Biden’s judicial appointments are a significant legacy

Significance A president’s appointments of federal judges are perhaps his most significant legacy, because they have life tenure and many serve for decades after a president leaves office. Their judicial philosophy determines the outcome of cases affecting the economy and public policy. Impacts Congressional Republicans will not oppose Trump’s executive actions, leaving legal challenges to them to be decided in the federal courts. The profile of Trump’s judicial nominees will differ from Biden’s, many of whom were former public defenders, with two-thirds being women. For vacancies on courts of appeals, or possibly the Supreme Court, Trump will consider judges who he appointed during his first term. Trump will be able to replace all 93 US attorneys, who represent the government in federal courts, as well as the solicitor general. If Biden vetoes a bill to increase the number of federal judges over the next five years, it is likely to be taken up by the new Congress.