FACT SHEET: Information on John Guard, trump's nominee to the u.s. district court for the middle district of Florida

Defense of Florida’s Abortion Restrictions

Guard defended Florida’s restrictive abortion ban in court.

• In 2022, Guard defended the state’s 15-week abortion ban in court, arguing that only a small number of women would be impacted by the ban. The Florida Supreme Court ultimately upheld the ban, also clearing the way for the state’s six-week abortion ban.

Litigation of Florida’s Partisan Culture Wars

In the attorney general’s office, Guard has supported fringe culture war issues.

• As acting attorney general, Guard signed onto a letter to congressional leadership saying AGs were seeking to investigate Fauci for allegedly misleading the public about Covid’s origins, mismanaging federal grants, and stifling dissent on vaccine safety.

• Guard was listed on Florida’s lawsuit alleging FEMA conspired to discriminate against Florida hurricane victims who supported Trump. Florida voluntarily dismissed its lawsuit in April 2025, and FEMA stated that there was no widespread conspiracy to discriminate against Trump supporters. A FEMA employee named in the lawsuit later stated that she was “framed” and that her directive to avoid properties with political signage was a “safety precaution.” 

• Guard represented Governor DeSantis in a lawsuit brought by Disney accusing the governor of waging a “relentless campaign to weaponize government power” amidst their ongoing culture war feud.

Right-wing Extremism

As chief deputy attorney general, Guard’s office has filed extreme right-wing lawsuits challenging the Biden administration.

• Guard was listed on Florida’s lawsuit challenging an ATF rule defining who is “engaged in the business” of dealing firearms.

• Guard was listed on Florida’s lawsuit challenging the Department of Homeland Security’s policy giving parole with conditions to some asylum seekers. 

• Guard was listed on Florida’s lawsuit challenging the Department of Health and Human Services’ new rule protecting LGBTQ+ patients from health care discrimination.