Jonathan A. Kobes

On June 7, 2018, President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Kobes to serve as a United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. On June 11, 2018, his nomination was sent to the Senate. Trump nominated Kobes to the seat being vacated by Judge Roger Leland Wollman, who previously announced his intention to take senior status on a date to be determined. On August 22, 2018, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

On September 14, 2018, the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary rated Kobes "Not Qualified." The ABA's report said that Kobes was "a very accomplished, competent, and capable person, but his career path has not resulted in sufficient evidence of a developed ability to do the written work of a United States circuit court judge." The ABA report questioned Kobes' understanding of "complex legal analysis" and "knowledge of the law". At the time of his nomination, Kobes had tried six cases during his legal career, cases that the ABA considered straightforward and not "legally complex".

On October 11, 2018, Kobes' nomination was reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee by a party-line 11–10 vote. On November 29, 2018, the Senate voted to invoke cloture on Kobes' nomination by a 50–49 vote, with Vice President Mike Pence breaking the tie. On December 11, 2018, he was confirmed in the Senate by a vote of 51–50, with Pence casting his vote in the affirmative. He was the first federal judicial nominee ever confirmed by a tie-breaking vote. Kobes received his judicial commission on December 12, 2018.

From 2014 to 2018, Kobes worked as an aide and counsel to U.S. Senator Mike Rounds.

He was a member of the Federalist Society from 1999–2004.

Jonathan Allen Kobes (born August 25, 1974) is a United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.