Today, The Senate Confirmed Cory T. Wilson To The Fifth Circuit Making Him The 200th Judge Appointed By President Trump
The Facts:
TODAY, PRESIDENT TRUMP APPOINTED HIS 200TH FEDERAL JUDGE
- During the 2016 Presidential Election, then-candidate Donald Trump campaigned on appointing conservative judges ; he has "since kept that promise" by appointing two Supreme Court Justices and hundreds of judges to the lower courts.
- This week, the Senate confirmed the Fifth Circuit nominee Cory Wilson which will make President Trump's 200th appointed judge .
PRESIDENT TRUMP, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL, AND SENTATE REPUBLICANS HAVE RESHAPED THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY AT AN UNPRECEDENTED PACE SINCE HE WAS ELECTED
- "The average number of federal judges appointed by a President through June 1 of their fourth year in office is 176 ."
- President Trump has appointed the second-most federal judges through June 1 of a President's fourth year.
- McConnell has said his " motto for the year is 'leave no vacancy behind .'"
- The Republican Senate has " raced to confirm Trump's judicial nominees " which has been set at a record pace.
- President Trump has been appointing federal judges at a 30% faster rate than President Obama .
- President Trump has been appointing appellate judges at a 73% faster rate than President Obama .
NOT ONLY HAS PRESIDENT TRUMP APPOINTED MORE JUDGES THAN PRESIDENT OBAMA, HIS JUDGES ARE ALSO WIDELY SEEN AS BETTER QUALIFIED
- 40% of Trump's appellate nominees have clerked for a Supreme Court Justice, and about 80% clerked on a federal court of appeals, while less than a quarter of Obama's nominees clerked for the Supreme Court, and less than half with federal appellate clerkship.
- Vox: " The average Trump appointee has far more impressive resume than any past president's nominees ."
- The average age of President Trump's circuit judge appointees is less than 50 years old, which is about 10 years younger than President Obama's circuit nominees .
- Vox: " There is simply no recent precedent for one president having such a transformative impact on the courts ."
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S APPOINTEES HAVE BEEN WIDELY PRAISED AS "BRILLIANT LEGAL" SCHOLARS
- President Trump appointed two Supreme Court Justices during his first term , Neil Gorsuch in 2017, and Brett Kavanaugh in 2018.
- Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has praised the appointment of the two new judges, stating that they " are very smart individuals ."
- From appointment to confirmation , Judge Neil Gorsuch has been praised across party lines.
- Princeton University Law Professor Robert P. George: Gorsuch is " an intellectual superstar ."
- Obama Administration Acting Solicitor General and Professor at Georgetown University Neal K. Katyal: " I have no doubt that if confirmed, Judge Gorsuch would help to restore confidence in the rule of law ."
- The Washington Post : "Gorsuch has displayed a supreme confidence that his originalist approach to the law is the most disciplined and principled way to go about his job as a justice."
- Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh received applause from numerous editorial boards after he was nominated to his position.
- The National Review editorial board: Kavanaugh is a "whip-smart legal conservative" who " has shown an exemplary dedication to the rule of law ."
- Chicago Tribune editorial board: President Trump has picked " an experienced jurist of strong character and principles ."
- Boston Herald Editorial Board: " Kavanaugh is a solid pick for the Supreme Court, he is a true conservative and considered a brilliant thinker by his contemporaries ."
- GianCarlo Canaparo, a Legal Fellow at the Heritage Foundation: the " last two terms, Justice Neil Gorsuch has proved himself a fitting replacement for the late Justice Antonin Scalia ," As he shares his commitment to interpreting the Constitution according to it's text and original meaning.
- Gorsuch's court opinions have been considered to be more " conversational ," with readers.
- Early in his first term, Gorsuch was been praised for his " confident, committed textualist " writing style.
- Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg has praised Judge Kavanaugh for making history " by bringing on board an all-female-law clerk crew ."
- Due to Kavanaugh's selection, in 2019 there were more women than men serving as Supreme Court law clerks for the first time ever.
