Has Trump appointed more judges than any other president?
Asked by: Ms. Lonie Dickinson Jr. | Last update: February 17, 2026Score: 4.8/5 (14 votes)
Donald Trump has appointed a significant number of federal judges, ranking high in recent history, particularly for circuit court judges, but he hasn't surpassed all presidents; Jimmy Carter holds the record for total appointments in a single term (due to new judgeships), while Ronald Reagan has the most overall, though Trump's impact on reshaping courts, especially appellate benches, is considered historic and transformative due to the pace and conservative nature of his picks.
How many judges has president Biden appointed?
The total number of Article III judges nominated by Biden and confirmed by the United States Senate was 235, including one associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, 45 judges for the United States courts of appeals, 187 judges for the United States district courts and two judges for the United States ...
How many judges did Obama appoint?
U.S. President Barack Obama nominated over 400 individuals for federal judgeships during his presidency. Of these nominations, Congress confirmed 329 judgeships, 173 during the 111th & 112th Congresses and 156 during the 113th and 114th Congresses.
How many judges were appointed by Republican presidents?
As of January 8, 2026, of the 680 district court judges, 380 were appointed by Democratic presidents compared to 262 by Republican ones. Within the individual circuit jurisdictions, Democratic presidents have appointed majorities in 8 circuits while Republican presidents have appointed a majority in 4 circuits.
Which president has appointed the most judges?
To date, Ronald Reagan has appointed the largest number of federal judges, with 383, followed closely by Bill Clinton with 378. Jimmy Carter has appointed the most federal judges in a single term, with 262, followed by Joe Biden and Donald Trump, with 235 and 234 appointments, respectively.
Trump touts appointment of more than 150 federal judges
How many judges has Trump appointed?
As of January 8, 2026 the United States Senate has confirmed 261 Article III judges nominated by Trump: three associate justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, 60 judges for the United States courts of appeals, 195 judges for the United States district courts, and three judges for the United States Court of ...
How many judges did Reagan appoint?
In total Reagan appointed: four justices to the Supreme Court of the United States, including the appointment of a sitting associate justice as chief justice, 83 judges to the United States courts of appeals, 290 judges to the United States district courts and 6 judges to the United States Court of International Trade.
Do judges have more power than the President?
Federal laws, for example, are passed by Congress and signed by the President. The judicial branch, in turn, has the authority to decide the constitutionality of federal laws and resolve other cases involving federal laws. But judges depend upon the executive branch to enforce court decisions.
Is there a limit to Supreme Court justices?
The court consists of nine justices—the chief justice of the United States and eight associate justices—who meet at the Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C. Justices have lifetime tenure, meaning they remain on the court until they die, retire, resign, or are impeached and removed from office.
Can a Supreme Court Justice be impeached?
Yes, Supreme Court justices can be impeached, as they are considered civil officers removable by Congress for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors," a process involving impeachment by the House and trial by the Senate, though it's rare and only one justice, Samuel Chase, has been impeached (but acquitted).
Is Lucy Koh still a judge?
Yes, Judge Lucy H. Koh is still a judge; she currently serves as a United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, a lifetime appointment she received in December 2021 after being nominated by President Biden. She transitioned from her prior role as a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of California, a position she held from 2010 until her confirmation to the appellate court.
How much does a Supreme Court Justice make?
As of early 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice earns around $317,500, while Associate Justices earn about $303,600, with slight variations depending on the source and specific effective date, reflecting annual adjustments set by Congress. These figures represent significant increases over recent years, with salaries rising from the $274,200 (Associate) and $286,700 (Chief) in 2022.
Can a Supreme Court Justice run for president?
Hughes led on the first presidential ballot of the convention and clinched the nomination on the third ballot. Hughes accepted the nomination, becoming the first and only sitting Supreme Court Justice to serve as a major party's presidential nominee, and submitted his resignation to President Wilson.
Can Supreme Court decisions be overturned?
When the Supreme Court rules on a constitutional issue, that judgment is virtually final; its decisions can be altered only by the rarely used procedure of constitutional amendment or by a new ruling of the Court.
Can a president fire a judge?
Only Congress has the authority to remove an Article III judge. This is done through a vote of impeachment by the House and a trial and conviction by the Senate.
Did President Obama appoint any Supreme Court justices?
President Barack Obama made two successful appointments to the Supreme Court of the United States. The first was Judge Sonia Sotomayor to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice David H. Souter. Sotomayor was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 6, 2009, by a vote of 68–31.
Has a president ever ignored the Supreme Court?
Yes, presidents have ignored or defied Supreme Court rulings, most famously Andrew Jackson with the Cherokee Nation (Trail of Tears) and Abraham Lincoln by suspending habeas corpus, but this is rare and often leads to constitutional crises, with recent instances involving defiance in deportation cases under the Trump administration. Other examples include governors defying rulings on segregation (Faubus, Barnett) and FDR's stance on military tribunals, highlighting ongoing tensions between executive power and judicial authority.
How many federal judges did Bill Clinton appoint?
In total Clinton appointed 378 Article III federal judges, including two justices to the Supreme Court of the United States, 66 judges to the United States courts of appeals, 305 judges to the United States district courts and 5 judges to the United States Court of International Trade.
How many judges did President Bush appoint?
In total Bush appointed 327 Article III federal judges, including two justices to the Supreme Court of the United States (including one chief justice), 62 judges to the United States courts of appeals, 261 judges to the United States district courts and 2 judges to the United States Court of International Trade.
What Supreme Court justice was denied under Reagan?
On October 23, 1987, the United States Senate rejected Robert Bork's nomination to the Supreme Court by a roll-call vote of 42–58. This is the most recent Supreme Court nomination to be rejected by vote of the Senate. Reagan subsequently announced his intention to nominate Douglas H.
Can a federal judge be impeached?
The U.S. Constitution provides little guidance as to what offenses constitute grounds for the impeachment of federal judges: as with other government officials, judges may be removed following impeachment and conviction for “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors”; otherwise, under Article III, Section ...
Can a justice be removed from SCOTUS?
The Constitution states that Justices "shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour." This means that the Justices hold office as long as they choose and can only be removed from office by impeachment. Has a Justice ever been impeached? The only Justice to be impeached was Associate Justice Samuel Chase in 1805.