President Trump has announced nine new judicial nominees.
Mark J. Bennett is nominated to serve as a Circuit Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Currently he is director in the Honolulu firm Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher, where he has practiced complex civil and appellate litigation and government relations since 2011.
Andrew S. Oldham is nominated to serve as a Circuit Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He currently serves as General Counsel to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, where he advises the Governor on a range of issues under federal and state law.
Michael Y. Scudder, Jr., is nominated to serve as a Circuit Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He is a partner of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where he has practiced complex civil litigation and white collar defense in the Chicago office since 2009.
Amy J. St. Eve will serve as a Circuit Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Judge Amy J. St. Eve has served as U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois, since her confirmation by the U.S. Senate and appointment by President George W. Bush in 2002.
Nancy E. Brasel is nominated to serve as a District Judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. She currently serves as a Minnesota State District Court Judge for the Fourth Judicial District, where she has served since she was appointed to the bench by Governor Dayton in 2011.
Thomas S. Kleeh will serve as a District Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia. Tom Kleeh is a member of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, where he has practiced as a litigator in the firm’s labor and employment group representing private and public sector clients for the last nineteen years.
Peter J. Phipps is nominated to serve as a District Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. He currently serves as senior trial counsel in the Federal Programs Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division.
Eric C. Tostrud is nominated to serve as a District Judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. Currently he is Of Counsel with Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P., and serves on the full-time faculty at Mitchell Hamline School of Law as the Distinguished Practitioner in Residence.
C.J. Williams will serve as a District Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa. Judge C.J. Williams serves as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Iowa. Prior to his appointment in 2016, Judge Williams served for 19 years as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa.
