Landing A Federal Judgeship In The Trump Administration

We’ve known for years that Donald Trump despises liberal judges.

Back in his first term, Trump categorized judges who ruled against him as “haters” or “so-called judges.” When Judge Arthur Engoron ruled against Trump in Letitia James’s civil fraud against him, Trump labeled Engoron a “Trump-hating, radical left, Democrat operative.”

The attacks haven’t changed over time.

Last month, Trump told supporters that, “We cannot allow a handful of communist radical-left judges to obstruct the enforcement of our laws and assume the duties that belong solely to the president of the United States.”

That shows a fine understanding of the American system of justice.

Recently, however, it turned out that Trump doesn’t simply despise liberal judges. He also despises conservative ones.

After a court blocked Trump’s attempt to impose universal tariffs, Trump went after Leonard Leo, a heavy hitter in the conservative Federalist Society who had advised Trump on judicial nominations in his first term. Leo had apparently duped Trump into appointing conservatives: “I was new to Washington, and it was suggested that I use The Federalist Society as a recommending source on Judges,” Trump said. “I did so, openly and freely, but then realized that they were under the thumb of a real ‘sleazebag’ named Leonard Leo, a bad person who, in his own way, probably hates America, and obviously has his own separate ambitions.”

Trump will apparently no longer solicit the Federalist Society’s opinion in choosing his judicial nominees.

This left me scratching my head: Trump doesn’t like liberal judges. He doesn’t like conservative judges. He doesn’t like nonpartisan judges. (He fired 17 inspectors general back in January.) So who exactly does he like?

It couldn’t be that he likes only judges who rule in his favor, could it? Because that would mean that he doesn’t like judges at all; he simply likes lickspittles.

On the off chance that lickspittling is the way to go, I’m thinking of starting a new society to train potential judges. My society won’t veer either to the left or the right, so we won’t offend Trump. There’ll be no ACLU or Federalist Society in my house.  

No, no, no.

I’ll simply train people to be subservient to Trump. Folks in my society will learn to say that Trump is “right.” But I won’t stop there! Trainees will also learn to say that Trump is “always right.” And “brilliant,” “God’s messenger on earth,” “the greatest President who ever lived,” and “a likely candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize.”

That should do the trick.

Join my society, and I’m almost certain that I can land you on the federal judiciary!

But be careful: You might not end up being appointed a judge.

You might wind up on the Cabinet.

Mark Herrmann spent 17 years as a partner at a leading international law firm and later oversaw litigation, compliance and employment matters at a large international company. He is the author of The Curmudgeon’s Guide to Practicing Law and Drug and Device Product Liability Litigation Strategy (affiliate links). You can reach him by email at inhouse@abovethelaw.com.

The post Landing A Federal Judgeship In The Trump Administration appeared first on Above the Law.