President Donald Trump announced on August 14 the nomination of Samuel D. Adkisson to serve as a Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Adkisson currently serves as a Special Assistant in the White House Counsel’s Office, where he has worked on numerous important cases, including the administration's historic win in the Slaughter case.

Before joining the White House, Adkisson worked as an attorney in private practice and served on the Senate Judiciary Committee during Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s successful confirmation. He is a top graduate of Vanderbilt University and Yale Law School, and clerked for Chief Justice of the United States John G. Roberts, Jr., as well as Federal Appeals Court Judges Gregory Katsas and Amul Thapar.

In his announcement, Trump praised Adkisson's qualifications, stating, "Sam has exemplified Wisdom and Courage, loves the Constitution, and will always defend the wonderful people of Tennessee." The nomination requires Senate confirmation.