patrick mcneil (he/him)
@patrickryne.bsky.social
civil and human rights advocate, freelance writer 🏳️🌈
writing: nominationnotes.substack.com
email: [email protected]
writing: nominationnotes.substack.com
email: [email protected]
Reposted by patrick mcneil (he/him)
I truly don’t know how you look at the past week and THEN decide THIS is an appropriate — let alone the right — response.
Dems backed Trump into a corner where he’s advocating for starving Americans and hemorrhaging support. If they vote to let him off the hook in exchange for nothing it’s a cataclysmic failure. I know people are in pain but insulating Republicans from political consequences is not the answer.
November 9, 2025 at 11:14 PM
I truly don’t know how you look at the past week and THEN decide THIS is an appropriate — let alone the right — response.
Reposted by patrick mcneil (he/him)
Senior Judge Mark Wolf writes he’s resigning to be able to speak out:
“Trump is using the law for partisan purposes, targeting his adversaries while sparing his friends and donors from investigation, prosecution, and possible punishment”
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
“Trump is using the law for partisan purposes, targeting his adversaries while sparing his friends and donors from investigation, prosecution, and possible punishment”
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Why I Am Resigning
A federal judge explains his reasoning for leaving the bench.
www.theatlantic.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Senior Judge Mark Wolf writes he’s resigning to be able to speak out:
“Trump is using the law for partisan purposes, targeting his adversaries while sparing his friends and donors from investigation, prosecution, and possible punishment”
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
“Trump is using the law for partisan purposes, targeting his adversaries while sparing his friends and donors from investigation, prosecution, and possible punishment”
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by patrick mcneil (he/him)
Just started writing on Substack three weeks ago and have posted 16 stories about federal judicial nominations, judicial diversity, and more (with more in the works!).
Please consider sharing/subscribing (my stories are free!) — the next subscriber will be my 50th! nominationnotes.substack.com
Please consider sharing/subscribing (my stories are free!) — the next subscriber will be my 50th! nominationnotes.substack.com
nomination notes | Patrick McNeil | Substack
Nomination notes covers nominations to the federal bench, judicial diversity, democracy, and more. Click to read nomination notes, by Patrick McNeil, a Substack publication. Launched 22 days ago.
nominationnotes.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Just started writing on Substack three weeks ago and have posted 16 stories about federal judicial nominations, judicial diversity, and more (with more in the works!).
Please consider sharing/subscribing (my stories are free!) — the next subscriber will be my 50th! nominationnotes.substack.com
Please consider sharing/subscribing (my stories are free!) — the next subscriber will be my 50th! nominationnotes.substack.com
Just started writing on Substack three weeks ago and have posted 16 stories about federal judicial nominations, judicial diversity, and more (with more in the works!).
Please consider sharing/subscribing (my stories are free!) — the next subscriber will be my 50th! nominationnotes.substack.com
Please consider sharing/subscribing (my stories are free!) — the next subscriber will be my 50th! nominationnotes.substack.com
nomination notes | Patrick McNeil | Substack
Nomination notes covers nominations to the federal bench, judicial diversity, democracy, and more. Click to read nomination notes, by Patrick McNeil, a Substack publication. Launched 22 days ago.
nominationnotes.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Just started writing on Substack three weeks ago and have posted 16 stories about federal judicial nominations, judicial diversity, and more (with more in the works!).
Please consider sharing/subscribing (my stories are free!) — the next subscriber will be my 50th! nominationnotes.substack.com
Please consider sharing/subscribing (my stories are free!) — the next subscriber will be my 50th! nominationnotes.substack.com
ABA's letter explaining the rating was funny because they were basically like, she seems nice & her friends support her, but ain't no way she should be a judge. "These attributes...simply do not compensate for the short time she has actually practiced law & her lack of meaningful trial experience."
Chad’s wife is a federal judge who was appointed by Trump and confirmed despite a Not Qualified rating from the ABA. She issued a nationwide block on Biden’s public transit mask mandate and also struck down a ban on guns in post offices. No complaints about activist judges from Chad then?
