It’s the largest gathering of top conservative legal minds in the world — and it may offer a preview of the United States newest Supreme Court justice.
Two current Supreme Court justices and nine judges on President-elect Donald Trump’s list of potential high court picks are among more than 1,000 people expected at a gathering of conservative lawyers that has suddenly turned into an impromptu job fair for spots in the new administration.
The Federalist Society’s national lawyers’ convention begins Thursday in Washington as a tribute to the late Justice Antonin Scalia, an early supporter of the group and a hero to many of its 40,000 members.
But since Trump’s surprising victory in last week’s presidential race, the meeting has turned into a public audition of sorts for nearly half of the list of 21 people that Trump put forward earlier in the year as prospective Supreme Court nominees.
“The mood has changed. Everyone is going to be thinking, ‘Maybe someone here is going to be filling Justice Scalia’s shoes,’ ” said Abbe Gluck, a Yale Law professor who is not a member of the group but who will take part in the conference.
Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, familiar figures at these annual meetings, also will speak on Thursday.
The Federalist Society got its start on college campuses when Ronald Reagan was in the White House as a way to counter what its members saw as liberal domination of the nation’s law-school faculties. Its influence was pronounced during the presidency of George W. Bush, when its leaders helped rally support for Senate confirmation of Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts. The group was so successful that it spawned copycat liberal organizations.
Speaking at a Federalist Society event in the Bush years was akin to an out-of-town preview of a Broadway show for conservative lawyers who were looking for administration jobs or judgeships, author Mark Tushnet has written.
Over the past eight years, the group provided a forum for opponents of President Barack Obama’s court choices and policies, although the Federalist Society itself does not endorse candidates or take policy positions. Some of its leaders backed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s refusal to act on Obama’s nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to fill Scalia’s seat. That political strategy paid unexpected and huge dividends for conservatives with Trump’s election.
The society’s star again appears to be on the rise. “Anytime there’s a major shift in the power of government, it’s an enormous opportunity for what is probably the collection of the smartest, most talented and most publicly minded lawyers in the country to roll up their sleeves and help advance the cause of constitutional government,” said Leonard Leo, the Federalist Society’s executive vice president.
Leo met with Trump in New York on Wednesday and said afterward that Trump has yet to pare down his long list of names of Supreme Court hopefuls.
Among those candidates are nine who will take part in panel discussions in the next few days: state supreme court justices Allison Eid of Colorado, Joan Larsen of Michigan, David Stras of Minnesota and Don Willett of Texas, and federal appellate judges Steven Colloton, Thomas Hardiman, Raymond Kethledge, William Pryor and Diane Sykes.
In September, Trump released a statement on his list and wrote about some of the above justices.
Keith Blackwell is a justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia. He was appointed to the position in 2012. He had previously served on the Court of Appeals of Georgia. Before serving on the bench, Justice Blackwell was a Deputy Special Attorney General of the State of Georgia, an Assistant District Attorney in Cobb County, and a commercial litigator in private practice. Justice Blackwell is a graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law.
Charles Canady is a justice of the Supreme Court of Florida. He has served in that role since 2008, and he served as the court’s chief justice from 2010 to 2012. Prior to his appointment, Justice Canady served as a judge of the Florida Second District Court of Appeal and as a member of the United States House of Representatives for four terms. Justice Canady is a graduate of Yale Law School.
Neil Gorsuch is a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He was appointed to the position in 2006. Judge Gorsuch previously served in the Justice Department as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General. Judge Gorsuch was a Marshall Scholar and received his law degree from Harvard. He clerked for Justices Byron White and Anthony Kennedy.
Mike Lee is the Junior U.S. Senator from Utah and currently serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee. He has previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Utah and as a Supreme Court Clerk for Justice Alito.
Edward Mansfield is a justice of the Iowa Supreme Court. He was appointed to the court in 2011 and retained by voters in 2012. Justice Mansfield previously served as a judge of the Iowa Court of Appeals. He also teaches law at Drake University as an adjunct professor. Justice Mansfield is a graduate of Yale Law School.
Federico Moreno is a judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida and a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States. He previously served as a state and county court judge in Florida. Judge Moreno is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law.
Margaret A. Ryan has been a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces since 2006. Judge Ryan served in the Marine Corps through deployments in the Philippines and the Gulf War. She then attended Notre Dame Law School through a military scholarship and served as a JAG officer for four years. Judge Ryan clerked for Judge J. Michael Luttig of the Fourth Circuit and Justice Clarence Thomas.
