Trump's appeal court judges have backed him 92% of time

Axios - Appeals court judges chosen by President Trump in his first term are reliably reversing rulings by district court judges in his second —133-12 in 2025, or 92% of the time, a New York Times tally finds.

• These judges form "a nearly united phalanx to defend his agenda … clearing the way for his policies and gradually eroding a perception early last year that the legal system was thwarting his efforts to amass presidential power," The Times notes.

The Times analysis found that district courts ruled for Trump policies 25% of the time last year … appeals courts, 51% … and the Supreme Court, 88%

• Trump appointees voted pro-Trump 92% of the time … other GOP appointees, 68% … and Democratic appointees, 27%.

 Leonard Leo, the Federalist Society co-chair who guided Trump's first-term judicial picks under the banner of "originalism," told The Times: "The Supreme Court's docket is so tiny, and there's so little attention paid to the appellate courts … Trump has filled them with these superstar judges. They're not buffoons. They're very effective. And they are going to be there for a long time."