Jonathan Turley Explains How Court Vacancies Threaten Trump’s Long-Term LegacyMariane Angela
News Reporter
February 03, 2026 10:14 PM ET
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George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said Tuesday that unfilled federal court vacancies threaten President Donald Trump’s long-term legal legacy.
As of Feb, 1, the U.S. Courts’ Administrative Office reported 42 judicial vacancies across the federal judiciary, with eight nominees pending before the Senate. Turley said filling district court seats—particularly in Republican-led states—would help prevent the judiciary from drifting left and reduce case backlogs that leave challenges lingering for years.
“This is going to be one of Trump’s main legacies. If he can fill these slots, he can guarantee that this court system is not going to move dramatically to the left. The court system is the priority of the left,” Turley said when host Laura Ingraham pointed out that opponents use prolonged litigation and forum-shopping to slow or block Trump’s immigration policies.
Ingraham pressed Turley on why key judicial seats remain open in Republican-led states, saying the gaps limit the pool of judges who can hear challenges to administration policies and leave the president hobbled despite GOP control of the Senate.
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https://rumble.com/embed/v732x4m/?pub=4more
https://dailycaller.com/2026/02/03/jonathan-turley-court-vacancies-threaten-trumps-long-term-legal-legacy/