Amul Thapar is a judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, serving since his appointment in 2007, when he became the first South Asian Article III judge. He has taught law students at the University of Cincinnati and Georgetown. Judge Thapar has served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C. and the Southern District of Ohio. Immediately prior to his judicial appointment, Judge Thapar was the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. Judge Thapar received his law degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
Timothy Tymkovich is the chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Judge Tymkovich was appointed to the bench in 2003. He previously served as Colorado Solicitor General. Judge Tymkovich is a graduate of the University of Colorado College of Law.
Robert Young is the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Michigan. He was appointed to the court in 1999, and became part of a majority of justices who embraced originalism and led what one scholar described as a “textualism revolution.” Justice Young previously served as a judge on the Michigan Court of Appeals. Chief Justice Young is a graduate of Harvard Law School.
The full list of the twenty-one individuals Mr. Trump will consider is below:
1. Keith Blackwell
2. Charles Canady
3. Steven Colloton
4. Allison Eid
5. Neil Gorsuch
6. Raymond Gruender
7. Thomas Hardiman
8. Raymond Kethledge
9. Joan Larsen
10. Mike Lee
11. Thomas Lee
12. Edward Mansfield
13. Federico Moreno
14. William Pryor
15. Margaret A. Ryan
16. Amul Thapar
17. Timothy Tymkovich
18. David Stras
19. Diane Sykes
20. Don Willett
21. Robert Young
The Associated Press contributed to this article
The list sorely needs Ken Cuccinelli and John Eastman added to it.
Yes on Ken. Was a good AG in VA.
Too bad he was cheated out of the race for governor.
Judge Michael Boggs,out of Atlanta,was a pick at one time but Obama turned him down for his own personal reasons and he is not the Superior Court Judge,also Judge Jeanine Perrio would also be a good pick
JUDGE PERRIO is the beast! Also Judge Napaliano on Fox news is awesome.
How about Ted Cruz on the list?
Trey Howdy is my choice I wish he was on the list
Doesn’t matter as long as they are a Conservative.
And Constitutionalist.
exactly, we can keep our Constitution intact
Anyone that is for our constitution would be great, screw Obama and the damn dems that are against our constitution or anyone else that is against it.
Sorry but where are the names that the people seem to want? Like judge jennie, or the napalino, or trey, How many of these are products of the ivy league schools, since we know how their grads from their law
schools turn out….crooked, kicked out of the practice, members of the nwo, or pushers of the un agenda 21. How many are……politicians…..good old boys,,,,,,,,rinos…..or just plane old men? I do not see cruz on the list………….GOOD……………but he is a good friend of someone in the administration who just might push for him over much more qualified (in the loyality department) that he every was and ever will be. O yes how about ryan…I am sure that would sit good with the people that put Trump in (NOT).
I agree, these are names that most Americans know and are familiar with, but I think I would prefer Mr. Gowdy at the Justice Department.
Agree 100% with you. Imagine Gowdy as DOJ, Wow!
I believe Gowdy would be the best choice for AG
I whole heartily agree with Trey Gowdy being AG. I don’t have any objections with him being on the Supreme Court. He is a real man of character.
He would , but Mr Trump admires loyalty. Trey Gowdy bad mouthed Trump if I recall. Maybe I am wrong, he’s talking to Romney???
I agree whole heartedly on that, he has the fire and the “get go” to go after what needs going after and needs the power to do so!!
Yeah!…A “FED” (Fed Up Dem.)
Trey Gowdy could fill any pair of shoes they have. He is very smart and honest.
Trey gowdy would be great in any position.
Cruz might be attorney, general which i would like to see.
These are the most important nominations that President Trump will make!
At the same time a thorough investigation into the untimely death of Justice Scalia should be convened……too many unknown elements arose surrounding his death, his bodyguards took the night off, he was at a place that was not thoroughly checked out by authorities, he had a pillow over his face, he was pronounced dead by someone not on the scene, and other curious facts…….
A lot to be mentioned, he was a great judge.
I am with Thomas
Trey would be my first and Judge Jeanine would be #2. Neither on the list.
I really had greater expectations of his choices.
I agree with Judge Jeanine 100%!
It would be a dishonor to the great Justice Scalia for his spot on the Supreme Court to be filled by one of Obama’s liberal LOON judicial appointments! He has already polluted and corrupted the entire Federal Judiciary with these LOONS. Enough is enough! Since it is most likely Obama and company MURDERED Scalia to keep him from voting to overturn some of Obama’s most egregious “executive orders”, the LYING, CORRUPT Democrats MUST not profit from that murder by replacing him with a liberal judge, which was their plan.
