Daily Brew: December 3, 2018

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December 3, 2018

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Today's Brew brings you our latest analysis on the federal judiciary + an update on tomorrow's Georgia runoff elections  
The Daily Brew

Welcome to the Monday, December 3 Brew. Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:

  1. Who chose the judges sitting on the federal court benches?
  2. Georgia secretary of state runoff, 3 other elections happening Tuesday
  3. George H.W. Bush

Who chose the judges sitting on the federal court benches?

Just before the Thanksgiving holiday, President Donald Trump and Chief Justice John Roberts got into a bit of a war-of-words over political labeling of the federal judiciary. I was discussing the story with our team and we got to thinking, you know, there’s a simple objective figure that can be generated, based on an analysis of the federal judiciary. But, let’s step back a moment.

There are 782 judges currently appointed to serve in the federal courts. These judges include appellate courts, district courts, tax courts, territory courts, and, of course, the Supreme Court.

These judges serve life terms, just like at the Supreme Court. Eight different presidents have appointed at least one of these judges. The numbers:

  • Eighty-six (11.0%) have been appointed by Donald Trump,
  • 334 (42.7%) by Barack Obama,
  • 217 (27.8%) by George W. Bush,
  • 103 (13.2%) by Bill Clinton,
  • 18 (2.3%) by George H.W. Bush,
  • 21 (2.7%) by Ronald Reagan,
  • 1 (0.1%) by Jimmy Carter, and
  • 2 (0.3%) by Gerald Ford.

Overall, Democratic presidents have appointed 438 (56%) and Republican presidents appointed 344 (44%). What if you break it down by the type of federal court?

  • There are nine Supreme Court justices. Democratic presidents appointed four (44.4%) and Republican presidents appointed five (55.6%) of them.
  • There are currently 564 District Court judges. Democratic presidents appointed 328 (58.2%) and Republican presidents appointed 236 (41.8%) of them.
  • There are currently 167 Circuit Court judges. Democratic presidents appointed 83 (49.7%) and Republican presidents appointed 84 (50.3%) of them.
  • There are currently 42 subject-matter jurisdiction court judges, such as those who serve on the United States Tax Court or the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. Democratic presidents appointed 23 (54.8%) and Republican presidents appointed 19 (45.2%) of them.

Explore the raw data for yourself
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Georgia secretary of state runoff, 3 other elections happening Tuesday

The November 6 elections are not done yet. Tomorrow, a runoff election will be held for Georgia secretary of state. Candidates John Barrow (D) and Brad Raffensperger (R) advanced following the general election on November 6, in which neither received more than 50 percent of the vote. Each received around 49 percent, and Libertarian Smythe DuVal received around 2 percent.

Following the general election, DuVal endorsed Barrow and Pres. Donald Trump endorsed Raffensperger. The winner of the runoff will replace Brian Kemp (R)—who won the state's gubernatorial election in November—as secretary of state.

Georgia is holding two additional elections tomorrow: a runoff election for public service commissioner and a special primary election for state House of Representatives District 28. Results of the regularly scheduled District 28 primary earlier this year were deemed inconclusive due to ballot errors, and the Republican primary was rescheduled for December 4 (no Democrats filed to run in the race).

Finally, we have a non-Georgia election happening tomorrow: a special election for the Ward 4 seat on the D.C. State Board of Education. Four candidates are running in the nonpartisan race to replace Lannette Woodruff, who resigned.

Former President George H.W. Bush dies at 94

Former President George H.W. Bush (R) passed away on November 30, 2018, at his home in Houston, Texas. He was 94.

Bush served as the 41st President of the United States from 1989 to 1993. During his time in office, he led the nation through the breakup of the Soviet Union and the Gulf War. He is also the father of the 43rd president, George W. Bush.

Prior to serving as president, Bush served as vice president in Ronald Reagan's administration, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, chief of the U.S. envoy to China, chair of the Republican National Committee, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and U.S. House representative for the 7th District of Texas. He was also a World War II veteran, having served in the U.S. Navy.

Six U.S. presidents have lived into their 90s: John Adams, Herbert Hoover, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, Bush, and Jimmy Carter (still living).

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