‘Eminently qualified’: Donald Trump has handed federal judgeships and top DOJ jobs to at least 10 of his personal lawyers

At least 10 of Donald Trump’s former personal lawyers have been given top jobs in his administration or nominated to the federal bench, according to an analysis. The trend has raised serious concerns about bias and conflicts of interest inside the Justice Department and the courts.

The most recent example is Matthew Schwartz, a partner at Sullivan & Cromwell, who was nominated by Trump in early April to be a judge on the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals. Schwartz was part of the criminal defense team that appealed Trump’s conviction in the Manhattan hush money case.

One of the most prominent examples is Todd Blanche, who went from sitting beside Trump during the Manhattan trial to running day-to-day DOJ operations as deputy attorney general, reports Politico. Blanche had also represented Trump in his two federal prosecutions and has served as acting attorney general.

Trump’s decision to fill key legal roles with his own former lawyers raises serious concerns about loyalty overriding impartiality

“It’s problematic because the officers of the DOJ are expected to administer the law for the benefit of the United States, not for the benefit of the president,” said Stephen Gillers, a professor of legal ethics at New York University law school. “The president doesn’t own DOJ, it’s not his law firm.”

Emil Bove, who worked with Blanche on the Manhattan criminal case and two federal prosecutions, was one of the first top DOJ officials in place when Trump returned to power. After a brief and troubled tenure, Trump nominated him to the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, where he is now a judge. Bove drew criticism last year after attending a Trump rally, which led to a judicial misconduct complaint.

Some appointments have received less attention. Will Scharf, who worked for Trump on several criminal and civil matters, is now the White House staff secretary. Michael Talent, who worked on Trump’s immunity case, is now working under Solicitor General John Sauer. Kendra Wharton, who worked with Blanche on the Manhattan case and two federal criminal cases against Trump, joined the DOJ as associate deputy attorney general before leaving in mid-2025.

Alina Habba, another former Trump lawyer, served as New Jersey’s U.S. attorney until December, when an appeals court upheld her disqualification from the role. Habba had represented Trump in the Carroll trials, the civil fraud trial, and a lawsuit Trump filed against Hillary Clinton and former FBI Director James Comey, in which Habba and Trump were fined nearly $1 million for “sanctionable conduct.”

“It’s not good practice if the people aren’t well-qualified,” said Bruce Green, a professor at Fordham Law School who specializes in legal ethics. “I don’t think there’s anything illegal about it, but I think it’s a bad idea.” In an interview with NBC News, Trump said, “I think I’m extremely moderate, especially for what they did to me. I’m the chief law enforcement officer of the United States. I could be involved, but I’m not.” 

Trump has also made other bold personal claims recently, including his confidence in being fit enough to be a NASA astronaut. Following an executive order called “Ending the Weaponization of the Government,” a working group was set up inside the DOJ to review actions from investigations the administration considered politically motivated. Critics, however, say the group itself reflects the very problem it claims to address. 

“They basically succeeded in creating the starkest example of this administration’s hypocrisy by naming a working group that was created to weaponize the Department of Justice the ‘Weaponization Working Group,'” said Stacey Young, a DOJ veteran under both Republican and Democratic presidents who left in January 2025 and founded the group Justice Connection.

The working group’s total size is unclear, but it is expected to release its first report soon, focusing on areas outlined in Attorney General Pam Bondi’s “Day One” memo, including former special counsel Jack Smith’s criminal investigations into Trump.  Trump has also been making headlines on the international stage, such as when he clashed with Germany’s chancellor over being humiliated by Iran.