They actually thought that unelected judges with life appointments were going to be a force for democracy, not realizing that the Warren and Burger courts were historic anomalies.
They didn't realize that religious fundamentalist whack jobs like Clarence Thomas will 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 "grow in office."
It's incredible, but they actually believed being a judge was inherently liberalizing. I kid you not.