Emil Bove, a former personal attorney to the United States President, Donald Trump, , has been confirmed to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a tightly split 50-49 vote in the Senate on Tuesday.
The decision, which grants Bove a lifetime judicial appointment, sparked intense backlash from Democrats and members of the legal community.
Despite two Republicans, Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, breaking ranks to oppose the nomination, the GOP’s 53-47 Senate majority was enough to secure Bove’s confirmation.
Earlier in July, Democratic senators staged a walkout from a committee session in protest of his nomination.
Bove, 44, previously served as a federal prosecutor and was nominated for the judgeship while occupying the third-highest role in the Department of Justice under Trump.
His nomination triggered strong objections, particularly regarding his past legal work and affiliations.
“Mr. Bove’s primary qualification appears to be his blind loyalty to this President,” said Senator Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, in a Tuesday night statement.
Durbin criticized Bove for defending individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot and for allegedly removing prosecutors who pursued them.
The 3rd Circuit Court handles cases from Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
New Jersey lawmakers Cory Booker and Andy Kim also issued a joint statement condemning Bove’s appointment, saying his “professional record is marred by a pattern of abusive behavior, ethical breaches, and disdain for the norms of judicial integrity.”
Criticism extended beyond Capitol Hill. More than 900 former Justice Department lawyers wrote to the Senate Judiciary Committee, arguing that it was “intolerable to us that anyone who disgraces the Justice Department would be promoted to one of the highest courts in the land.”
Additionally, over 75 retired federal and state judges expressed concern in a separate letter, stating that it is “deeply inappropriate for a president to nominate their own criminal defense attorney for a federal judgeship.”
Bove had represented Trump in the New York hush money case that led to Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts for falsifying business records.
He also defended the former president in two federal cases that were dropped after Trump returned to office in 2024.
Earlier in the year, Bove made headlines by dismissing bribery and fraud charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
That move reportedly triggered resignations across the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office and the Justice Department in Washington.
Bove has denied any quid pro quo, rejecting claims that his decision was linked to Mayor Adams’ support for Trump’s immigration policies.