I agree 100% with you JoAnn, could not have said it better myself! Good post!
I’m loving this more than I could even imagine. I also love what it must be doing to Hilary knowing that this will change America for the next generation to come. Praise the Lord!!!
Amen! God has answered our cries!
AMEN
Senator Ted Cruz would be awesome as a Supreme! But he would also be great as Atty. General- and bring Conservative values to the DOJ. Mike Lee would be great as would his brother, for SCOTUS!
Only if Heidi, the executive with Goldman Sachs when that obscene amount of taxpayer money was given to GS to bail them out of problems they had due to their own bad behavior, doesn’t have any influence on him.
Senator Ted Cruz would be awesome as a Supreme! But he would also be great as Atty. General- and bring Conservative values to the DOJ. Mike Lee would be great as would his brother, for SCOTUS!
Heidi had nothing to do with the Obama admin. giving Goldman Sacs that money. Don’t try to blame the Cruz’s for that!
Roger Pilon of the Cato Institute deserves a spot on the list.
Judge Napolitano (sp?) of FOX is a fine prospect as is Judge Jeanine.
OracleGuy, law5960 & Fig Newton – the absence of your “Liberal Left” nutcase comments is deafening.
To The Horn News…..you can take Hillary’s picture off of these daily news briefs any day now. We don’t need to see her anymore, please…….
What America does not need is another Yale or Harvard law school graduate and it flies in the face of what Trump’s message to voters was. Drain the swamp means no more ivy league elitists in Justice.
If President Trump appoints a constitutional conservative on the order of Antonin Scalia to the bench his presidency will be a success. Hopefully President Trump will be able to put several constitutional conservatives on the bench during his term.
Can the democrats in the senate filibuster a nomination?
Jim
Jim,
Do you remember what Ted “elitist blowhard” Kennedy did to Reagan’s nomination of Justice Robert Bork? Going crazy over his video choices at Blockbuster, what life would be like in Bork’s America (the vision our founding father wanted), anything would be better than what we have now. So much liberal corruption. So, the answer to your question is YES, they can and have numerous times. I was in my early teens and I still remember that jerk foaming at the mouth, face bright red, I thought he was going to have a heart attack or stroke, just a shame he didn’t. Both Bork’s role in the Saturday Night Massacre and his philosophy of originalism (same as Justices Scalia and Thomas) came under fire when Reagan nominated Bork to the Supreme Court. On the first day of congressional hearings, Ted Kennedy gave a speech describing an America governed by Bork’s legal philosophies. Later that same day, in a statement by Bork described his legal philosophy. But Kennedy’s speech was the one America remembered the most, and there was not word that was true in Kennedy’s comments. It’s a shame that he didn’t use that same passion and fight when Mary Jo was in his drowning, she probably thought he was come back for her. No # Liberal Rule, cover your behind. Liberal law, liberal justice and constitutional law are not at all the same thing. Not even close.
Mike Lee, judging by what I’ve seen him do on the Senate Judiciary Committee, is the only choice on the list everyone else is a gamble. We don’t need to gamble with a SCOTUS decision.
He will do what he said he would do. He will present judges who are dedicated to their job of interpreting the Constitution and not writing laws.
How Russian spies, and mentality of KGB-Trump see selection?
Like Litvinenko, ancestry Polish “UNIA”, killed by “Polonium”.
Mashadov, killed for ancestry of pre-Georgian Meshety.
Judges might have something catching his eye:
Black-Well
commercial litigator in private practice
Can-Ady – TRUMP CANNING, FULL OF LIES;
Gor-Such – TRUMP, RUSSIA “SUCHIT”;
Mike Lee -TRUMP MOTHR’S STEP FATHER AND PARTNER IN CRIME,
FATHER OF BENSON LEE, SPIED-DESTROYED MY IN USA TOO;
Mansfield – TRUMP LIKE PRESENT HIMSELF AS MACHO,
ALSO TEACHING AT “DRAKE” WILL ATRACT MASONS BY CAPTAIN “DRAK”;
Federico Moreno – HARD TO TELL, MAYBE A SCARY FISH “MORENA”?
