The Rule of Law Trust is a right-of-center organization that seeks to develop a more right-leaning judicial system by electing judges with an originalist approach, or one based on interpreting laws based on their meanings at the time they were adopted, to the law. ¹ The Rule of Law Trust is primarily a grant making organization, and is known for supporting the Judicial Crisis Network and its ties to the Federalist Society. ²

History

The Rule of Law Trust was formed in 2018 with the intent to promote originalist principles in the judiciary by supporting organizations that promote that objective through research, communications, and initiative-based strategies. ³

Grantmaking

In 2020 The Rule of Law Trust made contributions to Donors Trust ($5,793,800), Fidelity Charitable ($9,000,000), and the Judicial Crisis Network ($21,500,000). ⁴

The same year, in addition to general grantmaking, the Rule of Law Trust made expenditures relating to private consulting and media campaign services. ⁵ This included $175,000 spent on consulting services with Yaas, LLC, ⁶ a consulting firm associated with Maria Marshall, ⁷ a former Federalist Society employee, ⁸ and $125,000 spent on consulting services with Semmes Associates LLC. ⁹

Leadership

Leonard Leo is the trustee of the Rule of Law Trust. ¹⁰ Leo is the co-chairman of the Federalist Society board of directors and former executive vice president of the Federalist Society. ¹¹

Leo has shepherded various judicial nominees through the confirmation process, including the nomination of Supreme Court justices. ¹² In 1990, after clerking on the D.C. Court of Appeals, Leo delayed his employment with the Federalist Society to assist Clarence Thomas through his confirmation process to the Supreme Court. ¹³

Finances

In 2018 the Rule of Law Trust received $79,999,550 in contributions, ¹⁴ incurred $2,736,293 in expenses, ¹⁵ and held $78,210,863 in net assets. ¹⁶

In 2019 the Rule of Law Trust did not receive any contributions, ¹⁷ received $1,756,275 in investment income on assets held, ¹⁸ incurred $6,856,549 in expenses, ¹⁹ and held $78,377,409 in net assets. ²⁰

In 2020 the Rule of Law Trust did not receive any contributions, ²¹ received in $1,493,794 in investment income on assets held, ²² incurred $38,447,824 in expenses, ²³ and held $43,683,753 in net assets. ²⁴

1. Maguire, Robert. “$80 million dark money group tied to Trump Supreme Court advisor, Leonard Leo” Judicial Crisis Network. October 23, 2020. Accessed October 1, 2022. https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/80-million-dark-money-group-tied-to-trump-supreme-court-advisor-leonard-leo/
2. Maguire, Robert. “$80 million dark money group tied to Trump Supreme Court advisor, Leonard Leo” Judicial Crisis Network. October 23, 2020. Accessed October 1, 2022. https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/80-million-dark-money-group-tied-to-trump-supreme-court-advisor-leonard-leo/
3. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Rule of Law Trust. Part III, line 1. 2019.
4. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Rule of Law Trust. Part IV, Statement 1, Page 1. 2020.
5. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Rule of Law Trust. Part VII, Section B, 2020.
6. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Rule of Law Trust. Part VII, Section B, 2020.
7. Vorphal, Evan. “Leonard Leo’s Court Capture Web Raised Nearly $600 Million Before Biden Won; Now It’s Spending Untold Millions from Secret Sources to Attack Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson” True North Research. March 22, 2022. Accessed October 1, 2022. https://truenorthresearch.org/2022/03/leonard-leos-court-capture-web-raised-nearly-600-million-before-biden-won-now-its-spending-untold-millions-from-secret-sources-to-attack-judge-ketanji-brown-jackson/
8. Vorphal, Evan. “Leonard Leo’s Court Capture Web Raised Nearly $600 Million Before Biden Won; Now It’s Spending Untold Millions from Secret Sources to Attack Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson” True North Research. March 22, 2022. Accessed October 1, 2022. https://truenorthresearch.org/2022/03/leonard-leos-court-capture-web-raised-nearly-600-million-before-biden-won-now-its-spending-untold-millions-from-secret-sources-to-attack-judge-ketanji-brown-jackson/
9. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Rule of Law Trust. Part VII, Section B, 2020.
10. Maguire, Robert. “$80 million dark money group tied to Trump Supreme Court advisor, Leonard Leo” Judicial Crisis Network. October 23, 2020. Accessed October 1, 2022. https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/80-million-dark-money-group-tied-to-trump-supreme-court-advisor-leonard-leo/
11. “Leonard Leo” Federalist Society. https://fedsoc.org/contributors/leonard-leo
12. Robert O’Harrow Jr. and Shawn Boburg “A conservative activist’s behind-the-scenes campaign to remake the nation’s courts” The Washington Post. May 21, 2019. Accessed October 1, 2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/investigations/leonard-leo-federalists-society-courts/
13. Robert O’Harrow Jr. and Shawn Boburg “A conservative activist’s behind-the-scenes campaign to remake the nation’s courts” The Washington Post. May 21, 2019. Accessed October 1, 2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/investigations/leonard-leo-federalists-society-courts/
14. Rule of Law Trust. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). 2018. Part I, line 8.
15. Rule of Law Trust. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). 2018. Part I, line 18.
16. Rule of Law Trust. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). 2018. Part I, line 22.
17. Rule of Law Trust. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). 2019.Part I, line 8.
18. Rule of Law Trust. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). 2019.Part I, line 10.
19. Rule of Law Trust. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). 2019.Part I, line 18.
20. Rule of Law Trust. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). 2019.Part I, line 22.
21. Rule of Law Trust. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). 2020.Part I, line 8
22. Rule of Law Trust. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). 2020.Part I, line 10.
23. Rule of Law Trust. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). 2020.Part I, line 18.
24. ^[1] Rule of Law Trust. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). 2020.Part I, line 22.