Judicial Appointments and Diversity

The podcast highlights the significant increase in federal judicial appointments under President Biden, who is on track to surpass Donald Trump's record of 234 appointments during his term. Biden has prioritized diversity, resulting in a history-making number of appointees from various backgrounds, notably including Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first African-American woman on the Supreme Court. Despite this focus on diversity, some experts argue that Biden's impact on the critical ideological balance of the courts is less significant compared to Trump's achievements, as Jackson simply replaced an existing liberal judge. Moreover, Trump’s appointments have been noted for establishing a conservative lean in major circuit courts, leading to apprehension about the enduring influence of these judicial picks.