President Trump Nominated North Carolina Federal Judges

The president has selected two candidates for U.S. District Court seats in North Carolina.

Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in People

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a neoclassical courthouse facade, evoking the institutional authority of the federal judiciary. — President Donald Trump has nominated Brian S. Meyers and Philip L. Aubart to fill vacancies on the U.S. District Court in North Carolina. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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President Donald Trump has nominated Brian S. Meyers and Philip L. Aubart for federal judgeships in North Carolina. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the nominees will take seats on the U.S. District Court benches for the Eastern and Middle districts.

Why it matters

Federal district judges serve as the primary trial courts in the U.S. judicial system, and these lifetime appointments require Senate confirmation. North Carolina senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd have signaled their support to help move the nominations forward.

Brian S. Meyers has served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge since October 2020. He previously served as an Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina starting in 2018.

The players

Donald Trump

Donald Trump is the current President of the United States who holds the authority to nominate federal judges.

Brian S. Meyers

Brian S. Meyers is a current U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of North Carolina and former Assistant U.S. Attorney.

Philip L. Aubart

Philip L. Aubart is the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina nominated for the Middle District bench.

Thom Tillis

Thom Tillis is a U.S. Senator representing North Carolina who recommended the judicial candidates.

Ted Budd

Ted Budd is a U.S. Senator representing North Carolina who recommended the judicial candidates.

The details

Brian S. Meyers currently sits as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District, a role he has held since 2020. Philip L. Aubart serves as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the same district, and both men were recommended for these federal appointments by Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd.

Meyers began his service as an Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney in 2018.
Meyers started his role as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in October 2020.
Meyers concluded his work as an Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney in 2020.
President Trump officially announced these nominations on September 24, 2026.

Market Landscape

The nomination process reflects the structural power of the executive branch to shape the federal judiciary under Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution. This move aligns with the broader institutional practice of senators recommending candidates to ensure regional representation on federal benches.

The confirmation of these judges impacts the speed and management of court proceedings in Raleigh and Fayetteville. Residents and businesses with cases pending in these districts will see the impacts of these bench changes once the Senate completes the confirmation process.

The takeaway

These nominations represent a significant step in filling federal judicial vacancies across North Carolina's two districts. The public can follow the U.S. Senate judiciary committee schedule to monitor progress on these lifetime judicial seats.