Judicial Overreach to Redefine Presidential Power
Last week’s decision on recess appointments by three Republican-appointed judges on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals proves there’s another battle worth waging: over the confirmation of judges to that court.
No Justice for the Injured
Report
An analysis of state supreme court rulings shows that an influx of corporate campaign cash is influencing judges to rule against those injured while on the job or by business entities such as hospitals.
5 Reasons Why Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act Enhances Our Democracy
Issue Brief
Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act has protected our right to vote and is needed to continue building a diverse electorate that includes all Americans.
NRA Working to Elect Pro-Gun Judges and Prosecutors
Using a front group, the NRA has spent millions of dollars to influence the elections of state supreme court judges and attorneys general nationwide.
Campaign Finance Laws Fail as Corporate Money Floods Judicial Races
Report
This compilation of recent reports describes the distorting influence of campaign cash and suggests policy solutions to mitigate these problems.
The Million Dollar Judges of 2012
Issue Brief
Billy Corriher looks at the judges who won elections in 2012 while raising roughly $1 million or more, as well as those who had more than $1 million spent on their behalf by independent groups.
Public Financing of Judicial Races Can Give Small Donors a Decisive Role
Issue Brief
Public financing programs can drastically limit the opportunity for lawyers, corporations, or others to influence the law through campaign contributions, and can make smaller donors more important to the process.
Strong Recusal Rules Are Crucial to Judicial Integrity
Issue Brief
Mandatory recusal rules would go a long way toward ensuring citizens that judges and by extension, justices, can be bought.
Same-Sex Couples and the Supreme Court: What to Expect in the Coming Weeks
The Court’s potential decision to review the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act and California’s Proposition 8 will impact thousands of same-sex couples nationwide.
Federal Judicial Emergencies
Issue Brief
Andrew Blotky and Sandhya Bathija on the state of judicial emergencies in the nation.
Infographic: An Easy Guide to Federal Judicial Nominations
Most Americans don't know how or why a federal judge is chosen. This infographic outlines the federal judicial nomination process step by step.
Merit Selection and Retention Elections Keep Judges Out of Politics
A CAP Action report explains why merit-selection systems and retention elections are a good way to keep judges free from politicization of elections.
Partisan Judicial Elections and the Distorting Influence of Campaign Cash
Issue Brief
Reasonable minds can differ over whether to elect judges, but it is clear that electing judges in partisan elections leads to a myriad of problems.
Disclosure Laws Needed to Ensure Transparency in Judicial Elections
Issue Brief
Disclosure laws for corporation and individual donations to judicial elections allow voters to know who's spending money on electing certain judges—and whose side those judges will be on in trial.
Why Courts Matter: Reproductive Rights
Issue Brief
When it comes to issues of women’s rights and health, the federal judiciary will continue to play an instrumental role, and we must actively engage in shaping its composition.