#TBT: Jimmy Carter Defines America's Judiciary

     Jimmy Carter set a record during his time in the White House when he appointed 262 federal judges. While Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, with 383 and 378, respectively, lead the count in total federal justices appointed, Jimmy Carter set the record for the most judges appointed in a single term, appointing them at a rate of over one a week.

     Most of this came with the Omnibus Judgeship Act of 1978, which allowed for the appointment of 172 new judges. In crafting this bill, President Carter ensured the emphasis was on appointing judges of color as well as women, which he was able to do. The law was signed on October 20th of that year. During his tenure, he was one of few chief executives to never appoint a Supreme Court justice. However, he did appoint Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer to federal judicial positions; both would later be appointed to the Supreme Court by Bill Clinton.

     Carter established a precedent of presidents seeking to mold their judiciary; Clinton, Reagan, and Trump did so successfully, while the Bushes and Obama placed less emphasis on the courts. With the early announcements of nearly 200 judicial nominees, it appears President Biden has decided to shift from the course of some of his predecessors in favor of the legacy Carter left.