Over 90 percent of twentieth-century district court judges belonged to the appointing president’s party

Evidence

Senatorial courtesy influences what sort of person is appointed to the district courts. Because these judgeships serve as political patronage for senators, the vast majority of appointees are affiliated with the senator’s—and the president’s— political party. During the twentieth century, more than 90 percent of all district court judges were members of the appointing president’s party. In addition, district court judges usually have “earned” their positions by active party service before their appointment. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 468

Categorization

• XREF: Supports broader patterns of partisan affiliation among lower federal judges discussed in judicial politics literature. — connects to: Most appeals court judges were politically active in the appointing president’s party — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 471; Congress weaponizes new judgeship creation to favor the appointing president’s party — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 462; Judges act as temporally extended representatives of their appointing party. (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Judges act as temporally extended representatives of their appointing party. #expands (0.82)
• Political selection fills the courts with judges holding established partisan views #expands (0.80) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 2571
• Most appeals court judges were politically active in the appointing president’s party #expands (0.78) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 471
• Congress weaponizes new judgeship creation to favor the appointing president’s party #expands (0.72) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 462