Senate Confirms Joshua Dunlap as First Republican-Appointed Judge on 1st Circuit

The U.S. Senate has confirmed President Donald Trump’s first nominee to the Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, marking a historic shift for a court long shaped by Democratic presidents.

In a 52–46 party-line vote, Maine attorney Joshua Dunlap secured the lifetime appointment, becoming the first Republican-appointed judge on the 1st Circuit, which hears federal cases across New England. For years, the circuit stood out as the only appellate court in the nation without a GOP-appointed judge, making it a frequent venue for challenges to Trump-era policies. Dunlap’s confirmation alters that landscape and reflects the administration’s broader effort to reshape the federal judiciary.

The vacancy arose when Judge William Kayatta, an Obama appointee, took senior status in late 2024. President Biden nominated Julia Lipez for the seat, but the Senate did not act before his term ended, leaving the position open. Trump nominated Dunlap in July. A partner at Pierce Atwood, he emphasized during hearings his commitment to “faithfully apply the Constitution and the laws as written.” Dunlap holds degrees from Pensacola Christian College and Notre Dame Law School and has worked on cases involving Maine’s voting system, paid family leave, and campaign finance rules.

This week, the Senate also confirmed Trump nominee Eric Tung to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a 52–45 vote. A former clerk to Justices Neil Gorsuch and Antonin Scalia, Tung previously served as a federal prosecutor and attorney at Jones Day. His confirmation narrows, though does not eliminate, the Democratic majority on the 9th Circuit.

While politically significant, these confirmations underscore a broader truth: the federal judiciary evolves gradually but enduringly, shaped by decades of public service rather than short-term electoral shifts.