Washington, D.C. – The Center for American Progress and the Brennan Center for Justice will co-host a virtual discussion on Thursday, July 14, on opportunities for structural reform of the U.S. Supreme Court—and federal courts more generally—with two esteemed members of the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States.
Sherrilyn Ifill, law professor and former president and director-counsel of NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and Michael Waldman, president of the Brennan Center for Justice, will discuss the damage that the newly emboldened extremist right-wing majority on the high court is inflicting on the rights, laws, and precedents that have been the cornerstone of our civil society for decades. And they will explore a range of near-term and long-term solutions that could curb the court’s power to restrict these freedoms. They will draw on their experience serving on the presidential commission, which provided expert analysis on the merits and legality of Supreme Court reform proposals, including the possibility of term limits, a binding code of ethics, increased transparency, and other changes.
The discussion comes after the court issued a string of far-reaching decisions this term that rolled back long-held rights and protections that most Americans take for granted. Because of the court’s recent actions, millions of women will lose access to abortion. States will have fewer tools to reign in gun violence. Americans’ very ability to breathe clean air and combat the growing destruction of extreme weather is in danger. With these and other risks to their lives now clear, Americans are asking loudly what can be done to fight back against this radical Supreme Court majority.
WHO:
Panelists:
Sherrilyn Ifill, Professor of Law; former President and Director-Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense Fund
Michael Waldman, President, Brennan Center for Justice
Introductory remarks:
Patrick Gaspard, President and CEO, Center for American Progress
Moderator:
Laura Coates, Senior Legal Analyst, CNN, host of The Laura Coates Show on Sirius XM POTUS 124, and author of “Just Pursuit: A Black Prosecutor’s Fight for Fairness.”
WHEN:
Thursday, July 14, 2022
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. ET
WHERE:
You must RSVP at this link to watch the livestream event.
If you have questions for our panel, please submit them on Zoom during the event or via email.
For more information, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected]