Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Trump Appointees' Debut Marks Third Circuit's Rightward Tilt
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/trump-appointees-debut-marks-third-circuits-conservative-tiltA more conservative Third Circuit debuted at en banc arguments, as two new appointees of President Donald Trump heard their first case.
Judges Emil Bove and Jennifer Mascott joined other members of the appeals court on Wednesday to weigh a New Jersey ban on assault rifles. Their additions cement a conservative majority on the Philadelphia-based appeals court, as Trump will now have appointed six members.
Bove, a former DOJ official alleged to have suggested that other government lawyers disobey court orders, had a tumultuous path to the bench, facing intense scrutiny from Democrats over the claims. Bove has denied the whistleblower reports.
Seated at one end of the dais, Bove was quiet during his first arguments. Mascott jumped right into the mix from the other end of the bench, questioning attorneys for the ban’s challengers and New Jersey about how to conduct a history and tradition analysis, the Supreme Court-set test for Second Amendment cases. Both judges took notes during the sitting.
Thomas Vanaskie, a former Third Circuit judge, acknowledged that the court will likely be more conservative with the additions of Mascott and Bove. “The ideology of the individual judges does play a role, and it always has,” he said.
Judges Emil Bove and Jennifer Mascott joined other members of the appeals court on Wednesday to weigh a New Jersey ban on assault rifles. Their additions cement a conservative majority on the Philadelphia-based appeals court, as Trump will now have appointed six members.
Bove, a former DOJ official alleged to have suggested that other government lawyers disobey court orders, had a tumultuous path to the bench, facing intense scrutiny from Democrats over the claims. Bove has denied the whistleblower reports.
Seated at one end of the dais, Bove was quiet during his first arguments. Mascott jumped right into the mix from the other end of the bench, questioning attorneys for the ban’s challengers and New Jersey about how to conduct a history and tradition analysis, the Supreme Court-set test for Second Amendment cases. Both judges took notes during the sitting.
Thomas Vanaskie, a former Third Circuit judge, acknowledged that the court will likely be more conservative with the additions of Mascott and Bove. “The ideology of the individual judges does play a role, and it always has,” he said.
A more conservative Third Circuit will debut at en banc arguments, as two new appointees of President Donald Trump are expected to hear their first case, @jacqthomsen.bsky.social reports
— Seth Stern (@sethstern.bsky.social) 2025-10-15T11:18:19.321Z
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
I was at Judge Bove and Mascott's debut argument this morning, where they sat on opposite ends of the dais. Bove didn't ask any questions but Mascott dove right in and pressed lawyers about conducting a history and tradition analysis over New Jersey gun/magazine restrictions.
— Jacqueline Thomsen (@jacqthomsen.bsky.social) 2025-10-15T16:04:45.744Z