Trump Taps Kentucky Lawyer for Judgeship 3 Years After Biden Scrapped Nomination Plans

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he will nominate Chad Meredith, a former Kentucky solicitor general, to serve as a judge on the District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

Trump announced his intent to nominate Meredith to the federal judgeship position in a statement on Truth Social, calling it a “great honor.”

“Chad is highly experienced and well qualified, previously serving as the Solicitor General of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and Chief Deputy General Counsel for the Office of the Governor,” Trump wrote.

“Chad is a courageous Patriot who knows what is required to uphold the Rule of Law, and protect our Constitution,” he continued. “Congratulations Chad!”

Meredith served as Kentucky’s solicitor general from 2019 to 2021, having previously served as the chief deputy general counsel to the governor of Kentucky from 2015 to 2019, according to his biography on the legal firm Squire Patton Boggs’s website, where he is a partner.

After graduating from law school, he clerked for Judge John Rogers on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and for Judge Amul R. Thapar on the District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

At Squire Patton Boggs, Meredith focuses on appellate litigation, matters involving state attorneys general, and general litigation.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) praised Trump’s “outstanding” decision to nominate Meredith to the bench, calling the latter a “bright lawyer with a stellar resume and a distinguished record of public service.”

“His demonstrated devotion to the rule of law and the Constitution will serve the people of Kentucky well on the federal bench,” McConnell said. “I look forward to the Senate confirming his nomination.”

Former President Joe Biden had considered nominating Meredith—who has in the past defended abortion restrictions—to the federal judgeship position in 2022, shortly after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 precedent that legalized abortion nationwide.

He decided against the nomination after abortion-rights groups, including Planned Parenthood Federation of America and National Women’s Law Center, issued a statement condemning the move.

“Chad Meredith should not be nominated to a lifetime judgeship. This is unacceptable at any time, but especially on the heels of six Supreme Court justices taking away a fundamental right from millions of people,” the groups said.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) also indicated to the Biden administration at the time that he would block Meredith’s confirmation proceedings from moving forward, citing an issue with the nomination process and accusing McConnell of cutting a “secret deal” with the White House.

Paul had effective veto power over a judicial pick in his home state because the Senate continues to honor the so-called blue slip policy, a decades-old custom under which a judicial nominee cannot move forward if there is opposition from senators representing the home state of the nominee.

The Biden White House deferred to the custom, and Biden later scrapped plans to nominate Meredith.

“In considering potential District Court nominees, the White House learned that Senator Rand Paul will not return a blue slip on Chad Meredith,” White House spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement to multiple media outlets at the time. “Therefore, the White House will not nominate Mr. Meredith.”

This time, Paul recommended Meredith for the judgeship to the White House and plans to support his confirmation, his office confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday.

The Epoch Times has contacted Paul’s office for further comment.