President Donald Trump has announced the nomination of Emil Bove, a former Justice Department deputy and one of his personal defense lawyers, to a judgeship on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. The court oversees federal cases from Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania—making this a strategic and high-stakes appointment.
Bove, age 44, rose through the DOJ ranks under Trump, most recently serving as principal associate deputy attorney general and briefly as acting deputy attorney general in January–March 2025 . He has been a central figure in several controversial actions. These include directing the dismissal of corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams, triggering mass DOJ resignations, orchestrating a sweeping purge of FBI officials linked to Jan. 6 probes, and ordering criminal investigations into local officials who resisted federal immigration directives .
Trump praised Bove on Truth Social, calling him “SMART, TOUGH, and respected by everyone,” and claimed Bove will “end the Weaponization of Justice, restore the Rule of Law, and do anything else that is necessary to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN” .
Opposition is brewing in the Senate. Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim have criticized Bove as a “deeply polarizing choice” amid concerns over his role in politically motivated DOJ decisions. Reflection in conservative circles has been mixed. Legal scholar Ed Whelan described Trump’s pledge that Bove would “do anything else that is necessary” as a troubling politicization of the judicial branch. On the other hand, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi endorsed the pick, calling it “a country’s gain”.
The nomination will proceed through Senate Judiciary Committee hearings. Critics are expected to question Bove’s record heavily, testing whether his past decisive actions at DOJ reflect independent legal judgment or ideological loyalty.
If confirmed, Bove will carry a lifetime appointment—shifting the balance on the Third Circuit and embedding Trump-aligned legal philosophy deeper into the federal courts.
