Federal Judges Appointed by President Trump
President Donald Trump appointed a total of 234 federal judges, significantly shaping the judiciary for many years.
His appointments include 3 Supreme Court Justices, 54 judges for the United States Courts of Appeals, 174 judges for the United States District Courts, and 3 judges for the United States Court of International Trade. Some key appointments and their impacts:
Supreme Court Justices
- Neil Gorsuch: Appointed to fill the seat of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, Gorsuch was confirmed on April 7, 2017.
- Brett Kavanaugh: Appointed to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy, Kavanaugh was confirmed on October 6, 2018.
- Amy Coney Barrett: Appointed to fill the seat of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Barrett was confirmed on October 26, 2020.
These appointments solidified a conservative majority on the Supreme Court, influencing decisions on key issues like abortion, gun rights, and healthcare.
United States Courts of Appeals
President Trump’s 54 appointments to the Courts of Appeals include notable judges such as:
- Amul Thapar for the Sixth Circuit, confirmed on May 25, 2017.
- John K. Bush for the Sixth Circuit, confirmed on July 20, 2017.
- Kevin Newsom for the Eleventh Circuit, confirmed on August 1, 2017.
- Joan Larsen for the Sixth Circuit, confirmed on October 31, 2017.
- David Stras for the Eighth Circuit, confirmed on January 30, 2018.
These appointments have shifted the balance of several appellate courts towards a more conservative orientation, affecting rulings on federal regulations, civil rights, and other critical areas.
United States District Courts
President Trump appointed 174 judges to various District Courts across the country. Some key appointees include:
- David C. Nye for the District of Idaho, confirmed on July 12, 2017.
- Scott Palk for the Western District of Oklahoma, confirmed on October 26, 2017.
- Damien Schiff for the Court of Federal Claims, confirmed on June 14, 2017.
These appointments play a crucial role in federal trial courts, handling cases that range from civil disputes to criminal prosecutions.
Other Judicial Appointments
In addition to Article III judges, Trump made 26 appointments to Article I courts:
- United States Court of Federal Claims: 10 appointments.
- United States Tax Court: 7 appointments.
- United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims: 6 appointments.
- United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces: 2 appointments.
- United States Court of Military Commission Review: 1 appointment.
President Trump’s judicial appointments continue to have a lasting impact on the interpretation of federal laws and the overall judicial landscape in the United States.