President-elect Trump is expected to adhere to his established judicial philosophies when considering potential Supreme Court nominees in the event of a justice's retirement, according to experts. During his first term, Trump appointed three Supreme Court justices, all of whom were under 55 years old at the time of their appointments. Additionally, he appointed over 50 federal appellate judges.
There have been calls from politicians and media figures for older justices, such as Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, to step down in anticipation of a Trump presidency. However, conservative legal activist Leonard Leo criticized such calls, emphasizing that justices Thomas and Alito deserve respect for their service to the country and the Constitution.
