Trump poised to appoint conservative justices if Thomas, Alito step down
President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House puts him in a position to influence the make-up of the Supreme Court and the effects could be felt for decades. CBS News legal contributor Jessica Levinson explains.
The most lasting impact of this GOP sweep will arguably be felt on the courts. For at least two of the next four years, Trump can appoint dozens of far-right conservatives to lifetime federal judgeships all over the country, knowing that Senate Republicans will rubber-stamp virtually all of his picks.
Justice Clarence Thomas, 76, and Justice Samuel Alito, 74, are the two most likely to step down based on their ideological alignment with Trump. Older Democrat-appointed justices like Sonia Sotomayor, who is 70, are likely to remain on the court for several more years to prevent Trump from making the court even more conservative than it already is.