President Donald Trump withdrew his nomination of federal district Judge Lee Rudofsky to the Eighth Circuit on Tuesday and nominated Arkansas Supreme Court Justice J. Cody Hiland for the same seat.
The White House’s notice to the Senate identifies the opening as the seat of Judge Bobby E. Shepherd, who is retiring. Rudofsky’s nomination had been sent to the Senate in September.
Why the nominee changed
Arkansas Republican Sens. John Boozman and Tom Cotton favored Hiland and had opposed advancing Rudofsky’s nomination, Bloomberg Law reported. The Arkansas Advocate reported that elevating Rudofsky would have opened a seat on the federal district court in eastern Arkansas.
Hiland still needs Senate confirmation. Reuters reported that Republicans are trying to confirm additional judges before Democrats take control of the chamber in January. The Eighth Circuit is based in St. Louis and hears federal appeals from Arkansas and six other states.