Judicial oligarchy in the united states of america

When appointing Supreme Court justices, the American President often prioritizes political considerations and personal loyalty, alongside geographical, racial, and religious factors, in order to appeal to various electoral groups. Legal qualifications, by comparison, have historically been of secondary importance. With the onset of the American Civil War, a new influential class emerged wealthy businessmen who sought to safeguard their economic interests. To protect these privileges, they began to influence state institutions, most notably the Supreme Court. During this period, the Court adopted constitutional interpretations grounded in natural law and capitalist philosophy. This group came to be labeled the  "judicial oligarchy" , a term describing the dominance of judicial actors aligned with powerful economic forces. Their influence eventually provoked resistance from both the government and the public, pressuring the Court to shift its stance and embrace a more liberal and socially responsive approach. This shift marked the beginning of the end of the judicial oligarchy era, which lasted from 1861 to 1937.