Josh Hawley Questions Trump Judicial Nominees on Experience and Background

Questioning of Judicial Nominees

• 🎤 Senator Josh Hawley initiated the questioning of top Trump Administration judicial nominees, starting with Mr. Bluestone.

Mr. Bluestone's Prosecutorial Experience

• ⚖️ Mr. Bluestone, a violent crimes prosecutor in the Eastern District of Missouri, detailed his experience prosecuting offenses such as carjacking, armed robbery, gun crimes, and drug crimes.
• 💡 He emphasized the fulfillment derived from addressing the violent crime epidemic in St. Louis and the surrounding areas.
• 📊 Bluestone highlighted his oversight of over 100 cases personally and supervision of more than a thousand cases, underscoring his familiarity with courtroom procedures.
• 📈 Additionally, he serves as the Appellate Chief, overseeing all civil and criminal appeals for the office.

Mr. Divine's Role as Solicitor General

• 🏛️ Mr. Divine, the Solicitor General of Missouri, discussed his extensive litigation experience, estimating hundreds of cases supervised or litigated personally.
• 💼 He also directs the Special Litigation unit, handling the state's most complex trial matters.
• 💰 Divine highlighted his role in representing Missouri in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
• 🚀 A key example of complex litigation involved student loan cases, where the office successfully argued against the unlawful cancellation of hundreds of billions of dollars, ultimately prevailing in court.

Ms. Lanahan's Legal Career

• 🧑‍⚖️ Ms. Lanahan, Principal Deputy Solicitor General for Missouri, estimated handling upwards of 50 cases across trial and appellate courts.
• 📚 She oversees a significant portion of the office's appeals, reviewing them before submission, a role she has held for approximately four years.
• 🧐 Her experience includes managing appeals that involve not only trial court issues but also distinct appellate legal considerations.