North Dakota senators welcome Trump nomination of Solicitor General Phil Axt for federal district court judgeship
Bismarck, North Dakota – President Donald Trump has nominated North Dakota Solicitor General Phil Axt to serve as a U.S. District Court judge for North Dakota, drawing support from the state’s two Republican U.S. senators.
Sens. Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven released statements supporting Axt following the announcement of his nomination. Both pointed to his legal experience, North Dakota background and previous public service as reasons they believe he is qualified for the federal bench.
Axt currently serves as Solicitor General in the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office. His responsibilities include overseeing litigation involving North Dakota and the federal government or other states. He also helps defend state laws against constitutional challenges and represents North Dakota in both state and federal courts.
Cramer described Trump’s selection of Axt as a strong choice and highlighted his work defending the state’s interests.
“President Trump made an excellent choice,” said Cramer. “Phil knows the people, communities, and values which make North Dakota special. He became Solicitor General as the Biden regulatory assault was at its height and fought tirelessly to uphold the rights reserved to the state by the 10th Amendment and under the principles of cooperative federalism. He has built a strong personal foundation of integrity. From his days growing up on a farm near McClusky to the U.S. Army, and through the classrooms at Yale, this young man from North Dakota never lost sight of the law and Constitution guiding us. Phil has big shoes to fill, but I know he will bring the same dedication and integrity to the bench. I look forward to voting for him once the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fixes the Biden rule which allows North Dakota’s farmers’ land to be flooded without compensation.”
Hoeven points to Axt’s legal experience and military service
Hoeven also endorsed the nomination, saying he became familiar with Axt’s abilities when Axt worked as a legal fellow in his office.
“Phil has done a good job serving the State of North Dakota as Solicitor General, and I believe he has the right legal temperament and experience to serve on the U.S. District Court for North Dakota,” said Hoeven. “Phil has dedicated his life to public service. Prior to his legal service, he served in the U.S. Army as an intelligence officer. I first met Phil when he joined my office as a legal fellow, and he not only showed a strong legal mind, but good common sense and strong work ethic. I look forward to helping advance his confirmation through the Senate.”
Axt has built experience in several parts of the legal system. Before becoming North Dakota’s Solicitor General, he worked as a litigation associate representing clients in federal and state courts.
His earlier legal work included serving as a law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He also completed a legal internship in a U.S. Attorney’s Office and worked as a legal fellow for Hoeven.
His background extends beyond the legal profession. Before his legal career, Axt served in the U.S. Army as an intelligence officer. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point before later earning his law degree from Yale Law School.
Axt also has deep family connections to North Dakota. He is a fifth generation North Dakotan who attended Bismarck High School and spent part of his childhood on his family’s farm in Sheridan County, near McClusky.
Nomination follows Traynor’s move to appeals court
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Axt would fill the U.S. District Court vacancy created by Judge Daniel Traynor’s move to a higher federal court.
Traynor was confirmed to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, leaving an opening on the federal district court in North Dakota.
Axt’s nomination now moves into the Senate confirmation process. Federal district court nominees generally face consideration by the Senate Judiciary Committee before a potential confirmation vote by the full Senate.
Hoeven indicated that he intends to help advance Axt through that process. Cramer also expressed support for Axt but tied his eventual vote to a separate dispute involving the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and a Biden era rule that he says permits North Dakota farmland to be flooded without compensation.
The nomination puts Axt’s combination of state government work, private legal practice, federal court experience and military service before senators as they consider whether to confirm him for a lifetime position on the federal bench.
