The Trump administration’s new hiring policy: “Were you his lawyer? Congratulations, you’re in.”
John, there’s a name for what’s happening in the Trump administration right now, and it’s not “merit-based hiring.”
It’s cronyism — shameless, pure, loyalty-first cronyism.
Because the fastest path to a federal judgeship or top DOJ job isn’t public service or legal excellence anymore. It’s being Donald Trump’s personal lawyer and proving your loyalty.
Since returning to office, Trump has elevated at least 10 of his former personal attorneys into senior Justice Department roles or lifetime judicial nominations.
Not career prosecutors. Not independent legal minds. His personal defense team.
And a growing number of judicial nominees share the same defining credential: loyalty proven in Trump’s own legal battles.
Let’s be clear: these aren’t neutral appointments. They’re rewards. And they create an obvious conflict of interest — people who defended one man now serving in roles that demand independence from him.
That’s not how a justice system is supposed to work. The DOJ isn’t a president’s law firm. The federal judiciary isn’t a loyalty program. But that’s how it’s being treated.
And the result is a pipeline from “Trump’s personal lawyer” to “lifetime federal judge” — shaping the courts around allegiance, not independence.
We can’t normalize this. Demand Justice PAC is fighting to expose this corruption, block the extremist nominees, and demand a judiciary that answers to the Constitution, not to a wannabe authoritarian.
But we can’t do it without you. Will you chip in $5 today to help us push back against this takeover of the courts and defend judicial independence:
Donate $5 ››
Thank you,
Demand Justice PAC