At #FedSoc, just-departed Bondi chief of staff and acting DOJ No. 3 Chad Mizelle urges Congress to step up campaign to impeach federal judges who've blocked Trump policies. Mizelle also rejects Roberts' stance that rulings can't be grounds for impeachment. www.politico.com/newsletters/...
November 8, 2025 at 3:49 PM
ABA's letter explaining the rating was funny because they were basically like, she seems nice & her friends support her, but ain't no way she should be a judge. "These attributes...simply do not compensate for the short time she has actually practiced law & her lack of meaningful trial experience."
“There is yet life kicking in this broken democracy. It is our job to coax the fragile remains of the systems of resistance still available to us into a force that can effectively fight Trumpism.”
There are cracks in Trump’s power. We have to lean in.
open.substack.com/pub/sherrily...
open.substack.com/pub/sherrily...
Takeaways From Election 2025
Keep Fighting
open.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:16 PM
“There is yet life kicking in this broken democracy. It is our job to coax the fragile remains of the systems of resistance still available to us into a force that can effectively fight Trumpism.”
Senator Tillis can feel free to hold up those nominees for as long as he’d like.
NEW: Sen. Thom Tillis (R), Senate Judiciary member, tells me he and Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi have been negotiating on some "minor issues" unrelated to the records of the 4 nominees in the state. Wouldn't elaborate further.
Says he "wouldn't expect them to be on hold for very long."
Says he "wouldn't expect them to be on hold for very long."
President Donald Trump’s nominees for federal judgeships and chief prosecutors in Mississippi are caught up in a dispute between a key Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee and the state’s senators.
November 7, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Senator Tillis can feel free to hold up those nominees for as long as he’d like.
New from me: In their "Confirmed Judges, Confirmed Fears" series, @peoplefor.bsky.social has been doing incredible work tracking how Trump-appointed judges and justices are ruling — and the extent to which those rulings are harming civil and human rights.
nominationnotes.substack.com/p/trump-appo...
nominationnotes.substack.com/p/trump-appo...
Trump-Appointed Judges and Justices Are Harming Civil and Human Rights
One progressive organization is detailing the destruction.
nominationnotes.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:23 PM
New from me: In their "Confirmed Judges, Confirmed Fears" series, @peoplefor.bsky.social has been doing incredible work tracking how Trump-appointed judges and justices are ruling — and the extent to which those rulings are harming civil and human rights.
nominationnotes.substack.com/p/trump-appo...
nominationnotes.substack.com/p/trump-appo...
Reposted by patrick mcneil (he/him)
Judicial and US attorney nominees for Mississippi are being held up in committee over an unrelated spat between senators on and off the judiciary committee 👀
www.law360.com/articles/240...
www.law360.com/articles/240...
Miss. Judge, US Atty Nominees Held Up In Committee - Law360
Consideration of judicial and U.S. attorney nominees for Mississippi has stalled in committee over tensions between senators that are unrelated to the nominations, according to the Senate Judiciary…
www.law360.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Judicial and US attorney nominees for Mississippi are being held up in committee over an unrelated spat between senators on and off the judiciary committee 👀
www.law360.com/articles/240...
www.law360.com/articles/240...
have no choice but to get a sandwich for dinner.
November 6, 2025 at 8:34 PM
have no choice but to get a sandwich for dinner.
Chair Grassley this morning said they were holding over the nominees, once again, “for later consideration,” but they did advance the nominee to be US attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Senate Judiciary Committee's markup for tomorrow morning doesn't appear to be cancelled (yet?).
it was cancelled on 10/23 and 10/30. and, on 10/1, 10/9, and 10/16, four Mississippi nominees (2 judges, 2 US attorneys) were listed but not voted on. what's up? www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-ac...
it was cancelled on 10/23 and 10/30. and, on 10/1, 10/9, and 10/16, four Mississippi nominees (2 judges, 2 US attorneys) were listed but not voted on. what's up? www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-ac...
November 6, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Chair Grassley this morning said they were holding over the nominees, once again, “for later consideration,” but they did advance the nominee to be US attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
This: "What the Court’s conservatives have shown since Trump took office is that they have no problem letting the administration run roughshod over laws, just as long as that lawbreaking comes at the expense of people of color, not the stock market."
