Pipelines to Power: Encouraging Professional Diversity on the Federal Appellate Bench ReportAugust 13, 2020 Pipelines to Power: Encouraging Professional Diversity on the Federal Appellate Bench Policymakers can diversify the federal courts by confirming more lawyers from civil rights and public defender backgrounds to the bench as well as creating pipelines of young attorneys from a range of professions for future judgeships. Aug 13, 2020 Maggie Jo Buchanan
The Need for Supreme Court Term Limits ReportAugust 3, 2020 The Need for Supreme Court Term Limits It is essential to update the rules governing the Supreme Court to better reflect modern life. Aug 3, 2020 Maggie Jo Buchanan
Examining the Demographic Compositions of U.S. Circuit and District Courts ReportFebruary 13, 2020 Examining the Demographic Compositions of U.S. Circuit and District Courts The compositions of the country’s federal courts should better reflect the nation’s increasingly diverse population. Feb 13, 2020 the Democracy and Government Reform Team
Harassment, Accountability, and the Erosion of Judicial Legitimacy ArticleAugust 5, 2019 Harassment, Accountability, and the Erosion of Judicial Legitimacy The U.S. judiciary must address issues of sexual harassment and accountability in order to preserve public faith in its legitimacy. Aug 5, 2019 Nina Reddy
13 Troubling Judicial Nominees You Missed This Year ReportDecember 20, 2018 13 Troubling Judicial Nominees You Missed This Year These 13 nominees may have stayed under the radar, but they are poised to shape the U.S. judiciary branch for decades to come. Dec 20, 2018 Tony Hanna, Abbey Meller
Big Business’s Bonanza Week in the Supreme Court ArticleNovember 2, 2018 Big Business’s Bonanza Week in the Supreme Court The new 5-4 conservative majority is likely to rule against the legal rights of workers and consumers. Nov 2, 2018 Devon Schmidt, Jake Faleschini
Why Courts Matter in the Trump Era VideoMay 7, 2018 Why Courts Matter in the Trump Era The importance of the federal court system becomes increasingly apparent as the Trump administration attacks fundamental American values and protections. May 7, 2018 Jake Faleschini, Meghan Miller, Jasmine Hardy
Senate Confirms Record Number of Judges Despite Concerns About Bias ArticleDecember 14, 2017 Senate Confirms Record Number of Judges Despite Concerns About Bias The Senate will confirm a record number of President Trump’s nominated judges this year, even as Trump withdraws his most extreme nominees. Dec 14, 2017 Billy Corriher
North Carolina’s Attacks on the Courts Lead to Fewer Judges of Color ReportNovember 16, 2017 North Carolina’s Attacks on the Courts Lead to Fewer Judges of Color African American judges have been caught in the crossfire of the North Carolina legislature’s war on the judiciary. Nov 16, 2017 Billy Corriher, Michele L. Jawando, Lukasz Grabowski
Senate Rapidly Confirming Trump Judges Who Want to Limit Marriage Equality ArticleNovember 16, 2017 Senate Rapidly Confirming Trump Judges Who Want to Limit Marriage Equality President Trump has nominated a series of judges whose records suggest a prejudice against LGBTQ people. Nov 16, 2017 Billy Corriher
Trump’s Anti-Worker Judges Will Outlast His Administration ArticleOctober 3, 2017 Trump’s Anti-Worker Judges Will Outlast His Administration As the Supreme Court takes aim at public sector unions, President Trump is nominating judges with a record of putting corporations over workers. Oct 3, 2017 Billy Corriher
How Distorted Districts Lead to Distorted Laws ArticleSeptember 29, 2017 How Distorted Districts Lead to Distorted Laws Legislators are less responsive to the will of the public due to gerrymandering. Sep 29, 2017 Liz Kennedy, Billy Corriher
Senate Republicans Might Kill This Centurylong Tradition to Stack the Courts with Trump’s Nominees VideoSeptember 7, 2017 Senate Republicans Might Kill This Centurylong Tradition to Stack the Courts with Trump’s Nominees The elimination of the blue slip rule would allow President Donald Trump to radically reshape the judiciary. Sep 7, 2017 Anisha Singh, Aki Suzuki, Andrew Satter
