Trump Set To Reshape Judiciary

The 103 judicial vacancies awaiting President-elect Donald Trump is nearly double the 54 openings left for President Obama when he took office eight years ago. Thanks to the Republican-controlled House and Senate, Trump has a unique opportunity to reshape the judiciary. “Every president can expect to make a huge impact,” said Carrie Severino, chief counsel and policy director of the Judicial Crisis Network, a conservative group. Trump “is unique in having campaigned really hard on this issue – the significance of the courts, and the Supreme Court in particular.” Twenty-five of Obama’s court nominees who had been approved out of committee with bipartisan support were pending on the Senate floor this month, but did not receive a vote before the Senate ended its two-year term and went on holiday.