President Donald Trump is reportedly adopting a more direct role in the judicial nomination process, particularly in response to dissatisfactions with the Supreme Court justices he appointed during his first term. This information comes to us from the Washington Examiner.
Trump’s tenure saw the appointment of three U.S. Supreme Court justices: Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. According to reliable sources, Trump has privately voiced disappointment that these justices did not more robustly support his agenda. This disappointment is reportedly particularly targeted at Justice Barrett, whose rulings have deviated from the perspectives she presented in an interview prior to her 2020 nomination, reports CNN.
Trump’s response to these frustrations is to personally orchestrate a loyalty-focused vetting process for judicial nominations. According to senior aides and sources privy to Trump’s strategies, this means more interviews with potential nominees and meticulous examination of their backgrounds. Trump’s aim, it appears, is to nominate only strict constitutionalists, as indicated by the Washington Examiner.
Former federal prosecutor Gene Rossi told Newsweek that if a sitting justice were to retire, Trump would likely “pick a very young and conservative nominee” given his experiences with Justice Barrett. Rossi notes, “he wants to put his further imprint on the tenor of the High Court.” Barbara McQuade, another former federal prosecutor, added that disappointment with Justices Barrett and Roberts could lead to pressure for justices who are not only conservative but also personally loyal to Trump.
Such selections could dramatically impact cases on issues such as birthright citizenship, transgender healthcare, and executive power, as they make their way up from the lower courts.
A White House aide told the Examiner that the administration is “relying on sound counsel from his White House Counsel, his DOJ, and his most senior advisers here.” The goal is to ensure that every judge aligns with the priorities of a constitutionalist judge and the ‘America First’ agenda, reinforcing Trump’s commitment to this ideal.
President Trump is more directly shaping the judicial nomination process, driven by dissatisfaction with the Supreme Court justices he appointed in his first term. He aims to nominate strictly constitutionalist judges who align with his political agenda. As with all matters of governance, the importance of accuracy, truth, and democratic processes cannot be overstated.