With the Senate confirmation of Lawrence VanDyke and Patrick Bumatay to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals this December, there are now nine appointments that President Donald Trump has made to the 9th Circuit Court.
Democratic-appointed judges now only hold a three-seat majority, compared with 11 seats at the start of Trump's presidency.
According to Politico:
If the trend continues, it represents a major shift in the liberal wing of the judiciary, meaning lawsuits for progressive causes won’t find a friendly ear as easily as they have. The circuit has been the go-to venue for activist state attorneys eager to freeze Trump policies on health care, immigration and other social issues. It ruled against Trump's weakening of Obamacare's contraceptive mandate, as well as multiple versions of his travel ban.
President Trump has been critical of the 9th Circuit Court in past calling it “a complete & total disaster” and “out of control.” The 9th Circuit has long been a favorite place for liberal causes to file a lawsuit and find a warm legal welcome.
The New American notes:
The Ninth Circuit has for years sported the highest 'overturn' rate of any Circuit court when cases are appealed to the Supreme Court. But that is already beginning to change.
Liberal Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) sees the risk: ‘The 9th Circuit is a very important circuit, and the presence of more conservative judges puts in peril all of American health care reform.’