In a notable change to an earlier nomination, former President Donald Trump has withdrawn his selection of U.S. District Judge Lee Rudofsky for the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and instead nominated Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Cody Hiland for the position.
Trump originally nominated Rudofsky to the appeals court in August. Rudofsky, who currently serves in the Eastern District of Arkansas, has issued key rulings that narrowed the scope of the Voting Rights Act and upheld a state ban on perceived "indoctrination" in classrooms. His confirmation to the appellate bench would have created a noteworthy vacancy in the lower court.
Hiland, a former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas and chair of the Arkansas Republican Party, joined the state Supreme Court in 2023. He was appointed to fill a vacancy by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and subsequently elected to a full term in March of this year. Since joining the court, Hiland has authored opinions on critical legal issues, including one that struck down a state law altering which courts could hear constitutional challenges.
The nomination shuffle comes shortly after Democrats secured control of Congress in last week’s elections, potentially complicating the confirmation process for judicial nominees favored by Trump and other Republicans. The nominee for the 8th Circuit would fill the seat left vacant by retiring Judge Bobby Shepherd, a George W. Bush appointee and father of notable Arkansas legal and political figures.
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin praised Hiland’s qualifications on the social media platform X, calling him an "excellent choice" for the appellate court. Among Hiland’s prior appointments, he served as prosecuting attorney for Faulkner, Van Buren, and Searcy counties, as well as a key figure in Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ 2022 gubernatorial campaign. He has also worked with the Arkansas Department of Public Safety.
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in St. Louis, Missouri, oversees cases from several Midwestern states, including Arkansas. If confirmed, Hiland's legal history and conservative credentials are likely to play a significant role on the court in years to come.