TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Jan 12, 2022

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee today took up the nomination of Memphis lawyer Andre Mathis for a seat on the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. President Joe Biden nominated Mathis in November to fill a vacancy that will be created when Judge Bernice Bouie Donald takes senior status. Reuters reports that Mathis is the president’s first judicial nominee from a state with two Republican U.S. senators who do not support the nomination, and say that the White House failed to adequately consult with them about the pick. Sen. Marsha Blackburn called it "insulting" that the White House did not meaningfully consult her or fellow Sen. Bill Hagerty, and said she had "serious concerns" about Mathis' experience. Both she and Hagerty had recommended Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Camille McMullen as an alternative nominee for the post.