Ryan – RELATIVE OF NEW DEAL WITH RYAN AND TRUMP,
ALSO MARINE CORE, GULF WAR, SOUND PATRIOTIC,
RUSSIA IS BESTIAL AND LIKE TAUGH;
Amul Thapar – TRUMP HOPE USE AS A “MUL”?
OR GRADUATE OF BERKELEY? BERKELEY ANSESTOR
PLAGIARIZED VICTORY BY GEORGIAN BAGRATIONY OVER NAPOLEON, TRUMPS MUST HATE US;
Thimoty Timkovich – TIMOTY AND COON WERE LINCHING AFRICAN IN LOS ANGELES,
TIMERMAN WAS BATTALION COMMANDER THAT INVADED
GEORGIAN OSETIA AND KILLED MANY PEOPLE.
Robert Yong – INVENTED “TEXTUALISM REVOLUTION”,
MEANING BE RUSSIAN “KRUCHKOTVOR”, ONE WHICH TWIST SPIRIT OF THE LAW,
TWISTING TEXTS AND MEANING OF WORDS – IT IS WHAT IS RUSSIA!
IT IS WHAT IS TRUMP – LIE, CHEAT, STEAL, PLAGIARIZE, KILL
AND TWIST TRUTH ABOUT IT, LIKE STENCH OF RUSSIA!
DELETE FIRST VERSUS
How Russian spies, and mentality of KGB-Trump see selection?
Like Litvinenko, ancestry Polish “UNIA”, killed by “Polonium”.
Mashadov, killed for ancestry of pre-Georgian Meshety.
Judges might have something catching his eye:
__________________________________________________________________________
Black-Well – PROBABLY JUST CORRUPTABILITY, AS COMERCIAL IN PRIVET PRACTICE;
Can-Ady – TRUMP CANNING, FULL OF LIES;
Gor-Such – TRUMP, RUSSIA “SUCHIT”;
Mike Lee -TRUMP MOTHR’S STEP FATHER AND PARTNER IN CRIME,
FATHER OF BENSON LEE, SPIED-DESTROYED MY IN USA TOO;
Mansfield – TRUMP LIKE PRESENT HIMSELF AS MACHO,
ALSO TEACHING AT “DRAKE” WILL ATRACT MASONS BY CAPTAIN “DRAK”;
Federico Moreno – HARD TO TELL, MAYBE A SCARY FISH “MORENA”?
Ryan – RELATIVE OF NEW DEAL WITH RYAN AND TRUMP,
ALSO MARINE CORE, GULF WAR, SOUND PATRIOTIC,
RUSSIA IS BESTIAL AND LIKE TAUGH;
Amul Thapar – TRUMP HOPE USE AS A “MUL”?
OR GRADUATE OF BERKELEY? BERKELEY ANSESTOR
PLAGIARIZED VICTORY BY GEORGIAN BAGRATIONY OVER NAPOLEON, TRUMPS MUST HATE US;
Thimoty Timkovich – TIMOTY AND COON WERE LINCHING AFRICAN IN LOS ANGELES,
TIMERMAN WAS BATTALION COMMANDER THAT INVADED
GEORGIAN OSETIA AND KILLED MANY PEOPLE.
Robert Yong – INVENTED “TEXTUALISM REVOLUTION”,
MEANING BE RUSSIAN “KRUCHKOTVOR”, ONE WHICH TWIST SPIRIT OF THE LAW,
TWISTING TEXTS AND MEANING OF WORDS – IT IS WHAT IS RUSSIA!
IT IS WHAT IS TRUMP – LIE, CHEAT, STEAL, PLAGIARIZE, KILL
AND TWIST TRUTH ABOUT IT, LIKE STENCH OF RUSSIA!
Judge Andrew Napalitano.
My bad: Napolitano
JUDGE ANDREW NAPOLITANO would be the best!
I agree with ed stack.
Judge janine. And
Judge napolitano.
The best there is.
Ted Cruz would be the absolute best choice to replace Judge Antonin Scalia!!! He is only 45 years old, and would provide a strict constructionist conservative SCOTUS judge protecting the Constitution and the Bill of Rights of every American for years to come!!! Trump should get buy-in for his selection from all those who helped him select the list of 21!!!
Not Ted Cruz. He has too much baggage for Supreme Court. Maybe a lower court.
Two words…. Chuck Norris!
Great o.pportunity for Sen. Jeff Sessions and President-elect Trump to get some face time with alot of potential candidates for State AG positions around the country and Supreme Court nominee interviews while they are in Washington D.C. for the Conservative Lawyer Conference.