Politics
JUST IN: Trump Gets Big News From The Federal Courts
Chief Judge Diane Sykes of the Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has announced her decision to assume senior status effective October 1. The transition to semi-retirement opens a pivotal vacancy for President Donald Trump to appoint a new judge to the Chicago-based court, which holds jurisdiction over Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
Judge Sykes, 67, has had a distinguished 33-year tenure in both state and federal judiciaries. She began her legal career after graduating from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism in 1980 and initially worked as a reporter for The Milwaukee Journal.
She later earned her law degree from Marquette University Law School in 1984. Following a clerkship with Judge Terence T. Evans of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Sykes entered private practice before being elected as a Milwaukee County circuit judge in 1992.
In 1999, she was appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court by Governor Tommy G. Thompson and subsequently elected to a full term in 2000. Her federal judicial service commenced in 2004 when President George W. Bush appointed her to the Seventh Circuit, where she became chief judge in 2020.
Throughout her tenure on the Seventh Circuit, Judge Sykes has been recognized for her conservative judicial philosophy, often aligning with originalist and textualist interpretations of the law. Notably, in 2017, she dissented in an 8-3 decision where the court held that Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Judge Diane Sykes via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Sykes argued that the court was overstepping its role by redefining statutory terms, stating, “We are not authorized to infuse the text with a new or unconventional meaning or to update it to respond to changed social, economic or political conditions,” according to Bloomberg Law.
Her decision to assume senior status is influenced by a desire to spend more time with her family, including her children and grandchildren. In an interview, Sykes said, “I want to be more present for them.”
She also reflected on her career, stating, “It’s really been just an honor to serve, and I will continue to do so, just in a reduced capacity.”
The move provides President Trump with his first opportunity in his second term to appoint a judge to the Seventh Circuit, maintaining the court’s current 6-5 majority of Republican-appointed judges. The appointment process will involve the President nominating a candidate, who must then be confirmed by the Senate.
US President Donald Trump gestures as he departs the White House in Washington, DC, on March 7, 2025. Trump is traveling to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Traditionally, a bipartisan commission created by Wisconsin’s U.S. senators selects candidates for federal judgeships and forwards them to the White House.
Judge Sykes has been considered for the U.S. Supreme Court in the past, appearing on shortlists for both President George W. Bush and President Trump. Her judicial philosophy and extensive experience have made her a notable figure in conservative legal circles.
As she transitions to senior status, Judge Sykes will continue to serve on the bench but with a reduced caseload, allowing her to balance her professional commitments with personal interests. Her departure from active service marks the end of a significant chapter in the Seventh Circuit’s history, and her successor’s appointment will undoubtedly impact the court’s future decisions.
The legal community and court observers will be closely monitoring the nomination and confirmation process for her replacement, recognizing the substantial influence federal appellate courts hold in shaping American jurisprudence.
