The U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary convened on July 30, 2025, to conduct a nomination hearing for four judicial candidates, spotlighting Eric Tongue and Joshua Dunlap for the U.S. Court of Appeals, alongside district court nominees Stephen Chad Meredith and William Mercer.

Chairman Dick Durbin opened the session by emphasizing the committee's constitutional duty to review nominees, highlighting the impressive qualifications of each candidate. Eric Tongue, a Yale and University of Chicago Law School graduate, has an extensive legal background, including clerkships with Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and a role in the U.S. Solicitor General's office. Joshua Dunlap was similarly praised for his appellate advocacy skills.

However, the hearing quickly turned contentious as Durbin raised concerns about the nomination process. He noted that both Tongue and Dunlap were selected without adequate consultation with their home state senators, contrasting this with the Biden administration's more inclusive approach to judicial nominations. Durbin pointed out troubling aspects of the nominees' records, including Tongue's controversial remarks on welfare and LGBTQ rights, and Dunlap's defense of pharmaceutical companies in the opioid crisis.

The discussion also scrutinized district court nominee William Mercer, who faced backlash for his involvement in the U.S. Attorney Firing Scandal and his opposition to legislation aiding survivors of child abuse. Stephen Chad Meredith's nomination was questioned due to his extreme anti-choice positions and his role in controversial pardons during his tenure under former Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin.

As the hearing progressed, Durbin expressed the need for thorough examination of these nominees, urging patience from the committee as they navigated the complex issues surrounding their records. The session underscored the ongoing tensions in judicial nominations, particularly regarding the balance of power and representation in the Senate.