On Thursday evening, President Donald Trump publicly split with the Federalist Society, the powerful conservative lawyers’ group that he relied on to select judges in his first term. Thanks in no small part to Trump, a majority of the Supreme Court justices are associated with the Federalist Society, as are dozens or even hundreds of other federal judges.

But now, Trump apparently regrets his earlier partnership with the Society.

“I am so disappointed in The Federalist Society because of the bad advice they gave me on numerous Judicial Nominations,” Trump posted on Truth Social. He blames his decision to ally with the Society on the fact that he was “new to Washington” when he first became president, “and it was suggested that I use The Federalist Society as a recommending source on Judges.” He also names Leonard Leo, the co-chair of the Society’s board, a “sleazebag” who “probably hates America, and obviously has his own separate ambitions.”

It’s a bold move by Trump, because the Federalist Society derives much of its power from the fact that so many of its members have lifetime appointments to the federal bench. Promising conservative lawyers want to join — and pay dues — to the Society because it was seen as a pipeline to power. And the fact that its members have been able to shape policy on everything from abortion to race to student loans made it the premier right-wing legal group.

That’s not to say Trump will destroy the Society’s grip on the judiciary. In fact, he may have inadvertently strengthened it. Older Federalist Society judges and justices may be less likely to retire under Trump now that they know that he’s unlikely to rely on the Society to choose their replacement. And sitting Federalist Society judges and justices may view the Trump administration’s legal arguments with greater skepticism.

Trump’s breakup with the Federalist Society isn’t particularly surprising. At a recent Federalist Society conference on executive power, many of the speakers denounced Trump’s incompetence and warned that it would prevent conservatives from achieving lasting policy victories during this administration. Some argued that Trump’s signature economic policy, his tariffs, are illegal.

And Trump is right that Leo, and by extension, the Federalist Society and its judges, have “separate........

© Vox