What Happened?

Republicans are racing to shape the courts, before an increasingly unfavorable midterm map may eliminate their ability to do so. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Sept. 24 to advance President Trump's nominees, including picks to lead a major federal antitrust office and fill seats on a key federal sentencing body, with 13 nominees now heading to the full Senate floor. [](#ngr-fc72c7ce-2984-40e3-b6bb-84ec92b73ea7)

Nearly every nominee cleared the committee on party-line votes, with Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed. One nominee, Luis Felipe Restrepo, tapped for the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC), the federal body that sets criminal punishment guidelines, passed unanimously, 22 to 0.

Why Does it Matter to Me?

The nominee drawing the most attention is D. Adam Candeub, chosen to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division. If confirmed, he would oversee the federal government's active cases against Google and Apple, two companies whose products millions of Americans use daily. The USSC nominees carry a tight deadline: the Commission only recently regained a working quorum after three years without one, and guideline amendments that affect how federal judges sentence people are set to take effect Nov. 1.

Both Sides, Now

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) opened the meeting by criticizing federal judges who gave media interviews about immigration enforcement, saying, "These statements are unacceptable. It undermines public confidence in the court and destroys the perception of impartiality."

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) focused her criticism on Candeub, arguing his predecessor was removed for refusing politically motivated settlements and warning, "We cannot let him bring the FCC's playbook to antitrust enforcement." Critics also noted that Candeub had no antitrust trial record and submitted more than 100 late disclosures to the committee, including writings published on a white nationalist website.

The nomination of Anna St. John to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals drew opposition from more than two dozen organizations, including the League of Conservation Voters, which warned it "will strongly consider including votes on this nomination in our 2026 National Environmental Scorecard." St. John's nomination came only two months after she was confirmed as a federal district judge.

What Happens Next?

Most of the 13 nominees could face a full Senate floor vote as soon as the week of Sept. 28, if the chamber remains in session. The same party-line math that carried the nominees through committee will determine whether the administration's agenda advances. The USSC nominees face the tightest clock, with sentencing guideline amendments taking effect Nov. 1 and a potential quorum loss at the commission looming before year's end.

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