Donald J.Trump nominates Anna St. John to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
St. John, a district court judge and former legal advocate for religious liberty and free speech, would join one of the most influential federal appeals courts.
St. John, a district court judge and former legal advocate for religious liberty and free speech, would join one of the most influential federal appeals courts.
WHITE HOUSE — Donald J.Trump nominated Anna St. John to serve as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on a Truth Social post on June 29, 2026 at 8:22 PM EST.
Here is the full post (see truthsocial): “I am pleased to announce the nomination of Anna St. John to serve as a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Anna is currently a Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, and was previously President and General Counsel of the Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute and Center for Class Action Fairness, where she championed Religious Liberty, Free Speech, and protecting Women’s Sports. Anna is a proud Graduate of LSU and Columbia Law School, and clerked for Judge Rhesa Barksdale. Anna will continue to defend Americans’ Constitutional Rights on the Fifth Circuit. Congratulations Anna! Donald J.Trump”
St. John now serves as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. She held previous roles as president and general counsel of the Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute and the Center for Class Action Fairness, where she focused on religious liberty, free speech and policies related to women’s sports.
St. John graduated from Louisiana State University and Columbia Law School. She clerked for Judge Rhesa Barksdale on the Fifth Circuit, the same court to which she has now been nominated.
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals covers Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi and ranks among the largest and most consequential federal appellate courts in the country. Decisions from the court carry significant weight on issues including immigration, energy regulation, gun rights and religious freedom. St. John’s appointment could shape legal interpretations across those areas for decades.
Trump framed the nomination as a continuation of his effort to place judges who will defend constitutional rights on the federal bench. The Fifth Circuit has emerged as a frequent battleground for major legal disputes between state governments and the federal executive branch.
In the last 30 days, 23 of 564 Trump posts on Truth Social addressed the topic of legal matters, reflecting steady attention to judicial appointments and court-related developments during that period.
Source: Zenger real-time database of all Truth Social posts.
Note: Chart generated on June 29, 2026 at 8:29 PM EST
Source: Zenger analysis
Note: Table generated by NewsFindr on June 29, 2026 at 8:29 PM EST