The real power behind the U.S. Supreme Court isn’t Chief Justice John Roberts. It’s a man who has never been elected or appointed, who most people have never heard of.

His name is Leonard Leo and he is the most powerful private citizen in America.

Leo is a conservative lawyer and legal activist, as well as a leader in the Federalist Society — a wildly powerful organization of conservative lawyers, judges, politicians, government officials, legal scholars, and law students.

Leo helped shape the case to appoint Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. Later, he compiled a list of potential Supreme Court nominees to help Donald Trump get points with conservative and evangelical voters. All three of the justices appointed during that time — who went on to overturn Roe v. Wade — were on Leo’s list. 

Today Leo focuses on manipulating elections by pushing a fringe legal theory that would make it impossible for state courts to block gerrymandered maps or voter suppression tactics. 

Leo has gained so much power and influence while hiding in the shadows. We’re shining a spotlight on his work to break the American legal system and politicize the U.S. Supreme Court.