The Political Fuss Over Federal Courts (Joshua Johnson, 1A)

When we think about presidential judicial appointments, it might seem like all the space is taken up by nine seats — the ones on the Supreme Court.

But there are hundreds of other powerful vacancies that exist around the country in federal courts. Appeals courts hear, and make decisions on, an estimated 60,000 cases a year. The Supreme Court hears only 80.

And their political importance can’t be overstated.

As Charlie Savage writes in The New York Times, “Exit polls showed that court-focused voters helped deliver the president’s narrow victory.”

President Trump’s legacy will include having more than 40 of his nominations to federal circuit and appeals courts confirmed and many conservatives say it’s his most significant achievement to date.

We’ll unpack what federal circuit and appeals courts do, what it could mean if more of the nation’s courts lean conservative, the reputations of particular courts around the country, and how the judiciary is a big motivating factor for voters.
Interview:
https://the1a.org/shows/2018-07-24/federal-courts-a-divided-senate-and-trump