Senate Approves Trump’s Judicial Nominee for Appeals Court with Liberal Majority

Until Dunlap’s appointment, the 1st Circuit was the only federal appellate court among the 13 nationwide that had never had a Republican-appointed judge.

The court hears appeals from Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Puerto Rico, and Rhode Island, overseeing a wide range of cases that affect millions of Americans, from constitutional law disputes and civil rights cases to federal administrative challenges.

The absence of a Republican appointee in the past made it a key venue for litigation related to Trump-era policies, with Democrats maintaining a firm influence over precedent-setting decisions.

Dunlap’s confirmation alters that balance, introducing a conservative perspective into decisions that have long been guided by Democratic jurists.

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