A significant shift in the US legal system has occurred under the Trump administration. A third of the appeals courts are now comprised of judges with tenure for life, who were appointed during his presidency. This has led to concerns about the impact on national policy and the administrative state. The Supreme Court's ruling in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council and West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency have expanded the power of the federal judiciary, allowing agency rulings to be second-guessed by judges at any level.

The article highlights the potential consequences for democracy, including the politicization of the judiciary and the ability of judges to impact national policy. The author notes that the issue is not limited to one party or administration, but rather a structural problem that will require electoral victories to address.

Source: https://www.theverge.com/24279829/trump-supreme-court-federal-judiciary-judges