Justin Smith (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit)
Justin Smith is an attorney.[1]
On February 18, 2026, President Donald Trump (R) announced his intent to nominate Justin Smith to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.[1] As of February 18, 2026, Smith was awaiting an official nomination from the president and a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Click here for more information on Smith's federal judicial nomination.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit is one of 13 U.S. courts of appeal. They are the intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.
Judicial nominations and appointments
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump
On Feb 18, 2026, President Donald Trump (R) announced his intent to nominate Smith to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.[1] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.
Nomination
On February 18, 2026 President Donald Trump (R) announced his intent to nominate Justin Smith to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. As of February 18, 2026, Smith was awaiting an official nomination from the president and a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Click here for a list of other nominees who have been nominated by President Donald Trump.
About the court
The federal nomination process
Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:
- The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
- The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
- As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
- After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
- If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
- If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
- The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
- If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
- If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.
See also
External links
Footnotes
