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Back to To the Point

To the Point

Can President Trump 'pack' the federal court system?

Judge Neil Gorsuch is likely to be confirmed to the US Supreme Court, and there may be other vacancies in the next four years. In addition, 124 judicial benches are open in federal appellate and district courts all over the country, and more retirements are inevitable. As long as Republicans dominate the Senate, there's a real chance that Mr.

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By Warren Olney • Mar 22, 2017 • 1 min read

Judge Neil Gorsuch is likely to be confirmed to the US Supreme Court, and there may be other vacancies in the next four years. In addition, 124 judicial benches are open in federal appellate and district courts all over the country, and more retirements are inevitable. As long as Republicans dominate the Senate, there's a real chance that Mr. Trump could push the system to the Right for generations. That's been the goal of so-called "dark money" spent by shadowy billionaires to make American institutions more to their liking.

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    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

  • KCRW placeholder

    Sáša Woodruff

    Producer, 'To the Point'

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    Luke Vander Ploeg

    Producer, 'To the Point'

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    Evan George

    Director of Content, News

  • KCRW placeholder

    Robert Barnes

    Supreme Court correspondent for the Washington Post

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    John Malcolm

    Heritage Foundation

  • KCRW placeholder

    Elizabeth Wydra

    Constitutional Accountability Center

    NewsNationalPolitics
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