President Donald Trump has nominated Emil Bove, his former defense attorney and current senior official at the Department of Justice (DOJ), for a judgeship on the 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals. This federal court oversees cases from Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Trump praised Bove on social media, describing him as "smart, tough, and respected by everyone," and asserted that Bove would work to end the "Weaponization of Justice" and restore the rule of law.
Bove's nomination comes amid notable controversy stemming from his recent tenure as acting deputy attorney general. Since Trump’s return to the White House in January, Bove has significantly influenced the DOJ’s direction. A former prosecutor for the Southern District of New York, he previously represented Trump in various legal proceedings, including the hush money trial and federal investigations related to the 2020 election and classified documents.
One of Bove’s most contentious actions was ordering the dismissal of the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a decision that led to the resignation of US Attorney Danielle Sassoon and other senior officials. Bove justified this move by citing concerns that the prosecution impeded the mayor’s alignment with the administration’s immigration policies.
Additionally, Bove played a prominent role in reshaping the DOJ's approach to January 6 investigations, alleging that FBI agents disobeyed orders by withholding the identities of individuals involved in the Capitol riot probe. He also dismissed prosecutors engaged in related cases, signaling a broad reorganization within the department.
Democratic senators have strongly criticized the nomination. Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim of New Jersey jointly stated, "Judges must be committed to upholding the rule of law, due process, and fairness. Emil Bove’s actions have compromised our faith that he can be this."
Bove assumed his senior DOJ role following Todd Blanche, another former Trump defense attorney who was appointed deputy attorney general. As Blanche’s principal associate deputy attorney general, Bove has been deeply involved in shaping major departmental policies.
Before his current service, Bove spent nearly a decade prosecuting significant cases involving drug cartels, terrorism suspects, and high-profile defendants — including the brother of a former Honduran president and a domestic bomber targeting political figures.
Though experienced, Bove’s prosecutorial career was not without controversy. In 2018, the federal public defender’s office collected complaints about his courtroom conduct from defense attorneys and submitted them to DOJ leadership. Despite this, he was promoted to lead roles in the national security and narcotics divisions.
Earlier in his legal trajectory, Bove clerked for two federal judges appointed by former President George W. Bush, establishing his connections within conservative judicial circles.