TODAY, PRESIDENT TRUMP APPOINTED HIS 200TH FEDERAL JUDGE
Today, The Senate Will Confirm Cory T. Wilson To The Fifth Circuit, Making Him The 200th Federal Judge Appointed By President Trump
During The 2016 Presidential Election, Then-Candidate Donald Trump Campaigned On Appointing Conservative Judges, He Has "Since Kept That Promise" By Appointing Two Supreme Court Justices And Several Judges To The Lower Courts. "Trump has campaigned on appointing conservative judges and justices ever since the 2016 presidential election. He has since kept that promise, turning the Supreme Court more conservative with the appointment of two right-leaning justices and judges to lower courts across the country." ( The Hill , 11/16/18)
Federal Judge Justin Walker Was Confirmed Last Week, "His Approval Marks 199 Judicial Confirmations For The President." "Federal judge Justin Walker, a protege of Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, was confirmed Thursday to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington. Walker won Senate approval to the court widely considered the second-highest in the nation, handing President Donald Trump a victory on his most contentious judicial nomination this year. Walker is Trump's third appointment to the D.C. Circuit, which is uniquely situated to make decisions in agency-related disputes. Circuit courts sit one rung below the Supreme Court and are the last stop for virtually all federal appeals. He is being elevated from the U.S. District Court in Louisville to replace Thomas Griffith, who is retiring in September. His approval marks 199 judicial confirmations for the president, moving him one appointment from a milestone he's sure to tout in his reelection campaign." ( Bloomberg Law , 6/18/20)
This Week, The Senate Confirmed The Fifth Circuit Nominee Cory Wilson, Which Will Make President Trump's 200th Appointed Judge. "His approval marks 199 judicial confirmations for the president, moving him one appointment from a milestone he's sure to tout in his reelection campaign. The Senate is expected to soon give Trump his 200th confirmation when it votes on Fifth Circuit nominee Cory Wilson, who'll likely fill the last appellate level vacancy before Election Day. McConnell on Thursday filed a cloture motion to end debate on Wilson's nomination and bring him closer to a confirmation vote." ( Bloomberg Law , 6/18/20)
SINCE BEING ELECTED, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS RESHAPED THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY AT AN UNPRECEDENTED PACE
President Trump Has Far Outpaced Obama, Putting Judges On The Federal Bench 30% Faster Than His Predecessor
"The Average Number Of Federal Judges Appointed By A President Through June 1 Of Their Fourth Year In Office Is 176." "The average number of federal judges appointed by a president through June 1 of their fourth year in office is 176."( Ballotpedia , 6/3/20)
- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Has Said That His "Motto For The Year Is 'Leave No Vacancy Behind.'" "In a February interview, McConnell said his "motto for the year is 'leave no vacancy behind.' That includes district courts as well. And so we're a long way from being finished with doing court confirmations this year.'" ( Roll Call , 6/11/20)
- The Republican Senate Has "Raced To Confirm Trump's Judicial Nominees" Which Has Been Set At A Record Pace. "Republicans have raced to confirm Trump's judicial nominees, setting a record for the pace of confirming appeals court judges." ( The Hill , 4/22/20)
President Trump Appointed Federal Judges At A 30% Faster Rate Than President Obama. (Judiciary Tacker, Accessed 6/21/20)
President Trump Has Been Appointing Appellate Judges At A 73% Faster Rate Than President Obama. (Judiciary Tacker, Accessed 6/21/20)
A President Has Not Seen The Confirmation Of Judges At This Rate Since Jimmy Carter's Presidency. (Judiciary Tacker, Accessed 6/21/20)
NOT ONLY HAS PRESIDENT TRUMP APPOINTED MORE JUDGES THAN PRESIDENT OBAMA, THEY ARE ALSO WIDELY SEEN AS BETTER QUALIFIED AND MORE IDEOLOGICALLY RELIABLE
President Trump's Appointees Have Highly Qualified Credentials, Which Has Been Said To Be Better Than Past President's Nominees
President Trump Has Filled Judgeships With The Smartest, And Most Ideologically Reliable Men And Women Since Being Elected. "Trump hasn't simply given lots of lifetime appointments to lots of lawyers. He's filled the bench with some of the smartest, and some of the most ideologically reliable, men and women to be found in the conservative movement." ( Vox , 2/4/20)
40% Of Trump's Appellate Nominees Have Clerked For A Supreme Court Justice, And About 80% Clerked On A Federal Court Of Appeals, Which Is Less Than Quarter Of Obama's Nominees Who Clerked For The Supreme Court, And Less Than Half With Federal Appellate Clerkship. "Approximately 40 percent of Trump's appellate nominees clerked for a Supreme Court justice, and about 80 percent clerked on a federal court of appeals. That compares to less than a quarter of Obama's nominees who clerked on the Supreme Court, and less than half with a federal appellate clerkship." ( Vox , 2/4/20)
Vox: "The Average Trump Appointee Has Far More Impressive Resume Than Any Past President's Nominees." "In other words, based solely on objective legal credentials, the average Trump appointee has a far more impressive résumé than any past president's nominees." ( Vox , 2/4/20)