I listened to the Supreme Court's oral argument today so you dont have to
With the notable exception of Alito & Thomas carrying on like 'what if aliens were gonna destroy the world and the only thing that could stop it was a tariff,' the Court seemed Not Into It
ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/learn...
With the notable exception of Alito & Thomas carrying on like 'what if aliens were gonna destroy the world and the only thing that could stop it was a tariff,' the Court seemed Not Into It
ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/learn...
Trump’s Plan to Nuke the Global Economy Prompts Conservative Justices to Remember That the Constitution Exists
The Court has no problem facilitating the disappearance of civil rights. Shareholder value is a different story.
ballsandstrikes.org
November 6, 2025 at 3:12 AM
This: "What the Court’s conservatives have shown since Trump took office is that they have no problem letting the administration run roughshod over laws, just as long as that lawbreaking comes at the expense of people of color, not the stock market."
ICYMI: The Senate confirmed Trump's 60th circuit court judge today.
BREAKING: The Senate just confirmed 9th Circuit nominee Eric Tung — Trump’s 60th circuit court appointment across his two terms. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/trump-has-...
Trump Has Now Appointed 60 Circuit Court Judges
Eighty-five percent are white. Zero are Black.
nominationnotes.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:58 AM
ICYMI: The Senate confirmed Trump's 60th circuit court judge today.
Senate Judiciary Committee's markup for tomorrow morning doesn't appear to be cancelled (yet?).
it was cancelled on 10/23 and 10/30. and, on 10/1, 10/9, and 10/16, four Mississippi nominees (2 judges, 2 US attorneys) were listed but not voted on. what's up? www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-ac...
it was cancelled on 10/23 and 10/30. and, on 10/1, 10/9, and 10/16, four Mississippi nominees (2 judges, 2 US attorneys) were listed but not voted on. what's up? www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-ac...
November 6, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Senate Judiciary Committee's markup for tomorrow morning doesn't appear to be cancelled (yet?).
it was cancelled on 10/23 and 10/30. and, on 10/1, 10/9, and 10/16, four Mississippi nominees (2 judges, 2 US attorneys) were listed but not voted on. what's up? www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-ac...
it was cancelled on 10/23 and 10/30. and, on 10/1, 10/9, and 10/16, four Mississippi nominees (2 judges, 2 US attorneys) were listed but not voted on. what's up? www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-ac...
Reposted by patrick mcneil (he/him)
More nominees just returned written responses to questions for the record. William Crain, nominated to a Louisiana district court, responded "Yes" when Sen. @hirono.senate.gov asked him if he's pro-civil rights — despite a long record that says otherwise.
nominationnotes.substack.com/p/judicial-n...
nominationnotes.substack.com/p/judicial-n...
Judicial Nominee Tries to Redefine What It Means to Be Pro-Civil Rights
His stunning written response is at odds with his long and disturbing record.
nominationnotes.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:32 PM
More nominees just returned written responses to questions for the record. William Crain, nominated to a Louisiana district court, responded "Yes" when Sen. @hirono.senate.gov asked him if he's pro-civil rights — despite a long record that says otherwise.
nominationnotes.substack.com/p/judicial-n...
nominationnotes.substack.com/p/judicial-n...
The Senate has confirmed 11 of Trump's lifetime judicial nominees during the government shutdown — more than half of the 19 judges confirmed so far this year.
November 5, 2025 at 8:49 PM
The Senate has confirmed 11 of Trump's lifetime judicial nominees during the government shutdown — more than half of the 19 judges confirmed so far this year.
More nominees just returned written responses to questions for the record. William Crain, nominated to a Louisiana district court, responded "Yes" when Sen. @hirono.senate.gov asked him if he's pro-civil rights — despite a long record that says otherwise.
nominationnotes.substack.com/p/judicial-n...
nominationnotes.substack.com/p/judicial-n...
Judicial Nominee Tries to Redefine What It Means to Be Pro-Civil Rights
His stunning written response is at odds with his long and disturbing record.
nominationnotes.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:32 PM
More nominees just returned written responses to questions for the record. William Crain, nominated to a Louisiana district court, responded "Yes" when Sen. @hirono.senate.gov asked him if he's pro-civil rights — despite a long record that says otherwise.
nominationnotes.substack.com/p/judicial-n...
nominationnotes.substack.com/p/judicial-n...
