Texas Senators' Picks for Federal Judgeships Sent to White House

A Kirkland & Ellis partner and a former chief counsel to Sen. Ted Cruz (R) are among recommended judicial nominees Texas’ two Republican senators have sent to the White House, according to multiple people familiar with the matter.

Erin Nealy Cox, the former US attorney for the Northern District of Texas, has been recommended for a Dallas federal judgeship, according to three people familiar with the matter.

Andrew Davis, a former chief counsel for Sen. Ted Cruz (R), is the pick to serve as a federal judge in Austin, those people said. He beat out Texas Supreme Court Justice James Sullivan for the seat, as well as Dustin Howell, a magistrate judge at the Austin courthouse.

The White House will have final say on the picks for the seats in the state’s Western, Southern, and Northern districts. There are currently 10 judicial vacancies across those three federal districts, teeing up President Donald Trump to deepen his bench of appointees in the state.

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/texas-senators-picks-for-federal-judgeships-sent-to-white-house