As former President Donald Trump continues his 2024 campaign, conservatives are eyeing his potential second term to secure more originalist Supreme Court judges.
Despite not having released an updated list of potential nominees, Trump’s judicial appointments during his first term—both to the Supreme Court and lower courts—are frequently hailed as his major achievements.
Trump has promised on multiple occasions to release a new list of potential Supreme Court nominees before the upcoming election. Though the names have yet to be confirmed, many believe his appointees to federal appeals courts could be strong contenders for the highest court.
Trump told CBS News on Monday that he expects to reveal his shortlist of about 20 judges in the coming weeks, emphasizing that revealing such names in 2016 helped boost his electoral chances. His first lists included future Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.
Several Trump’s appointees to the appeals courts are expected to be on his updated list, including Fifth Circuit Judges Kyle Duncan and James Ho, Eleventh Circuit Judge Barbara Lagoa, and D.C. Circuit Judge Gregory Katsas.
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Conservative leaders, such as John Malcolm of the Heritage Foundation, have praised Trump’s track record and pointed to several other judges, including Paul Clement, Noel Francisco, and Sixth Circuit Judge Amul Thapar, as outstanding potential nominees.
Legal experts believe that another Trump presidency could solidify a conservative majority on the Supreme Court for the next 15 to 20 years, especially as two new vacancies loom in the coming term.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris has not indicated who she would appoint to the Court if elected, though her history as California Attorney General and her time in the Senate showcase her left-leaning judicial philosophy.
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