President Trump’s Rubber-Stamp Judiciary ArticleAugust 3, 2017 President Trump’s Rubber-Stamp Judiciary The president has a record number of judicial vacancies to fill, and some of his picks come from the fringes of the right wing. Aug 3, 2017 Zachary Winkler
Trump’s Anti-Environment Judicial Nominees Could Lead to Polluted Air and Water ArticleJuly 27, 2017 Trump’s Anti-Environment Judicial Nominees Could Lead to Polluted Air and Water The president is taking his deregulatory agenda to the courts, where his judges will serve much longer than his administration. Jul 27, 2017 Billy Corriher
The Other Terrible Health Care Bill Pending in Congress ReportJuly 20, 2017 The Other Terrible Health Care Bill Pending in Congress A new bill pending in the Senate could make it nearly impossible for injured patients to sue for malpractice. Jul 20, 2017 Billy Corriher
The Not-So-Secret Attack on Our Voting Rights VideoJuly 19, 2017 The Not-So-Secret Attack on Our Voting Rights With voting rights under attack at both the state and national levels, we asked Sarah Audelo of the Alliance for Youth Action and Shaneice Simmons of Rock the Vote to talk about how progressives can fight back to make voting more convenient and accessible. Jul 19, 2017 Andrew Satter, Raman Preet Kaur
A New Missouri Law Creates Steep Hurdles to Discrimination Lawsuits ArticleJuly 12, 2017 A New Missouri Law Creates Steep Hurdles to Discrimination Lawsuits A new state law will make it harder to hold bosses and landlords—including the bill’s sponsor—accountable for violating civil rights. Jul 12, 2017 Billy Corriher
When It Comes to U.S. Attorneys, All Americans Need a Seat at the Table ArticleJune 22, 2017 When It Comes to U.S. Attorneys, All Americans Need a Seat at the Table Senators should demand diverse nominees for vacant U.S. attorney positions. Jun 22, 2017 Raman Preet Kaur
President Trump’s Proposed Cuts to the Legal Services Corporation Would Increase the Justice Gap ArticleMay 17, 2017 President Trump’s Proposed Cuts to the Legal Services Corporation Would Increase the Justice Gap Instead of trying to cut legal aid, President Trump should be investing in it. May 17, 2017 Catherine Ray
Trump Vetting Extremist Judges to Fill Record Number of Empty Seats ArticleApril 27, 2017 Trump Vetting Extremist Judges to Fill Record Number of Empty Seats The president already has 127 seats to fill on the federal courts, and his first nominees are conservative ideologues. Apr 27, 2017 Billy Corriher
Gorsuch Signals an Extreme Threat to LGBT Rights ArticleMarch 24, 2017 Gorsuch Signals an Extreme Threat to LGBT Rights Neil Gorsuch’s refusal to recognize LGBT people as a class during his confirmation hearing could signal a threat to the future of LGBT equality. Mar 24, 2017 Sharita Gruberg, Rebecca Buckwalter-Poza
5 Ways the Nomination of Neil Gorsuch Threatens Women’s Rights ArticleMarch 23, 2017 5 Ways the Nomination of Neil Gorsuch Threatens Women’s Rights Neil Gorsuch’s views would undermine women’s equality and put critical protections at risk. Mar 23, 2017 Jocelyn Frye, Michele L. Jawando
Judge Gorsuch Threatens the Dignity of LGBT People ArticleMarch 20, 2017 Judge Gorsuch Threatens the Dignity of LGBT People The constitutional right to dignity is critical to LGBT people. Gorsuch is likely to reject that right. Mar 20, 2017 Rebecca Buckwalter-Poza
Trump’s Supreme Court Nominee Puts the Rights of Corporations over Individuals ReportMarch 13, 2017 Trump’s Supreme Court Nominee Puts the Rights of Corporations over Individuals Judge Neil Gorsuch has a record of ruling in favor of big business, and he joined the first federal court ruling that allowed a for-profit corporation to claim a right to exercise religion. Mar 13, 2017 Billy Corriher
