Blackburn Blocked Judicial Nominee Adkisson
Senator Marsha Blackburn withheld a blue slip for Samuel Adkisson, stalling his district court nomination.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Elections
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Senator Marsha Blackburn has withheld a blue slip for Samuel Adkisson, preventing the Senate Judiciary Committee from considering his nomination to the Eastern District of Tennessee. Adkisson, currently an associate counsel in the White House, was nominated for the federal judgeship by President Donald Trump in August 2026.
Why it matters
The blue slip process gives home-state senators significant influence over federal judicial appointments, as the committee generally requires their support before advancing a nominee to a confirmation hearing.
Committee policy requires home-state senators to submit a blue slip to signal approval before a district court nominee receives a hearing. Samuel Adkisson was nominated for the Eastern District of Tennessee vacancy in August 2026.
The players
Marsha Blackburn
She is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee who currently serves as a United States Senator for Tennessee.
Samuel Adkisson
He is an associate counsel in the White House Counsel's Office and a judicial nominee for the US District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee.
Donald Trump
He is the current President of the United States.
Brad Kelley
He is a judicial nominee who was not considered at the recent committee hearing due to pending FBI paperwork.
Brett Kavanaugh
He serves as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
The details
The Senate Judiciary Committee requires these slips for all district judge nominations, effectively allowing senators to block candidates from their home states. Separately, Brad Kelley was also excluded from the September 30 hearing due to unrelated FBI paperwork delays.
Timeline
2018: Samuel Adkisson worked during the confirmation hearing for Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
June 2026: The Supreme Court issued its ruling in Trump v. Slaughter.
August 2026: President Donald Trump nominated Samuel Adkisson for the federal bench.
September 30, 2026: The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing.
November 2, 2026: Midterm elections are scheduled to take place.
Political Context
Critics of the blue slip tradition argue it grants individual senators excessive power to block qualified candidates for ideological reasons. Conversely, defenders view the practice as a vital check that ensures federal judges have the support of their home-state delegations.
This stall means that the judicial seat for the Eastern District of Tennessee will remain vacant until a nominee successfully clears the committee process. Residents may see a continuation of current court backlogs if these federal vacancies are not filled promptly.
The takeaway
The use of blue slips remains a potent tool for senators to assert local control over the federal judiciary during confirmation cycles. Voters often weigh these institutional power struggles when considering the balance of authority between the executive and legislative branches.
What happens next
The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to convene another hearing before the midterm elections on November 2, where Brad Kelley is slated to appear for consideration.
Further reading
Learn more about the federal nomination process in the Elections section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Reuters.
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