDGES

authorized seats on the court

EIGHTH CIRCUIT — JUDGES BY CONFIRMATION YEAR

George W. Bush

Barack Obama

Donald Trump

Nominated (pending)

SEAT COMPOSITION

Republican: 9

Democratic: 1

Pending / Nominated: 1

NOMINEE PROFILE — LEE RUDOFSKY

Circuit Nominated

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

Judicial Philosophy

Textualism

Prior Role

Arkansas Solicitor General

Federalist Society

Member

District Court

Eastern District of Arkansas

Key Jurisprudence

Standing doctrine opinions limiting plaintiff access to federal courts

CONFIRMATION TIMELINE

2019 — Trump First Term

Nominated to Eastern District of Arkansas

2019 — Trump First Term

Confirmed to district bench

2026 — Trump Second Term

Todd Blanche confirmed as Attorney General

Confirmed August 8, 2026; DOJ Office of Legal Policy now fully staffed

2026 — Trump Second Term

Nominated to Eighth Circuit

2026 — Trump Second Term

Senate Judiciary Committee review — pending

Background & Context