Senate Must Demand Answers About Gorsuch’s Work for Scandal-Plagued Department of Justice ArticleMarch 10, 2017 Senate Must Demand Answers About Gorsuch’s Work for Scandal-Plagued Department of Justice President Trump’s U.S. Supreme Court nominee worked at the Department of Justice at a time when its lawyers fired prosecutors for political reasons and authorized torture by the executive branch. Mar 10, 2017 Billy Corriher, Michele L. Jawando
Unfairness in Class Action: A New Attack on Civil Rights ArticleMarch 6, 2017 Unfairness in Class Action: A New Attack on Civil Rights Congress and the Trump administration do not just want to cut funding for civil legal aid. They are trying to make it more difficult for Americans to pursue justice altogether. Mar 6, 2017 Rebecca Buckwalter-Poza
Our Courts Matter for the Muslim Community ArticleFebruary 13, 2017 Our Courts Matter for the Muslim Community The courts are a critical independent check on this unpredictable and dangerous administration’s attack on the Muslim community. Feb 13, 2017 Anisha Singh, Billy Corriher
President Trump’s Attacks on the Courts Show the Need for an Independent Supreme Court Nominee with Bipartisan Support ArticleFebruary 8, 2017 President Trump’s Attacks on the Courts Show the Need for an Independent Supreme Court Nominee with Bipartisan Support The president has repeatedly disrespected federal judges whose rulings he does not like. Feb 8, 2017 Michele L. Jawando, Billy Corriher
Neil Gorsuch Would Be a Dream Justice for Corporations Suing the Government ArticleFebruary 1, 2017 Neil Gorsuch Would Be a Dream Justice for Corporations Suing the Government Judge Gorsuch argues that unelected judges should have more power to overturn regulations that protect the environment. Feb 1, 2017 Billy Corriher
5 Things You Need to Know About Judge Gorsuch VideoFebruary 1, 2017 5 Things You Need to Know About Judge Gorsuch President Donald Trump has nominated Judge Neil Gorsuch to fill the currently vacant seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. Here are five things you need to know about Judge Gorsuch. Feb 1, 2017 Andrew Satter, Aki Suzuki, Billy Corriher, 1 More Jake Faleschini
Trump Promised that His Supreme Court Nominee Would Rule Against Women’s Reproductive Rights ArticleJanuary 31, 2017 Trump Promised that His Supreme Court Nominee Would Rule Against Women’s Reproductive Rights President Trump has repeatedly said that his Supreme Court justice would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. Jan 31, 2017 Michele L. Jawando
Deregulation Nation: Congress Wants to Let Corporations Take Charge ArticleJanuary 27, 2017 Deregulation Nation: Congress Wants to Let Corporations Take Charge Congress is not only trying to remove vital federal regulations that protect Americans and their interests from big businesses, but also block agencies from making new ones. Jan 27, 2017 Rebecca Buckwalter-Poza
Big-Money Courts Decide Fate of Local Fracking Rules ReportJanuary 9, 2017 Big-Money Courts Decide Fate of Local Fracking Rules As states battle with municipalities over fracking regulations, oil and gas companies are spending big to elect the courts and legislatures that define the scope of local authority. Jan 9, 2017 Billy Corriher
Dirty Money, Dirty Water II VideoJanuary 9, 2017 Dirty Money, Dirty Water II The Ohio Supreme Court ruled that municipalities cannot regulate fracking waste, but many of the justices who made this decision received large campaign contributions from fracking companies and fossil fuel interests. Jan 9, 2017 Billy Corriher, Lauren Malkani
5 Things You Need to Know About Sen. Jeff Sessions VideoJanuary 3, 2017 5 Things You Need to Know About Sen. Jeff Sessions Here are five things that Americans need to know about attorney general nominee Sen. Jeff Sessions. Jan 3, 2017 Andrew Satter, Billy Corriher, Jake Faleschini
The Million Dollar Judges of 2015-16: Independent Spending and Secret Money ArticleDecember 19, 2016 The Million Dollar Judges of 2015-16: Independent Spending and Secret Money This year’s judicial elections saw nearly $20 million in spending, and organizations funded by secret money played an important role. Dec 19, 2016 Billy Corriher