The Average Age President Trump's Circuit Judge Appointees Is Less Than 50 Years Old, Which Is About 10 Years Younger Than President Obama's Circuit Nominees. "The average age of circuit judges appointed by President Trump is less than 50 years old," the Trump White House bragged in early November, 'a full 10 years younger than the average age of President Obama's circuit nominees.'" ( Vox , 2/4/20)
Vox: "There Is Simply No Recent Precedent For One President Having Such A Transformative Impact On The Courts." "There is simply no recent precedent for one president having such a transformative impact on the courts." ( Vox , 2/4/20)
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S APPOINTEES HAVE BEEN WIDELY PRAISED AS "BRILLIANT" LEGAL SCHOLARS
President Trump Has Appointed Two Supreme Court Justices Since He Took Office In 2017
President Trump Has Appointed Two Supreme Court Justices During His First Term, Including Judge Neil Gorsuch In 2017, And Judge Brett Kavanaugh In 2018. "Trump has appointed two Supreme Court justices during his first term. Gorsuch was nominated and confirmed in 2017, and Justice Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed in 2018 after a hostile nomination process." ( The Hill , 6/18/20)
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Has Praised The Appointment Of The Two New Judges, Stating That They "Are Very Smart Individuals." "Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg came to the defense of her more conservative colleagues on the bench, Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch. 'I can say that my two newest colleagues are very decent and very smart individuals,' she said Wednesday at an event in Washington, D.C., hosted by Duke Law as she answered questions from Neil Siegel, a law professor and one of her former law clerks." ( CNN , 7/26/19)
From Appointment To Confirmation, Many People From Across Party Lines Have Praised Supreme Court Justice Judge Neil Gorsuch
Clinton Appointee and Former Tenth Circuit Judge Robert H. Henry Praised Gorsuch As A "Brilliant Legal" Scholar. "Henry said Judge Carlos Lucero of Denver came to the court as an expert in water law and environmental law, while Michael McConnell of Salt Lake City and Neil Gorsuch of Denver were brilliant legal scholars who also brought experience from working at the Justice Department." ( The Oklahoman, 12/31/17)
Princeton University Law Professor Robert P. George: Gorsuch Is "An Intellectual Superstar." "When it comes to fitness for judicial office, the first criterion usually considered is intellect and education, and here Gorsuch is off the charts. Even people who do not share his political outlook or judicial philosophy, but have read his judicial opinions, recognize him as an intellectual superstar." ( The Washington Post , 2/1/17)
Northwestern University Law Professor Eugene Kontorovich: "Judge Neil Gorsuch Is A Highly Qualified, Serious Judge." "Judge Neil Gorsuch is a highly qualified, serious judge-a conservative, but no firebrand." ( Politico Magazine , 2/1/17)
Obama Administration Acting Solicitor General And Professor At Georgetown University Neal K. Katyal: "I Have No Doubt That If Confirmed, Judge Gorsuch Would Help To Restore Confidence In The Rule Of Law." "I have no doubt that if confirmed, Judge Gorsuch would help to restore confidence in the rule of law. His years on the bench reveal a commitment to judicial independence - a record that should give the American people confidence that he will not compromise principle to favor the president who appointed him." (Neal K. Katyal, Op-Ed, "Why Liberals Should Back Neil Gorsuch," The New York TImes , 1/31/17)
Two Prominent Democrat Colorado Lawyers, Norm Brownstein And Steve Farber Signed A Letter Saying That "Judge Gorsuch Is Exceptionally Well Qualified To Join The Supreme Court. He Deserves An Up Or Down Vote." "Brownstein and Farber founded the Denver-based firm now called Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck and the two men are some of the biggest political players in the state; Farber was a key member of the team that brought the 2008 Democratic National Convention to Denver. The two added their names to other self-described members of Colorado's legal community in saying: 'We hold a diverse set of political views as Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. Many of us have been critical of actions taken by President Trump. Nonetheless, we all agree that Judge Gorsuch is exceptionally well qualified to join the Supreme Court. He deserves an up or down vote.'" ( The Denver Post , 2/23/17)
Frequent Readers Of Gorsuch's Writing As A Justice Have Said That His Style Is "Designed To Attract Attention And Reach An Audience Beyond Law Professors And Experts." "Frequent readers of Gorsuch's writing as a justice say his style is designed to attract attention and reach an audience beyond law professors and experts. So far, he's written three opinions, two separate opinions where he agreed with the majority's result and several dissents." ( The Daily Progress , 4/9/18)