BREAKING: The Senate just confirmed 9th Circuit nominee Eric Tung — Trump’s 60th circuit court appointment across his two terms. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/trump-has-...
Trump Has Now Appointed 60 Circuit Court Judges
Eighty-five percent are white. Zero are Black.
nominationnotes.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:15 PM
BREAKING: The Senate just confirmed 9th Circuit nominee Eric Tung — Trump’s 60th circuit court appointment across his two terms. nominationnotes.substack.com/p/trump-has-...
longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history but the Senate is currently voting to confirm one of Trump's circuit court nominees.
November 5, 2025 at 4:35 PM
longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history but the Senate is currently voting to confirm one of Trump's circuit court nominees.
And it looks like no Democratic incumbents lost.
Democrats are on track to win 64 of Virginia's 100 House seats.
That'd be THIRTEEN flips; the chamber is 51/49 right now.
That'd be THIRTEEN flips; the chamber is 51/49 right now.
November 5, 2025 at 5:05 AM
And it looks like no Democratic incumbents lost.
Reposted by patrick mcneil (he/him)
Reposted by patrick mcneil (he/him)
What we know so far, 9:30pm
—Dems flip VA-Gov & VA-LG.
—BIG Dem gains in VA House
—Dems win NJ-Gov
—Mamdani up
—Dems seem to flip 2 statewide offices in GA
—JD Vance's half-brother loses in Cincy.
—Dems sweep Orlando council
—PA: Dem justices up big
—Maine anti-mail vote measure down
—Krasner wins
—Dems flip VA-Gov & VA-LG.
—BIG Dem gains in VA House
—Dems win NJ-Gov
—Mamdani up
—Dems seem to flip 2 statewide offices in GA
—JD Vance's half-brother loses in Cincy.
—Dems sweep Orlando council
—PA: Dem justices up big
—Maine anti-mail vote measure down
—Krasner wins
November 5, 2025 at 2:36 AM
What we know so far, 9:30pm
—Dems flip VA-Gov & VA-LG.
—BIG Dem gains in VA House
—Dems win NJ-Gov
—Mamdani up
—Dems seem to flip 2 statewide offices in GA
—JD Vance's half-brother loses in Cincy.
—Dems sweep Orlando council
—PA: Dem justices up big
—Maine anti-mail vote measure down
—Krasner wins
—Dems flip VA-Gov & VA-LG.
—BIG Dem gains in VA House
—Dems win NJ-Gov
—Mamdani up
—Dems seem to flip 2 statewide offices in GA
—JD Vance's half-brother loses in Cincy.
—Dems sweep Orlando council
—PA: Dem justices up big
—Maine anti-mail vote measure down
—Krasner wins
Reposted by patrick mcneil (he/him)
Virginia has elected Ghazala Hashmi as the state’s next lieutenant governor, making her the first Muslim woman ever elected to statewide office in the United States. 19thnews.org/2025/11/virg...
November 5, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Virginia has elected Ghazala Hashmi as the state’s next lieutenant governor, making her the first Muslim woman ever elected to statewide office in the United States. 19thnews.org/2025/11/virg...
oh, i do enjoy election nights in America that include celebrating things!
November 5, 2025 at 1:14 AM
oh, i do enjoy election nights in America that include celebrating things!
In my review of the first 25 judicial nominees' responses to written questions for the record, Stevens stood out to me as one of the worst — for his responses about employment discrimination, trans people, and more. Yikes that he is hearing this case. patrickryne.substack.com/p/in-evasive...
The guy who will hear the huge case on abortion pills refused to say during his confirmation whether Griswold v. Connecticut—which protects the right to use birth control—was corrected decided, or whether the constitutional right to privacy protects people using IVF. Me in @ballsandstrikes.org:
So the good news is that Matt Kacsmaryk isn't in charge of the medication abortion case anymore. There is also bad news.
November 5, 2025 at 12:03 AM
In my review of the first 25 judicial nominees' responses to written questions for the record, Stevens stood out to me as one of the worst — for his responses about employment discrimination, trans people, and more. Yikes that he is hearing this case. patrickryne.substack.com/p/in-evasive...