Here’s a reminder: Since the Supreme Court was formed in 1789, it has significantly altered American lives, particularly Black lives, with its decisions on important topics such as segregation and voting rights.

Donald Trump has already placed two Supreme Court justices on the bench (Neil M. Gorsuch and Brett M. Kavanaugh) since he was inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States in January of 2017.

The current nine-member roster of Supreme Court justices, their perceived political leanings, and the president who nominated them is as follows:

John G. Roberts, Jr.- Moderate Conservative  (nominated by George W. Bush)

Clarence Thomas – Conservative (nominated by George H. W. Bush)

Ruth Bader Ginsburg – Liberal (nominated by Bill Clinton)

Stephen G. Breyer – Liberal (nominated by Bill Clinton)

Samuel A. Alito, Jr. – Conservative (nominated by George W. Bush)

Sonia Sotomayor – Liberal (nominated by Barack Obama)

Elena Kagan – Liberal (nominated by Barack Obama)

Neil M. Gorsuch – Conservative (nominated by Donald Trump)

Brett M. Kavanaugh – Conservative (nominated by Donald Trump)

Though strategic moves such as mobilizing the “Black agenda” and “holding the Black vote” are popular discussions, the consequence of the latter could have dire results.

The winner of the 2020 presidential election will be able to tip the scales in the Supreme Court, which currently has four conservatives, four liberals and a chief justice who is a moderate conservative.

Supreme Court justices serve life-long terms and their decisions can have impacts for decades, sometimes centuries.