Trump picks Meredith for KY federal judge slot, 3 years after nomination failed
The second time was the charm for Chad Meredith, who was nominated to serve as a federal judge on United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky late Wednesday by President Donald Trump, according to a social media post from Trump.
In 2022, the administration of former Democratic President Joe Biden planned to nominate Meredith, the state’s former solicitor general under former Attorney General Daniel Cameron. Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell had successfully pushed for the nomination, a rarity for a president of a different party to grant, but the plan was dropped due to opposition from Republican Sen. Rand Paul.
Though the reasons for the change are unclear, Paul’s office said this time around he’s completely on board with Meredith’s nomination.
“Dr. Paul gladly recommended Chad Meredith to the White House alongside Sen. McConnell. He appreciates President Trump nominating Chad and looks forward to voting for him in the Senate,” a spokesperson wrote in a statement to the Herald-Leader.
Meredith is set to fill the seat of Judge Danny Reeves, who took senior status earlier this year, according to a spokesperson from McConnell’s office.
McConnell in a statement called Meredith a “bright lawyer with a stellar resume and a distinguished record of public service.”
Beyond his service in Cameron’s office, Meredith also worked as chief deputy general counsel to former Republican Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin.
The planned nomination stirred some controversy among Democrats because of Meredith’s history defending Kentucky’s anti-abortion laws. Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear called it “indefensible” at the time.
Meredith is the son of state Sen. Stephen Meredith, a Republican from Leitchfield.
In a post to Truth Social late Wednesday, Trump congratulated Meredith.
“Chad is highly experienced and well qualified, previously serving as the Solicitor General of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and Chief Deputy General Counsel for the Office of the Governor. Chad is a courageous Patriot who knows what is required to uphold the Rule of Law, and protect our Constitution,” Trump wrote.
One civil rights group expressed disappointment at the decision, citing a “disturbing anti-abortion record.”
“We need federal judges who will protect civil rights and work for all of us — judges who will uphold our laws and Constitution rather than being servile to the president’s agenda and the wealthy and powerful. Chad Meredith would not be that judge and should not be confirmed to a lifetime seat on the federal bench in Kentucky where he can do real damage to our fundamental rights and democracy for decades,” Lena Zwarensteyn, senior director of the fair courts program and an advisor at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, wrote.
Cameron, who was a prominent anti-abortion politician during his time in office and is running for U.S. Senate in 2026 to replace McConnell, lauded the president’s decision.
“I was proud to appoint him as Kentucky’s first Solicitor General. He thrived in that role, fighting for Kentuckians in courts across the Commonwealth. Chad is a principled conservative who will make his family, his state, and his country proud,” Cameron wrote.
This story was originally published June 18, 2025 at 10:50 PM.
