Trump's Judges: A Look at How They Rule

A Clear Pattern of Support

President Trump's impact on the judiciary is evident. His appointees to the appellate courts have been notably supportive of his policies. In 2025, they voted in his favor 133 times and against only 12 times. That's a huge difference!

Reversing Lower Court Decisions

These judges were appointed during Trump's first term. Now, in his second term, they are often reversing decisions made by lower courts. This has helped Trump's policies move forward and challenges the notion that the legal system was hindering his ability to gain more power.

The "Obama Judge" Controversy

In 2018, Trump criticized a judge he called an "Obama judge." Chief Justice Roberts responded by stating there are no such things as Obama or Trump judges. However, the data tells a different story. Trump's appointees have supported his agenda 92% of the time, a rate much higher than support from judges appointed by other Republican presidents.

The New York Times Investigation

The New York Times examined over 500 rulings from January to December 2025. They found that about half of the appellate court rulings were in Trump's favor. This is better than his record in district courts but not as strong as in the Supreme Court, where most rulings on his agenda have been preliminary.

Judicial Independence in Question

It's important to note that judges are supposed to be independent. However, the data reveals a clear pattern: Trump's appointees are more likely to support his policies. This raises significant questions about the independence of the judiciary.