Fifth Circuit Judge Oldham Faces Multiple Supreme Court Reversals

Judge Andrew Oldham, appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in 2018, has experienced multiple reversals at the Supreme Court over the past two years. The Trump appointee has seen five of his opinions overturned by the high court, often by significant majorities including both conservative and liberal justices. These cases have involved issues ranging from gun regulations to vaping product oversight and telecommunications funding.

In recent Supreme Court terms, Oldham's rulings were reversed in three notable cases. In Bondi v. VanDerStok, the Supreme Court upheld federal restrictions on untraceable firearms by a 7-2 vote, rejecting Oldham's position. In FDA v. Wages and White Lion, the court unanimously overturned his ruling against FDA regulations on flavored vaping products. In FCC v. Consumers' Research, the justices preserved the Universal Service Fund that provides telecommunications access to underserved areas, contrary to Oldham's opinion.

Prior to these cases, the Supreme Court had already reversed Oldham's positions in two significant matters. The court rejected his attempt to uphold restrictions on abortion medication access, ultimately dismissing the entire case for lack of standing. The justices also overturned his ruling regarding social media platform regulation in Texas, with six justices finding his opinion represented a misunderstanding of First Amendment principles.

Oldham, 46, is a graduate of the University of Virginia, Cambridge, and Harvard Law School. He previously clerked for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and served as deputy solicitor general of Texas before his judicial appointment. His confirmation to the Fifth Circuit in 2018 was secured by a single vote margin. Some legal observers have speculated that his judicial approach may be influenced by potential consideration for a future Supreme Court nomination.