Picking Judges: A Lasting Presidential Legacy

Among all the powers that a president is given, the choice to nominate federal judges is critical. Voters should scrutinize candidates’ criteria for choosing judges: Barack Obama seeks judges who can make decisions grounded on fairness while John McCain values judges who understand the bounds of judicial power. In choosing a president, voters need to consider what types of judges will be appointed, because as author Linda Chavez reminds in this essay for the Post Chronicle, the judicial system wields tremendous power over government procedures. With lifelong tenure, federal judges influence public policy long after a president’s term has ended. –YaleGlobal