Trump Officials Look to Southern Attorneys General to Fill Court Vacancies

While states are a source for judicial picks, the federal Justice Department remains the biggest proving ground, said Curt Levey, president of the Committee for Justice.

“That’s where the smartest and most ambitious lawyers who are thinking about being a judge some day go, but second to that, they go to state AG offices,” Mr. Levey said.

Beyond judicial picks, Mr. Trump has also tapped Republican state officials for executive branch posts...