patrick mcneil (he/him)

patrick's POV | Patrick McNeil | Substack Click to read patrick's POV, by Patrick McNeil, a Substack publication. Launched 7 days ago.

You all! @patrickryne.bsky.social has a brilliant new substack! He's continuing to write about judicial nominations and the impact on our civil rights, our communities, and our future! Go and subscribe now -
patrickryne.substack.com!

A screenshot of my Substack's homepage showing the last six stories posted.

hello! i'm a (recently laid off) civil rights advocate and writer who just started posting on Substack about nominations to the federal bench, judicial diversity, and more. here are the six stories i've posted since last Friday.

to read/support my work, please subscribe! patrickryne.substack.com

Over the course of his term, President Biden doubled the number of Native American lifetime judges in the nation’s history, in addition to appointing Judge Shanlyn Park, who is the first Native Hawaiian woman to ever serve as a lifetime judge.

Two years ago today, President Biden nominated Sara Hill to the federal bench. Judge Hill became the first Native American woman to serve as a lifetime judge in Oklahoma and the fourth Native American judge confirmed during the Biden administration.

what a disgraceful man.

Senate confirmed four lifetime judges this week and is set to confirm (at least) four more next week as the government shutdown continues.

Two of Trump's most extreme district court nominees, Jordan Pratt and Edmund LaCour, are set to receive cloture & confirmation votes, likely beginning Tuesday.

i laughed too much at this 😆

Senate Set to Confirm At Least Four More of Trump’s Lifetime Judicial Nominees Next Week And they’re some of his worst picks yet.

Some of Trump’s worst picks for lifetime federal judgeships are heading toward confirmation. Here’s my look at what’s coming up next week: patrickryne.substack.com/p/senate-set...

The Seventh Circuit Has Only Had Five Judges of Color. Trump’s About to Get His Sixth White Appointee. His nominations today continue a troubling trend he started during his first term.

FYI! patrickryne.substack.com/p/the-sevent...

This seat also stands out because a judge of color from Wisconsin has never served on the Seventh Circuit, and Trump has made sure, for now, that it stays that way.

The Seventh Circuit Has Only Had Five Judges of Color. Trump’s About to Get His Sixth White Appointee. His nominations today continue a troubling trend he started during his first term.

NEW: Senate just invoked cloture on nomination of Rebecca Taibleson to serve on 7th Circuit.

Her confirmation will mean that Trump has appointed more white judges to the 7th Circuit (6) than judges of color who have EVER served on the court in history (5). patrickryne.substack.com/p/the-sevent...

horrible news for the judiciary.

Trump’s Louisiana District Court Nominees Face Few Questions During Hearing This was their interview for a lifetime gig. It was far too easy.

“Our courts deserve better, and the judges who are selected to serve on them for life deserve more scrutiny. Senators can still submit written questions for the record until October 29, and they should take the opportunity to do so.”

My coverage of today: patrickryne.substack.com/p/trumps-lou...

they are so thirsty.

Trump federal court nominee cited new Louisiana law to keep his divorce records private • Louisiana Illuminator Five months before a new privacy law for judges took effect, a Louisiana Supreme Court justice cited it in a request to keep information about his divorce and the end of his 40-year marriage private.

NEW: Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Will Crain, who Trump appointed to the federal bench, put his divorce under seal for 11 months based on a new law that allows public officials to keep their info private.

(He is also dating his former law clerk.) #lalege

lailluminator.com/2025/10/22/c...

"After a comprehensive review...we believe his views, particularly with respect to civil rights issues, reflect a deep hostility to the principles of equality, liberty, justice and dignity under the law for LGBTQ+ people and others seeking to vindicate their civil rights,” @lambdalegal.org wrote.

NEW: Senate just confirmed William Mercer to the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana — another white man on a court where a person of color has never served, and where only one woman has.

Earlier this month, @lambdalegal.org told senators: "His animus against LGBTQ+ people is clear."

William Crain, nominated to Eastern District of LA, spoke about importance of public confidence in courts, but @afj.org notes in their opposition letter that “His confirmation would erode public confidence in the judiciary’s impartiality and jeopardize the rights of litigants who come before him.”

Trump’s Louisiana District Court Nominees Face Few Questions During Hearing This was their interview for a lifetime gig. It was far too easy.

Senate Judiciary Committee just considered two more of Trump’s judicial nominees. Few senators spent significant time questioning the nominees, who if confirmed will serve in lifetime roles with immense power to rule on critical civil and human rights issues. patrickryne.substack.com/p/trumps-lou...

so frustrating! you won't be shocked to hear that i watched the hearing (for fun) 😆

Votes have not been scheduled, meaning terrible judicial nominees like William Mercer and Chad Meredith may stay off the bench even just one day longer. As small as it is, another day without them serving in lifetime judgeships is a good thing.

Ranking Member Durbin asked judicial nominee Alexander Van Hook, who was born in Shreveport and has served as acting US Attorney there, whether they need the National Guard to fight crime in Shreveport, where the murder rate is higher than the city of Chicago. Van Hook says they would be welcome.

Two judicial nominees and one DOJ nominee stand up and take the oath before testifying in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

incredible diversity today in the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing room.

looks like tomorrow's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing will consider nominations of William Crain for Eastern District of Louisiana, Alexander Van Hook for Western District of Louisiana, and Andrew Duva to serve as assistant AG of DOJ's Criminal Division. www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-ac...

Efforts to Diversify the Federal Judiciary Have Effectively Come to a Halt Under Trump It’s not surprising, but it’s bad for our democracy and worth calling out.

"Instead of appointing judges who will be fair-minded & independent, he has made clear that he expects loyalty from his appointees — & expects that they will bring their bias to the bench on behalf of his administration’s white supremacist & unlawful agenda." patrickryne.substack.com/p/efforts-to...

the Seventh Circuit has only ever had five judges of color, and President Biden appointed FOUR of them. if Rebecca Taibleson is confirmed, she'll be Trump's sixth white appointee to the court — meaning he will have appointed more white judges to this court than people of color who have ever served.

Republicans are making one of the most gerrymandered states in the nation even more rigged North Carolina Republicans just passed a new Trump-inspired congressional map to oust a Black Democrat.

North Carolina already one of most gerrymandered states. Now GOP passing new gerrymander giving Rs nearly 80% of seats in state where Trump got 51%. Specifically targets Black Dem Don Davis. This is preview of what post-Voting Rights Act America will look like www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

Glad this was party line, at least.

Trump’s newest nominees (announced last night on Truth Social) are both white men and have been nominated to district courts in Louisiana. If both are confirmed, he will have appointed more white men to the Louisiana district courts than people of color who have served there in the nation’s history.

Of Trump's 28 lifetime judicial nominees this year who are publicly known, only three are people of color (10.7 percent) and none have worked as civil rights lawyers. Indeed, many of his appointees this term — as was the case last time — have actively worked against civil and human rights.