Emil Bove, ex-Trump lawyer and current DOJ official, nominated for federal appeals court judge

US President Trump on Wednesday nominated Emil Bove, his former defense attorney and now a senior justice department official, for a seat on the 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals, which hears federal cases from Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

“Emil is SMART, TOUGH, and respected by everyone,” Trump said in a social media post announcing the nomination. "He will end the Weaponization of Justice, restore the Rule of Law, and do anything else that is necessary to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. Emil Bove will never let you down!”

The nomination comes amid controversy surrounding Bove's recent actions as acting deputy attorney general.

Bove has played a central role in shifting the justice department’s priorities since Trump returned to the White House in January. A former prosecutor in the southern district of New York, he previously represented Trump in several legal matters, including the hush money trial and federal investigations related to the 2020 election and classified documents.

One of Bove’s most contentious moves was his decision to end the corruption case against New York City mayor Eric Adams. That order led to the resignations of US attorney Danielle Sassoon and other top officials. Bove justified the dismissal by saying the case hindered the mayor’s support of the administration’s immigration strategy.

His actions also extended to the January 6 investigations. Bove accused FBI agents of defying orders by not disclosing identities of those involved in the Capitol riot probe. He also dismissed prosecutors working on related cases, signaling a broader reshuffle within the department.


Bove’s nomination has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats. "Judges must be committed to upholding the rule of law, due process, and fairness," senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim of New Jersey said in a joint statement. "Emil Bove’s actions have compromised our faith that he can be this."

Bove assumed his current position after Todd Blanche, also a former Trump defense lawyer, became deputy attorney general. As Blanche’s top adviser, Bove was appointed principal associate deputy attorney general, placing him at the heart of major departmental decisions.

Before joining the justice department’s top ranks, Bove spent nearly a decade prosecuting high-stakes cases, including drug cartels and terrorism suspects. His notable work includes cases involving an ex-Honduran president’s brother and a domestic bomber who targeted political figures.

However, his time as a prosecutor was not without controversy. In 2018, the federal public defender’s office collected complaints from defense attorneys about Bove’s courtroom conduct and submitted them to department leadership. Despite that, he was later promoted to a top post in the national security and narcotics division.

Earlier in his career, Bove clerked for two federal judges appointed by former President George W Bush, solidifying his long-standing connections within conservative legal circles.