Whitney Hermandorfer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit | |
| Assumed office July 17, 2025 | |
| Appointed by | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Jane Branstetter Stranch |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Whitney Dianne Downs 1987 (age 37–38) Clearwater, Florida, U.S. |
| Education | Princeton University (BA) George Washington University (JD) |
Whitney Downs Hermandorfer (born 1987) is an American lawyer who is serving as aUnited States circuit judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. She previously was the director of the Strategic Litigation Unit in theTennessee Attorney General's office from 2023 to 2025.
Hermandorfer was born Whitney Dianne Downs in 1987 inClearwater, Florida.[1] She graduated fromPrinceton University with anArtium Baccalaureus degree, with a minor insociologymagna cum laude in 2009.[1] She received herJuris Doctor fromGeorge Washington University Law School in 2015[2] and waseditor-in-chief ofThe George Washington Law Review. In law school, she was a recipient of the John Bell Larner Award for having the highest cumulativegrade point average.[3]
In 2015, Hermandorfer joined the law firm ofWilliams and Connolly inWashington D.C. as anassociate, where she focused onappellate andadministrative law.[4] Hermandorfer served as alaw clerk for then-JudgeBrett Kavanaugh from 2016 to 2017 while he served on theUnited States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, as well as for JudgeRichard Leon on theUnited States District Court for the District of Columbia from 2017 to 2018.[1] She later clerked forAssociate JusticesSamuel Alito (2018–19) andAmy Coney Barrett (2020–21) on theUnited States Supreme Court.[4] She returned to Williams and Connolly in 2021 and then in 2023[5] joined theTennessee Attorney General's office as director of the newly formed Strategic Litigation Unit under attorney generalJonathan Skrmetti.[6]
Hermandorfer is a member of theFederalist Society.[7]
On May 2, 2025, PresidentDonald Trump announced his intent to nominate Hermandorfer to serve on theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit to succeed JudgeJane Branstetter Stranch, who had announced her intention to takesenior status upon the confirmation of a successor. Hermandorfer was Trump's first judicial nominee of the second term.[8][9] On May 12, 2025, her nomination was sent to the Senate.[10] On June 26, 2025, her nomination was reported from theSenate Judiciary Committee by a party-line 12–10 vote.[11] On July 10, 2025, theUnited States Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 51–43 vote.[12] On July 14, 2025, her nomination was confirmed by a 46–42 vote.[13] She received her judicial commission on July 17, 2025.[14]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit 2025–present | Incumbent |