Grade 1 of 5: Significant Democratic Concern
Judicial Appointments: Packing Courts with Ideological Judges Who Lied at Confirmation
The Trump-McConnell judicial project placed 226 federal judges and three Supreme Court justices — the highest court transformation since Reagan. Kavanaugh was confirmed in a process widely criticized for inadequate FBI investigation of sexual assault allegations. Barrett was confirmed after McConnell refused to hold hearings for Merrick Garland for 293 days, then confirmed Barrett in 27 days. Justices Kavanaugh, Barrett, and Gorsuch all joined the Dobbs v. Jackson majority overturning Roe; Kavanaugh had called Roe 'settled as a precedent' at his hearing.