President Donald Trump just dropped a judicial bombshell, nominating Emil Bove, a fierce Department of Justice lawyer, to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
The Daily Caller reported that this move, announced with characteristic flair on Truth Social, signals Trump’s unrelenting push to reshape the judiciary. Buckle up, because Bove’s no ordinary pick.
On May 28, 2025, Trump unveiled Bove as his choice for the Third Circuit, part of a wave of judicial appointments kicking off earlier that month.
Bove, currently acting deputy attorney general, isn’t just a DOJ insider—he’s a former defense attorney for Trump himself. Talk about a loyalty meeting opportunity.
Bove’s resume screams competence, with a Georgetown Law degree and nearly a decade as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in New York’s Southern District. There, he co-led the Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit, tackling some of the nation’s toughest cases. This isn’t a lightweight stepping into the ring.
Mainstream media once dubbed Bove Trump’s “enforcer” for heading the DOJ’s Weaponization Working Group.
That group scrutinizes federal prosecutors and FBI agents tied to Trump’s legal battles and the January 6 Capitol riot probe. Sounds like someone’s ready to shake up the system.
“It is my great honor to nominate Emil Bove to serve as a Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit,” Trump declared. He praised Bove’s Georgetown credentials and New York prosecutorial chops. But let’s be real: Trump’s picking a fighter, not a scholar.
“Emil is SMART, TOUGH, and respected by everyone,” Trump added. He vowed Bove would “end the Weaponization of Justice” and “restore the Rule of Law.” That’s a tall order, but if anyone’s got the grit, it’s the guy who’s been in Trump’s corner before.
Trump’s judicial nominations started rolling out in early May 2025, and Bove’s just one piece of the puzzle.
Back in March, the Daily Caller pressed White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on the timeline for over 40 planned appointments. Leavitt played coy, promising a list without specifics.
Nearly two months later, the White House finally shared Trump’s first six judicial picks with the Daily Caller. Bove’s nomination shows the administration is now in high gear, filling benches with loyalists. Patience, it seems, pays off for those waiting on Trump’s next move.
Among Trump’s picks, Missourians have snagged several district court slots, while Whitney Hermandorfer landed a nomination for the Sixth Circuit. Hermandorfer, previously with Tennessee’s Attorney General’s Office, brings her conservative heft. Trump’s building a judiciary to match his vision.
Bove’s past as Trump’s defense attorney raises eyebrows, but his legal track record holds up under scrutiny.
The man’s spent years dismantling complex cases in New York, from terrorism to narcotics. He’s not just a loyalist; he’s a legal heavy-hitter.
Todd Blanche, deputy attorney general and another ex-Trump attorney, gushed, “Couldn’t be prouder of my friend Emil Bove on his nomination.” Blanche called Bove’s integrity and legal mind “brilliant,” predicting he’ll be an “excellent judge.” Friends in high places never hurt.
Blanche’s praise isn’t just buddy talk—it’s a nod to Bove’s ability to navigate the DOJ’s trickiest waters. Leading the Weaponization Working Group means Bove’s already knee-deep in the fight against what conservatives see as politicized justice. He’s battle-tested, ready for the bench.
Bove’s nomination now heads to the Senate, where confirmation battles loom. With Trump’s judicial picks leaning hard into conservative values, expect progressive pushback. But Bove’s credentials make him a tough target to dismiss outright.
Trump’s also tapped Joshua M. Divine for Missouri’s Eastern and Western District Courts, showing a knack for regional balance. Divine, like Bove, fits the mold of tough-on-crime, rule-of-law champions. The judiciary’s getting a MAGA makeover, one nomination at a time.
