Trump Nominates Emil Bove III, Controversial DOJ Powerbroker, to Federal Appeals Court

In a move that’s already igniting political controversy, former President Donald Trump announced Wednesday his intention to nominate Emil Bove III—one of the Justice Department’s most formidable and polarizing figures—to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Bove, 44, a former criminal defense attorney for Trump and a seasoned federal prosecutor, is currently a key architect behind the administration’s aggressive immigration policies. If confirmed, he would take on a lifetime judgeship presiding over cases from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

The nomination is expected to meet stiff resistance in the Senate, where Democrats are projected to unanimously oppose the appointment.

“Emil is SMART, TOUGH, and respected by everyone,” Trump proclaimed on his social media platform. “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!”

A Georgetown Law graduate and former national security prosecutor in Manhattan’s U.S. attorney’s office, Bove has long harbored ambitions of becoming a federal judge, according to associates. However, his swift nomination comes after only a short tenure in his current post—a tenure marked by rapid and often ruthless reorganization within the DOJ.

One of the defining moments of Bove’s recent DOJ stint involved a high-profile clash with the Southern District of New York, where he pushed to dismiss bribery charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. The case, brought under a Biden-appointed U.S. attorney, was seen by Bove as an obstacle to Adams’s cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

The confrontation sparked internal turmoil. Interim Manhattan U.S. Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon resigned in protest, citing her obligation to pursue justice “without fear or favor.” When Bove sought help from DOJ leadership in Washington to override the office’s decision, five prosecutors from the public integrity and criminal divisions also resigned rather than participate.

Ultimately, Bove argued for the case’s dismissal solo, appearing alone at a February court hearing—a moment that highlighted both his power and his isolation within the department.

Currently serving as the principal associate deputy attorney general—second only to Todd Blanche—Bove has wielded extraordinary influence from behind the scenes. Despite his unassuming title, his position bypassed Senate scrutiny and allowed him to immediately begin shaping DOJ policy from January onward.

His tenure began with a stark directive threatening legal action against state and local officials who resisted federal immigration enforcement, followed by a hands-on trip to Chicago to observe immigration raids. Working closely with Stephen Miller, a longtime Trump adviser, Bove has remained deeply involved in the administration’s immigration strategy even as new leadership took over.

It’s still unclear whether Bove is being nominated to the New Jersey-based or Delaware-based seat on the Third Circuit. He owns property in Pennsylvania, and some conservatives have advocated for relocating the Delaware seat to Pennsylvania to accommodate the nomination.

Regardless of the specifics, Bove’s elevation to the bench would mark a significant victory for Trump-era hardliners seeking to embed their vision in the federal judiciary—and a profound challenge for those aiming to maintain the Justice Department’s independence.

Bove’s legal career has been marked by calculated ambition and a clear ideological alignment with Trump-era priorities. Supporters hail him as a tough-minded reformer, while critics warn his judicial appointment could entrench partisan loyalties within the federal judiciary.

With the 2024 election looming and the judiciary increasingly a battleground for ideological control, Bove’s nomination underscores Trump’s ongoing effort to reshape the courts with loyalists. Whether the Senate will confirm him—and what impact he may have on American jurisprudence—remains to be seen.