Washington (CNN) White House Counsel Don McGahn reconnected with his raison d'être on Wednesday, after Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement.

More than once in the last several months, McGahn has thought about leaving his job, sources say, out of exhaustion from the perpetual grind of an unprecedented White House.

But one issue in particular -- some might call it a mission -- has motivated him to stay: judges.

In the early days of Trump's campaign, McGahn began an effort to reshape the federal judiciary. He's dedicated himself not only to the Supreme Court, but to lower courts as well. Working with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, unprecedented numbers of judges have been confirmed.

The effort has paid off. The Trump administration had a banner week in the courts. With the addition of President Donald Trump's first nominee, Neil Gorsuch, conservatives won over a dozen 5-4 cases at the Supreme Court this term. The President faced sweet vindication when a 5-4 majority reversed a lower court and upheld his travel ban. A federal appeals court scaled back a broad injunction in a case concerning sanctuary cities.

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