President Donald Trump's initial focus, in terms of appointments, has been his Cabinet and related positions critical to the functioning of his administration. But he's now turned his focus to the federal judiciary. He may be doing battle with a number of those already on the bench, but he's also tasked with appointing new judges to fill judicial vacancies — 46 at present. 

On Tuesday, Trump sent out a series of posts on Truth Social announcing his nominees for several vacancies — most of them in Missouri (though he also named Edward Aloysius O’Connell to serve as Associate Judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia). 

First up was Josh Divine, currently the state's Solicitor General, and previously, Chief Counsel to Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO). 

pic.twitter.com/vqdhteuIfe

— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) May 6, 2025

Divine has a solid record in and for Missouri and will make a fantastic addition to the bench. (In a somewhat unusual move, he's been named to serve on both the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri.) 

Not that anyone is counting but if you were, @JoshDivineMO has a $725 BILLION legal record as Missouri's Solicitor General.

And his Principal Deputy Solicitor General Maria Lanahan was a big part of that.

They will make fantastic district court judges.

— Madeline Sieren (@MSierenMO) May 6, 2025

In addition, Trump named Zachary Bluestone (currently with the U.S. Attorney's Office in St. Louis), Maria Lanahan (currently serving as the Principal Deputy Solicitor General in Missouri), and Cristian Stevens (currently a Missouri Court of Appeals judge) to serve as judges in Missouri's Eastern District. 

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Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) had high praise for the nominations.

🚨These are four homerun nominations by @realDonaldTrump.

All four worked for me when I was Missouri's Attorney General. They are each of the highest integrity and qualification

The Eastern District of Missouri will be in firm, constitutionalist hands for the next generation.🧵 pic.twitter.com/FoC8txhubr

— Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) May 6, 2025

Sen. Hawley also applauded the nominations.

Four terrific judicial nominees from @realDonaldTrump for the state of Missouri today. I look forward to seeing each swiftly confirmed! https://t.co/PZzae8UQQH

— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) May 6, 2025

And, as Schmitt rightly notes, Missouri has become a hotbed of conservative legal talent. 

Missouri is THE hotbed of conservative legal talent and it’s not even close.

Am I right @HawleyMO?

— Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) May 6, 2025

Considering that both Hawley and Schmitt previously served as Missouri's Attorney General, and other prominent Show-Me State legal talent includes Andrew Bailey (current MO AG), Will Scharf (formerly serving on Trump's legal defense team, now Assistant to the President and White House Staff Secretary), Ed Martin (acting U.S. Attorney for D.C.), and D. John Sauer (Solicitor General of the U.S.), I'd say Schmitt makes a fair point. 

Almost makes me miss my lawyering days. Almost. 

Editor's Note: Partisan federal judges are hijacking President Trump's agenda and insulting the will of the people

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