Trump picks Chad Meredith for Kentucky federal judgeship after 2022 plans fell through

- President Donald Trump nominated Chad Meredith to serve as a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
- Meredith previously served as Kentucky solicitor general and was deputy general counsel to former Gov. Matt Bevin.
- Plans to nominate Meredith to the court fell through in 2022.
This story has been updated with new information.
President Donald Trump is nominating Chad Meredith to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, he said in a social media post — offering him a second chance at a federal judgeship after a planned nomination from President Joe Biden to the same court fell through in 2022.
Meredith served as Kentucky's solicitor general from 2019 to 2021. He also served as deputy general counsel to former Gov. Matt Bevin during his term, and was involved in Bevin's issuance of controversial pardons. Meredith is known for his staunch anti-abortion record.
If confirmed, Meredith would fill the seat of Danny Reeves, who became a senior judge in the Eastern District earlier this year. Most recently, Meredith has worked as a partner at the law firm Squire Patton Boggs in Cincinnati.
Meredith did not immediately respond to The Courier Journal's request for comment.
In the June 18 post, Trump called Meredith "highly experienced and well qualified," and "a courageous Patriot who knows what is required to uphold the Rule of Law, and protect our Constitution."
In a statement, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell called the nomination "an outstanding choice," adding he looked forward to Meredith's confirmation by the Senate.
"Chad Meredith is a bright lawyer with a stellar resume and a distinguished record of public service," McConnell said. "His demonstrated devotion to the rule of law and the Constitution will serve the people of Kentucky well on the federal bench."
"There is no one better than Chad for this post," former Attorney General Daniel Cameron said on social media, calling him a "principled conservative" and adding he "was proud to appoint him as Kentucky's first Solicitor General."
The office of U.S. Sen. Rand Paul — who played a key role in Meredith's collapsed nomination in 2022 — said he "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."
Connor Giffin is a reporter for The Courier Journal. Reach him directly at cgiffin@courier-journal.com or on X @byconnorgiffin.