The Next President Could Reshape US Supreme Court

The next President could appoint up to as many as four US Supreme Court Justices – justices with the power to uphold or strike down important life-saving laws.

The recent passing of Justice Antonin Scalia has left one seat vacant on the bench of the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS), and three of the remaining eight justices are 77 years of age or older. Among the eight current justices, four were nominated by conservative presidents and four by liberal presidents.

Once appointed, justices serve a life term—Justice Scalia was just shy of 40 years—and SCOTUS Justices have the power to uphold or strike down state laws.

Justices recently ruled on Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, an abortion case focusing on the health and safety of mothers. The case was based on a Texas law that mandated abortion facilities must meet the same cleanliness and safety regulations of other outpatient surgery centers. Furthermore, the abortionists must have had admitting privileges at hospitals within 30 miles for when life-threatening complications occur.

The recent ruling from the SCOTUS Justices has not only all-but-erased this Texas law, but it will also influence pending legislation throughout America

But Wait, There’s More!

The impact of the President goes beyond the nation’s highest court. It seeps into the appeals and district courts that decide an overwhelming number of cases.

SCOTUS hears only about 80 cases annually, while federal appellate courts decide 28,000 cases—publishing 5,500 to 6,000 opinions each year. Nearly every circuit court decision is final, since the US Supreme Court refuses to hear over 99% of the cases appealed to the Court. In effect, many circuit court rulings are the final word on the rights of Americans—born and unborn.

During pro-abortion President Clinton’s two terms, the number of Democratic judges among the lower courts of the federal judicial system increased from 21% to 44%. During the following eight years of Bush’s pro-life presidency the number of Democratic judges decreased to 36%.

By January 2016 President Obama had appointed 30% of active appeals court judges and nearly 40% of the district court judges. Of these, Democrats comprised 66% of the active judge appointments. This includes the all-important DC Court of Appeals—the second most important court in our country—with a 7-4 majority of Democrat appointees, with four of the judges appointed by Obama.

Know what is at stake in the 2016 elections.

It’s important to vote, and even more important to make an informed decision.