Des Moines Sun

This week, the Senate is set to vote on two nominees for the U.S. Courts of Appeals. Senator Chuck Grassley, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, addressed the chamber about Joshua Dunlap and Eric Tung, nominated for the First and Ninth Circuits respectively.

Grassley noted that despite a government shutdown led by Democrats, the committee continues its work on judicial nominations. "We’re continuing to hold hearings and advance strong judicial nominees like the two I’m about to speak about," he said.

Joshua Dunlap was highlighted for his academic achievements and professional experience. According to Grassley, "Mr. Dunlap graduated first in his class from the University of Notre Dame Law School and then served as a law clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit." He has worked over fifteen years as an appellate litigator in private practice.

Grassley cited Dunlap’s own words from his confirmation hearing: “Mainers are famously independent.” The senator expressed confidence in Dunlap’s ability to be a fair judge, saying that Dunlap believes “the law should be available to all and applied impartially and fairly to every litigant.” Support for Dunlap includes endorsements from his law school peers and colleagues.

Regarding Eric Tung, Grassley described his academic background at Yale and the University of Chicago’s School of Law. Tung clerked for Justice Scalia on the Supreme Court as well as Justice Gorsuch both at the Tenth Circuit and Supreme Court levels. He also served as a Bristow Fellow at the Department of Justice's Office of Solicitor General and worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in California during President Trump’s administration.

Tung’s career has included prosecuting various federal crimes before moving into civil litigation and appeals in private practice. He was appointed by California’s Chief Justice to an advisory committee overseeing appellate indigent defense.

Grassley emphasized Tung’s reputation among legal peers: "Based on his stellar credentials and reputation, it’s no surprise that his nomination is supported by his law firm colleagues and the various co-clerks that he’s worked with at the Tenth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court."

The senator concluded by urging bipartisan support for both nominees: "I encourage my colleagues to support both of these fine circuit court nominees."