has finally been confirmed to the federal bench. A 51-47, party-line vote. A redistricting warrior. A Trump pick revived. Alabama’s judiciary is being quietly, permanently rema…

Edmund “Eddie” LaCour Jr.’s confirmation to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama is more than a career milestone; it is the culmination of a five-year political standoff that reshaped how judicial power is negotiated in the state. Once blocked by then-Sen. Doug Jones, LaCour’s nomination stalled despite his formidable résumé and deep appellate experience. With Alabama’s Senate seats now firmly in Republican hands, the same candidate who was sidelined under one delegation sailed through under another, underscoring how sharply judicial appointments track partisan control.

LaCour arrives on the federal bench with a reputation forged in high-stakes constitutional battles, including the nationally watched Allen v. Milligan redistricting fight. Praised by Sen. Katie Britt and Sen. Tommy Tuberville for his Supreme Court advocacy and disciplined legal mind, he now joins Bill Lewis and Hal Mooty in a newly reshaped Alabama federal judiciary. Supporters see a principled originalist with a meticulous respect for the Constitution; critics see the latest product of Trump-era judicial strategy. Either way, LaCour’s lifetime appointment will echo far beyond Alabama, influencing voting rights, federal power, and civil liberties cases for decades to come.