Making Justice Equal ReportDecember 8, 2016 Making Justice Equal Promoting equal, meaningful access to legal representation in the U.S. justice system is critical to ending poverty, combating discrimination, and creating opportunity. Dec 8, 2016 Rebecca Buckwalter-Poza
Redistricting and Representation ReportDecember 5, 2016 Redistricting and Representation Manipulated election maps undermine the basic tenets of healthy democracy, including fair representation and government accountability. Redistricting procedures should be reformed to ensure a system of representative politics. Dec 5, 2016 Liz Kennedy, Billy Corriher, Danielle Root
This Election Day, Americans Cannot Afford to Take a Seat ArticleOctober 27, 2016 This Election Day, Americans Cannot Afford to Take a Seat Divisive rhetoric harms many diverse groups—including women, Muslims, and those perceived to be Muslim—and Americans must use their vote to speak up. Oct 27, 2016 Anisha Singh
Preventing Problems at the Polls: Pennsylvania ReportOctober 27, 2016 Preventing Problems at the Polls: Pennsylvania Recent political rhetoric has raised the potential for disruptions at the polls in Pennsylvania. The state’s antiquated election laws should provide stronger protections for voters, but the Pennsylvania Department of State has issued guidance clarifying rules for voter intimidation and behavior at the polls. Here are some things to watch out for. Oct 27, 2016 Billy Corriher, Liz Kennedy
Elected Judges Rule Against LGBT Rights More Often Than Appointed Judges ArticleOctober 13, 2016 Elected Judges Rule Against LGBT Rights More Often Than Appointed Judges A recent study shows that elected judges are more likely to rule against LGBT rights, as illustrated by the recently terminated political career of an Alabama judge. Oct 13, 2016 Billy Corriher
House Committee Ignores States’ Rights by Interfering with Exxon Mobil Climate Denial Probe ArticleSeptember 14, 2016 House Committee Ignores States’ Rights by Interfering with Exxon Mobil Climate Denial Probe State attorneys general are investigating Exxon Mobil for fraud—if members of the House science committee do not stand in their way. Sep 14, 2016 Billy Corriher
Big Business Is Still Dominating State Supreme Courts ReportSeptember 1, 2016 Big Business Is Still Dominating State Supreme Courts Many of the state supreme courts that have seen the most campaign cash—Ohio, Alabama, Texas, and Michigan—have voted more often for corporate defendants and against injured workers, consumers, and patients. Sep 1, 2016 Billy Corriher
State or Federal Court? Fact SheetAugust 8, 2016 State or Federal Court? A guide to distinguish the differences and similarities between state and federal courts, and explain the challenges that exist for both court systems’ processes. Aug 8, 2016 Anisha Singh, Billy Corriher
The Need for a Reflective Judiciary Demands a Return to Normal Order ArticleJuly 15, 2016 The Need for a Reflective Judiciary Demands a Return to Normal Order Fifty-two federal judicial nominees are currently waiting for Senate action, underscoring congressional gridlock and the need to put people before politics. Jul 15, 2016 Danyelle Solomon, Michele L. Jawando
Mitch McConnell: A Legacy of Obstruction ArticleJuly 14, 2016 Mitch McConnell: A Legacy of Obstruction Inaction and obstruction by the Sen. McConnell-led Senate has delayed justice for millions of Americans. Jul 14, 2016 Anisha Singh, Nathaniel Glynn
Justice Still Waits: The Nondecisions of an 8-Justice Supreme Court ArticleJuly 7, 2016 Justice Still Waits: The Nondecisions of an 8-Justice Supreme Court The judicial vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court has dramatically hindered the Court’s ability to make meaningful decisions on key issues, and an obstructionist Senate is to blame. Jul 7, 2016 Abby Bar-Lev Wiley