'Pretty alarming': Major change underway at far-right 'powerhouse' judicial group

In early June, Federalist Society President Eugene Meyer announced his retirement from the right-wing judicial outfit. Meyer made it clear, however, that he wasn't leaving right away and planned to stick around until a suitable replacement was found.

The Federalist Society is still deciding on that replacement. The New Republic's Steve Kennedy discussed that search in an article published Thursday, stressing that the group has been enormously influential on the right.

"Under Meyer's decades-long leadership," Kennedy wrote, "the Federalist Society has become a powerhouse on the right, boasting massive funding and powerful allies in all branches of government. During Donald Trump's first term, FedSoc was almost a shadow presidency, handpicking judicial appointments for federal judgeships, as well as being hugely influential behind the scenes in terms of the Cabinet and administrative agencies.

“Meyer has specifically been seen as an influential player in helping to bridge the gap between institutionalist conservatives and the conservative legal movement's more aggressive firebrands, so whoever ends up as his successor may give us an idea of the organization's future direction — and who will inherit the organization's future."

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Kennedy added, "With Trump — an unquestioning enabler of the organization's grand designs —preparing for his second term, the new leader of the Federalist Society is destined to have a significant impact on the country."

The Federalist Society has played a major in the U.S. Supreme Court's move to the far right.

Six of the High Court's nine justices were appointed by GOP presidents, including Trump's three appointees: Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett.

According to Kennedy, "five candidates" may be "in serious contention" for the position Meyer is vacating.

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One of them is Robert Alt, president and CEO of the Buckeye Institute and a National Review columnist. Others include Michael Fragoso (who has served as chief counsel on nominations for the Senate Judiciary Committee) and Ryan Newman (Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' chief counsel).

"Time will tell who is chosen — and what their selection says about the direction of the organization," Kennedy wrote. "But whoever the Federalist Society chooses as its next president, this collection of policy views and work experience should be pretty alarming to anyone who cares about bodily autonomy, public health and safety, and any moves toward a more equitable and just society."

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