Jul 29, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Senate confirms former Trump lawyer Bove as federal judge

Rebecca Falconer

Emil Bove, US circuit judge for the third circuit nominee for US President Donald Trump, speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. — Emil Bove, confirmed as President Trump's pick as a judge for the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., last month. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Senate narrowly confirmed Emil Bove, President Trump's former personal attorney, as a federal appeals court judge on Tuesday evening.

By the numbers: Senators voted 50-49 to confirm Trump's nominee to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which oversees Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the Virgin Islands.

Driving the news: Bove had faced complaints from three whistleblowers who made allegations about his conduct.

Of note: Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) joined Democrats in voting against Bove, while Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) was not in attendance for the vote.

Go deeper: Dozens of judges call Emil Bove unfit for bench in letter to Senate

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Senate confirms former Trump lawyer Bove as federal judge

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