Trump’s 200 judges will leave longstanding legacy

When President Trump came down the escalator in Trump Tower to first announce he was running for president a little over 4 years ago, we heard two main complaints. First, he had no political experience. And secondly, he was not conservative enough.

Just last month, President Trump hit an astonishing and impressive conservative milestone when the Senate confirmed his 200th judicial appointment. This is a serious, strategic legal move not accomplished since Jimmy Carter. In other words, it’s the first time we’ve filled every single circuit court vacancy in the country in the last 40 years. Of these judges, 53 have been appointed to the influential courts of appeals, the last stop for cases before the Supreme Court, filling 30 percent of its seats with hand-picked conservatives — and these judges aren’t just conservative. They’re also young.

According to an analysis by the Brookings Institution, the average age of President Trump’s judges at the time of appointment is 48 years old. Compare this with President Obama’s appointees at 57 years old, President George W. Bush’s at 51 or President Clinton’s at 50 and you understand that these judges are relatively young. Keep in mind that federal judges serve lifetime appointments. These conservative judges will be shaping the law with a Constitutional lens long after Trump leaves office. The America First agenda will last for decades.

But in the present, these newly appointed judges have already made an impact with rulings and dissents on abortion, executive power, healthcare. Many have ties to the conservative legal movement which opposes abortion, as well as ornerous environmental and labor protections which respect the free market.

For someone who just entered politics a little over four years ago, President Trump clearly understands the political landscape and is remaining faithful to the Constitution. He’s not just making speeches at rallies, he is leaving a measurable impact on the country for years to come. These judges are his legacy and alone should be motivation to vote for the President once again in the 2020 presidential election.

Michele Merrell is the Broward Republican State Committeewoman and the President of the Broward Women’s Republican Club. She is also the 1st Vice President of the Florida Federation of Republican Women, and has been involved in politics for more than 30 years.