Everything we know about Mr. Trump today suggests that he will take his judicial cues not from the conservative legal establishment, as he did previously, but instead from the conservative legal movement’s extreme fringes.
Mr. Trump’s decision to publicly align himself with Mr. Leo helped settle the nerves of establishment Republicans who were skeptical of the candidate’s ideological bona fides, and played a significant role in the 2016 election.
As president, Mr. Trump selected all his nominees — Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett — from versions of the shortlist, which he periodically updated.
In the past four years, however, Mr. Trump has soured on the conservative legal establishment.
The Federalist Society credentials that were once essential for conservative lawyers aspiring to federal judgeships during Republican presidencies are, in Mr. Trump’s world, now apparently a liability.
Persons:
Donald Trump, Trump, Leonard Leo, Antonin Scalia, Mr, Leo, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett —, Justice Department —, Federalist Society —, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Barrett, Don McGahn
Organizations:
Federalist Society, Republicans, Mr, White, Justice Department, Society