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Hatch had a major impact on the Supreme Court, judiciary at large

(J. Scott Applewhite | AP file photo) In this Nov. 30, 2018, file photo, the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court gather for a formal group portrait at the Supreme Court Building in Washington. Seated from left: Associate Justice Stephen Breyer, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice of the United States John G. Roberts, Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Associate Justice Samuel Alito Jr. Standing behind from left: Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Elena Kagan and Associate Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh. The Supreme Court term has steered clear of drama since the tumultuous confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh. The next few weeks will test whether the calm can last.

  | Dec. 30, 2018, 3:17 p.m.

Utah’s outgoing Sen. Orrin Hatch left a huge imprint on the nation’s high court.

Among other things, he:

• Participated in the confirmation of 15 Supreme Court justices, including all nine currently on the bench.

• Helped found the Federalist Society of conservative attorneys and pushed to confirm more conservative judges to district and appellate courts.

• Took credit for suggesting President Bill Clinton nominate to the high court Ruth Bader Ginsburg, now considered the most liberal jurist on the Supreme Court.

• Joined Senate GOP colleagues in withholding confirmation hearings for President Barack Obama’s final pick for the Supreme Court, Merrick Garland, for nearly a year.

• Staunchly defended now-Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas against sexual harassment allegations by a former aide, Anita Hill, and did the same for Brett Kavanaugh over sexual assault claims by two women.