Scott Detrow

Judges, a key part of shaping American law. Cooper, who worked in Reagan's Justice Department, has been active in the Federalist Society for years.

Judges, a key part of shaping American law. Cooper, who worked in Reagan's Justice Department, has been active in the Federalist Society for years.

Judges, a key part of shaping American law. Cooper, who worked in Reagan's Justice Department, has been active in the Federalist Society for years.

And that success has continued over many Republican administrations, creating what some call a pipeline to the federal bench, especially to the Supreme Court.

And that success has continued over many Republican administrations, creating what some call a pipeline to the federal bench, especially to the Supreme Court.

And that success has continued over many Republican administrations, creating what some call a pipeline to the federal bench, especially to the Supreme Court.

But Cooper says the Trump presidency took it to another level.

But Cooper says the Trump presidency took it to another level.

But Cooper says the Trump presidency took it to another level.

With President Trump in the White House and Republicans in control of the Senate, the conditions in 2017 were ripe for the unitary executive theory to go mainstream.

With President Trump in the White House and Republicans in control of the Senate, the conditions in 2017 were ripe for the unitary executive theory to go mainstream.

With President Trump in the White House and Republicans in control of the Senate, the conditions in 2017 were ripe for the unitary executive theory to go mainstream.

That's Mike Davis, a conservative legal activist who once worked as chief counsel for nominations for Senator Chuck Grassley, who chaired the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee. Davis oversaw the floor votes for hundreds of judicial nominees, nominees that reshaped the federal bench. That includes now Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch. Justice Neil Gorsuch is a very close friend and a mentor.

That's Mike Davis, a conservative legal activist who once worked as chief counsel for nominations for Senator Chuck Grassley, who chaired the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee. Davis oversaw the floor votes for hundreds of judicial nominees, nominees that reshaped the federal bench. That includes now Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch. Justice Neil Gorsuch is a very close friend and a mentor.

That's Mike Davis, a conservative legal activist who once worked as chief counsel for nominations for Senator Chuck Grassley, who chaired the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee. Davis oversaw the floor votes for hundreds of judicial nominees, nominees that reshaped the federal bench. That includes now Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch. Justice Neil Gorsuch is a very close friend and a mentor.

Gorsuch, who was Trump's first Supreme Court pick, wasn't even on that initial list from the campaign of potential nominations, which is something Davis quickly worked to fix.

Gorsuch, who was Trump's first Supreme Court pick, wasn't even on that initial list from the campaign of potential nominations, which is something Davis quickly worked to fix.

Gorsuch, who was Trump's first Supreme Court pick, wasn't even on that initial list from the campaign of potential nominations, which is something Davis quickly worked to fix.

Davis now runs the Article 3 Project, a conservative legal group that is trying to install what he calls constitutionalist judges on the federal bench. One issue he cares a lot about, a powerful chief executive.

Davis now runs the Article 3 Project, a conservative legal group that is trying to install what he calls constitutionalist judges on the federal bench. One issue he cares a lot about, a powerful chief executive.