President Trump will have an opportunity to appoint a new judge to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after Judge Kurt Engelhardt announced he will take senior status at the end of 2026 or upon confirmation of his successor, whichever comes later.
Engelhardt, a Trump appointee who joined the New Orleans-based court in 2018, said he intends to continue serving in a reduced capacity. His move creates the first appellate court vacancy of Trump’s second term on the influential 5th Circuit, which hears cases from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
The court holds a conservative majority, with 12 of its 17 judges appointed by Republican presidents, including six by Trump. Before joining the appeals court, Engelhardt served as a federal district judge in Louisiana after being appointed by President George W. Bush.
Among his notable rulings, Engelhardt authored decisions blocking Biden administration policies on emergency abortion care guidance in Texas and regulations targeting so-called “ghost guns.” The latter ruling was later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.
