After previous reporting indicated she would block his confirmation, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) has reportedly confirmed her support for Sam Adkisson, whom President Donald Trump announced he would nominate to serve as a district court judge in the Eastern District of Tennessee in August.
Bloomberg Law first reported last week that Blackburn would support Adkisson, a Vanderbilt University graduate and White House attorney, citing a White House official who confirmed the senator returned a favorable blue slip.
The outlet reported that a spokesperson for Blackburn confirmed the report, stating that the senator “looks forward to supporting his nomination and ensuring that he is confirmed before the end of the year.”
Blackburn’s support for Adkisson came weeks after she reportedly blocked his confirmation by declining to return a blue slip, the controversial process by which members of the U.S. Senate are allowed by the Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman to unilaterally block consideration of those nominated by the president to serve their home state.
Though not required by statute, the blue slips tradition dates back to at least 1917, and has largely been upheld by the current chairman, U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA).
The slips are physical pieces of paper the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman issues to senators representing the state where a nominee will serve. Those senators may return a slip with a positive response to indicate their approval, or a negative response to indicate their disapproval.
Senators may additionally withhold the slips to indicate their disapproval. If Grassley had upheld the tradition, withholding her blue slip could have allowed Blackburn to block consideration of Adkisson’s nomination as long as she remained in the Senate.
Recent polling showed Blackburn with a double-digit lead in the Tennessee gubernatorial race over her Democratic Party opponent, Memphis City Council Member Jerri Green, even with independent gubernatorial candidate David Hatley garnering the support of nearly 12 percent of respondents.
If Blackburn wins the gubernatorial election and takes office before vacating her Senate seat, she could appoint a temporary replacement to the U.S. Senate. It has been speculated Blackburn could appoint U.S. Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) or former Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs.
The congressional record shows Adkisson’s nomination was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 14, but no subsequent action has been recorded, and no hearing or vote on his nomination has been publicly scheduled.
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Tom Pappert is a 2025 recipient of the Dao Prize and the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star. He also reports for the Star News Network. Follow Tom on X. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Marsha Blackburn” by Marsha Blackburn.
