Three Quick Thoughts on the Election’s Implications for the Judiciary

#1: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg may be reconsidering her decision not to retire. President Obama or a future President Hillary Clinton will have much less leeway with replacing her in a Republican-controlled Senate.

#2: There will be very few lower court judicial confirmations. Those that get through will be completely uncontroversial. Forget the nuclear option that removed judicial filibusters. At this point, with no political capital, President Obama will only get a small number of milquetoast nominees through the Senate.

#3: Expect even more litigation regarding executive actions. With no chance of getting his expansive regulatory project through Congress, President Obama will increasingly use the executive branch--particularly the EPA, the IRS, and HHS--to advance his policy agenda. That is good news only for litigators.