Why Do You Vote as You Do?

            What is your main reason for voting for President of the United States? To some people, the most important factor is the color of the nominee’s skin. To other people, it is their sex. To others it is because there is a “D” or “R” in front of their names. The most important reason that I voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election is the appointment of judges.

I felt certain that Hillary Clinton would appoint judges like those appointed by Barack Obama, and I did not want any more of the liberal/progressive judges trying to legislate from the bench. I knew that I was taking a chance with Trump, but it was the simple matter of weighing the known against the unknown. I thought that my chances would be better with Trump.

During the 2016 campaign Republicans and conservatives did not have any idea whether Trump would appoint liberal or conservative judges because he had no track record to consider. He tried to convince people that he would appoint constitutionalist judges, but no one believed him. When he made a list of the people that he would choose, people believed him.

Three years later Trump has appointed, and the Senate has confirmed 157 judges. By the end of this week, it will most likely be 161. The total should reach 182 confirmed judges in the next two months. Trump scored big when he appointed two Supreme Court justices – Neil Gorsuch and Bret Kavanaugh, but his bigger impact in on the U.S. Court of Appeals. There are 43 confirmations to the appeals court across the 13 circuits. This is the most judges appointed by any president, and Trump also has the fewest court vacancies.

Trump promised to appoint originalist and constitutionalist judges, and he has fulfilled that promise. The names for possible future judges are suggested by conservative groups. Despite constant resistance from Democrats, Trump has succeeded in remaking the court system.

Trump has been aided in his achievement by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky). McConnell was successful in blocking Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland to fill seat of the late Justice Antonin Scalia. He has guided the President’s nominees through the Senate. The goal is to appoint judges who make decisions based on law instead of political agenda. As far as I am concerned, Trump has fulfilled my requirements for appointments of the kind of judges that will judge fairly and according to the law.