President Trump’s judicial nomination for the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals collapsed this week after Republican Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton allegedly worked behind the scenes to sink the pick, forcing the White House to withdraw Lee Rudofsky’s name. Instead, the administration nominated Arkansas Supreme Court Justice James Hiland β a move that followed reported backroom maneuvers by the Arkansas senators.
Home-State Opposition Dooms Nominee
Rudofsky, who previously served as Arkansas solicitor general, acknowledged his withdrawal in a statement that pointedly referenced constitutional requirements for Senate confirmation. “Without the support of my home-state Senators, confirmation is simply not a practical possibility,” he said. The nominee heaped praise on Hiland while acknowledging the political reality that sidelined his own chances.
‘Would That Be Wrong?’
When pressed by reporters about whether he actively schemed to block Rudofsky in favor of Hiland, Boozman deflected with a telling response: “Would that be wrong?” The senator dodged follow-up questions about coordinating with other GOP Judiciary Committee members, saying only that his conversations with colleagues were private.
Controversy Over Replacement Pick
Hiland’s own nomination comes with baggage. The Arkansas justice faced criticism for revealing private White House discussions about judicial appointments during a college talk this summer. He openly admitted rejecting a district court judgeship, recounting how he told White House counsel to inform Trump directly of his refusal β behavior critics called “terrible judgment.”
GOP Infighting Goes Public
The Arkansas drama coincides with another Republican revolt against Trump’s judicial nominees. Outgoing Oklahoma Sen. Alan Armstrong abruptly opposed Zachary West’s nomination to a federal district court, with Sen. Thom Tillis criticizing the White House’s vetting process. The pushback comes as Senate Republicans race to confirm judges before Democrats take control of Congress in January.
With more than two dozen federal court vacancies remaining, the party’s internal divisions threaten to stall Trump’s judicial appointment pipeline during his final weeks in office.
Source: thefederalist.com β https://thefederalist.com/2026/11/11/a-week-after-midterm-rout-gop-sens-boozman-cotton-sink-trump-judicial-pick/