Trump's Attack on the Federalist Society Is a Bad Omen for Originalism

Reason ^ | June 2, 2025 | Damon Root

[karpov]

President Donald Trump remade the Republican Party in his own MAGA image. Will he now do the same to the conservative legal movement?

During his first term, Trump benefited immeasurably from his association with Leonard Leo, the former Federalist Society official whose advice on judicial nominations helped Trump to transform the U.S. Supreme Court into a conservative legal juggernaut that eliminated the constitutional right to abortion, overturned affirmative action in higher education, and expanded the right to keep and bear arms. Such rulings will likely be remembered as Trump's most far-reaching accomplishments as president.

Yet now, Trump is denouncing both the Federalist Society in general and Leo in particular. "I was new to Washington, and it was suggested that I use the Federalist Society as a recommending source on judges," Trump wrote last week. "I did so, openly and freely, but then realized that they were under the thumb of a real 'sleazebag' named Leonard Leo, a bad person who, in his own way, probably hates America, and obviously has his own separate ambitions." Trump added: "I am so disappointed in The Federalist Society because of the bad advice they gave me on numerous Judicial Nominations. This is something that cannot be forgotten!"

By "bad advice," Trump was referring to the fact that a number of Trump-appointed judges have ruled against Trump in his second term. I think it is safe to say that the only "good" judge in Trump's view is a judge who consistently rules in Trump's favor, not a judge who prioritizes the Constitution and the rule of law.

In fact, Trump basically announced that self-serving view of the judicial role with his recent nomination of his former criminal defense lawyer Emil Bove to fill a vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit.

[kiryandil]

Will he now do the same to the conservative legal movement?

The conservative legal movement brought us Amy Coney Barrett.

[MMusson]

They have done a shitty job so far. Why should he stick with them?

[rottweiller_inc]

I’m curious if they recommended Amy Barrett.

[kiryandil]

I think it is safe to say that the only "good" judge in Trump's view is a judge who consistently rules in Trump's favor, not a judge who prioritizes the Constitution and the rule of law. - Damon Root

While Damon Root ignores the Left's "judges" marching in lockstep to Obama's DEI vision of America.

who is this Damon Root tool?

[ConservativeMind]

Obviously Damon isn’t thinking straight.

When judges can’t properly interpret Law, it hurts everyone.

The Federalist Society has had multiple idiot judges from that society overturned on appeal.

Yes, Trump and the higher Courts are saying the Federalist judges are often wrong.

Thank you for posting how idiotic Reason can be.

[AndyJackson]

If they give you Barrett they are not conservative nor originalists except maybe original buffoons.

[wiseprince]

The results speak for themselves. Under no circumstances would author of the constitution suggest the President couldn’t fire someone and yet it seems that a substantial number of judges think just that.

[kiryandil]

Barrett was a member of the Federalist Society from 2005 to 2006 and from 2014 to 2017.

[rottweiller_inc]

Ahhh, well that does kind of put a tarnish on their credentials.

[backpacker_c]

The list of vetted potential justices the federalist society was suppose to supply were to be ones that would interpret and follow the constitution as intended....

Not people like acb, who interpret the constitution to how she feels about the matter before her.....

The federalist society therefore lied about their intent and their actions....

[HYPOCRACY]

These scumbags didn’t “rule against Trump”. They ruled against America. The Federalist Society is just another group infiltrated by globalists and neocon scum. Trump is right to call them out for recommending the three ignorant lowlifes he appointed.

[Major Matt Mason]

From Google's AI - "Yes, Amy Coney Barrett's nomination to the Supreme Court was influenced by the Federalist Society, though it's not accurate to say she was "recommended" by them. She was a member of the organization during certain periods. Additionally, the Federalist Society played a role in the selection of potential nominees, particularly for conservative judicial appointments. While they didn't directly recommend her, her background and ties to the organization certainly aligned with their conservative judicial philosophy, which likely made her a strong candidate for the position." So, she has Federalist ties, at the least.

[Fledermaus]

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

[Governor Dinwiddie]

"Reason"? Yada yada yada. "Talk to the hand". Or talk to Bill Kristol.

[_Jim]

re: “Trump’s Attack on the Federalist Society Is a Bad Omen for Originalism”

I think he’s sore b/c their Supreme Court choices sucked big time ... Reason doesn’t see it that way?

[GrootheWanderer]

Federalist Society judges overturned Roe, overturned racial preferences, upheld Second Amendment rights, gave us multiple landmark cases defending religious liberty, overturned Chevron deference, blocked Biden’s unconstitutional student loan forgiveness. I could go on.

[_Jim]

Also -

#Barret
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2025/03/an-opening-salvo.php#comment-6664879746
I said like a hundred times on this very forum all those years ago “Don’t nominate Coney Barrett.” It was so obvious that outside of the abortion issue she is nothing but a liberal wolf in conservative clothing. No woman who hyphenates her name like a feminist and has adopted six children from Third World nations is going to be conservative.
And now we’re stuck with her because once again the Heritage Foundation hyped up a proverbial RINO as a conservative legal bastion. Trump needs to stop listening to these clowns. God help us when Alito and Thomas retire! Will it even be possible to find justice prospects remotely in their league?

Amy Coney Barrett’s Body Language Exposed DISGUST with Trump
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mg1hoZsrE5A

Heritage Pulls Out All Stops for Amy Coney Barrett’s Confirmation
https://www.heritage.org/courts/impact/heritage-pulls-out-all-stops-amy-coney-barretts-confirmation

[ifinnegan]

Fed society may not have recommended the best candidates.

[rottweiller_inc]

She is certainly a disappointment.