re: #74 KGxvi

Yes. But there is also near constant turn over within the judiciary. Either because lower court judges retire, die, or take senior status. At the district court level (trial courts), from 1981 through 2016 (Reagan through Obama) the average number of appointments was 143 per term. Trump is currently at 58 district court judges essentially 60% through his term, so he’s actually behind the pace.

At the Circuit Court level (appellate courts) the average has been 34 judges per term. That’s where Trump is way ahead, as he’s appointed 37 judges so far. Those appointments are, arguably, the most important judicial appointments because - as Justice Sotomayor was criticized for say, rightly - those are the courts where a lot of judicial policy is crafted. The Supreme Court will usually fashion a rule/test, but it’s often the appellate courts that use those rules/tests to put meat on the bone.

(handy chart here)

Yes but the Congress can expand every level, so they can balance back to pre dumpf time. Any single judge is a problem but at least panels could be more balanced, correct? Twenty judges instead of 10 in a court?