The U.S. Senate narrowly confirmed President Donald Trump’s nominee Joshua Dunlap to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, ending its long run as the only federal appellate court without a Republican-appointed judge. The 52–46, party-line vote gives Trump his first conservative voice on a circuit historically dominated by Democratic nominees.
Dunlap, a Maine attorney known for defending conservative positions on election law, labor policy, and campaign finance, previously practiced at Pierce Atwood and studied at Pensacola Christian College and Notre Dame Law School. His confirmation follows years of gridlock: the seat opened when Judge William Kayatta took senior status in 2024, but President Biden’s nominee stalled in the Senate, leaving the vacancy for Trump to fill.
Republicans praised Dunlap as a constitutional originalist who will “restore balance,” while Democrats warned he is an activist who could threaten precedents on voting rights, labor protections, and environmental rules. Dunlap pledged to apply the law as written, though critics note his work against ranked-choice voting and certain labor safeguards.
His confirmation came alongside another win for Trump: the Senate also approved Eric Tung to the 9th Circuit, narrowing the Democratic-appointed majority there as well. Together, the appointments advance Trump’s long-term reshaping of the federal judiciary—an effort that began in his first term and continues to shift the ideological direction of key appellate courts.
- Legal scholars say Dunlap’s arrival on the 1st Circuit could influence major decisions on civil liberties, immigration, and environmental regulation for years, reflecting the broader impact of Trump’s expanding judicial footprint.