The Washington Post : "Gorsuch Has Displayed A Supreme Confidence That His Originalist Approach TO The Law Is The Most Disciplined And Principled Way To Go About His Job As A Justice." "More than anything, he has displayed a supreme confidence that his originalist approach to the law is the most disciplined and principled way to go about his job as a justice." ( The Washington Post , 9/9/19)
Many Editorial Boards Approved The Appointment Of Judge Kavanaugh, Citing His "Exemplary Record"
The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board Praised The Nomination Of Judge Brett Kavanaugh Stating That He Has An "Exemplary Record." "Judge Kavanaugh has an exemplary record that suggests he will help to restore the Supreme Court to its proper, more modest role in American politics and society. He has the experience and intellect to be a leader on the Court, not merely a predictable vote on this or that issue. In particular, Judge Kavanaugh is among a younger generation of judges who base their rulings on the text of the Constitution and Congressional statute." ( The Wall Street Journal , Editorial Board, 7/9/18)
The National Review Editorial Board: Kavanaugh Is A "Whip- Smart Legal Conservative" Who "Has Shown An Exemplary Dedication To The Rule Of Law." "Judge Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump's new nominee for the Supreme Court, is a whip-smart legal conservative. As a judge in the highest-profile appeals court in the nation, he has shown an exemplary dedication to the rule of law." ( The National Review , Editorial Board, 7/9/18)
Chicago Tribune Editorial Board: President Trump Has Picked "An Experience Jurist Of Strong Character And Principles." "Kavanaugh's record suggests that by these standards, he's highly qualified. In 12 years on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, which deals with especially complex regulatory cases, he's authored some 300 decisions. Taken as a body of work, they reflect a great allegiance to the words of the Constitution… In picking Kavanaugh, Trump is nominating an experienced jurist of strong character and principles." ( Chicago Tribune , Editorial Board, 7/9/18)
Boston Herald Editorial Board: "Kavanaugh is a solid pick for the Supreme Court. He is a true conservative and considered a brilliant thinker by his contemporaries." "Kavanaugh is a solid pick for the Supreme Court. He is a true conservative and considered a brilliant thinker by his contemporaries." ( Boston Herald , Editorial Board, 7/10/18)
Since Confirmed, Justice Gorsuch And Justice Kavanaugh Have Been Praised For Their Work Since Being Appointed
Giancarlo Canaparo, A Legal Fellow At The Heritage Foundation: "Justice Neil Gorsuch Has Proved Himself A Fitting Replacement For The Late Justice Antonin Scalia," As He Shares His Commitment To Interpreting The Constitution According To Its Text And Original Meaning. "Over these last two terms, Justice Neil Gorsuch has proved himself a fitting replacement for the late Justice Antonin Scalia. He shares Scalia's concern that unrestrained judicial power is undemocratic, and so he shares Scalia's commitment to interpreting the Constitution according to its text and original meaning-rather than his own personal preferences. The two have much in common: a devotion to the Constitution's text, a belief that legal principles trump facts, and a commitment to protect the rights of even the least sympathetic criminal defendants. But Gorsuch's uniqueness, too-his confident independence and liberty-centric focus-proves that he is the right justice for that seat." ( The Heritage Foundation , 11/15/19)
Gorsuch's Court Opinions Have Been Considered To Be More "Conversational," With Readers. "Gorsuch's writing style is conversational, as are many of his court opinions. He leavens his descriptions of legal debates with asides such as, after admitting that letting courts update the Constitution to reach the best results was not 'completely insane,' saying that many things might not be insane but are still ill-advised - a point he often makes to his teenage daughters." ( The National Review , 9/17/19)
- Early In His First Term, Gorsuch Has Been Praised For His "Confident, Committed Textualist" Writing Style. "Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch has now written three opinions - a majority, a partial concurrence and a dissent. All three show the Supreme Court's newest justice to be a confident, committed textualist with a distinctive writing style - and a justice who is not afraid to challenge his new colleagues." ( The Washington Post , 6/23/17)
Since Confirmation, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg Has Praised Kavanaugh For Making History "By Bringing On Board An All-Female-Law Clerk Crew." "Ginsburg was delivering prepared remarks to a conference for judges in New York on Friday night, and addressed the prospect of equal gender representation in the legal sphere. 'Justice Kavanaugh made history by bringing on board an all-female law clerk crew,'" ( Vanity Fair , 6/9/19)
- Due To His Selection, In 2019 For The First Time Ever There Were More Women Than Men Serving As Law Clerks. "Ginsburg noted, in reference to a promise Kavanaugh made during his tumultuous confirmation. 'Thanks to his selections, the Court has this Term, for the first time ever, more women than men serving as law clerks.'" ( Vanity Fair , 6/9/19)
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