Legal Progress

Legal Progress is the legal policy program at the Center for American Progress. No matter the issue—health care, immigration, marriage equality, offshore oil drilling, privacy, ethics—the judiciary will continue to play an increasingly important role in the lives of hardworking Americans as well as in the success of the progressive legislative agenda. Through legal and policy analysis, communications and public education and convening key stakeholders, Legal Progress is helping to push the American legal system in a more progressive direction and educate the public about the impact of the courts on issues they care most about.

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State and Federal Courts: The Last Stand in Voting Rights Report
Representatives from the NAACP Legal Defense Fund stand outside the Supreme Court in Washington, on Tuesday, June 25, as the Supreme Court considers <em>Shelby County v. Holder</em>, a voting rights case in Alabama. (AP/J. Scott Applewhite)

State and Federal Courts: The Last Stand in Voting Rights

The Supreme Court’s ruling in Shelby County v. Holder means that courts will play an even more important role in protecting the right to vote.

Andrew Blotky, Billy Corriher

Marriage Equality and the Supreme Court Report
With the Capitol in the background, supporters of gay marriage carry signs in front of the Supreme Court before the Court heard arguments on the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA. (AP/Carolyn Kaster)

Marriage Equality and the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court’s rulings on two marriage equality cases have widespread implications for the future of LGBT rights.

Crosby Burns, Joshua Field

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. (AP/Paul Sakuma)

No Justice for the Injured

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.

Billy Corriher

The Million Dollar Judges of 2012 Report
Don Willett, foreground, speaks after Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R), right, announced that Willett was named to the Texas Supreme Court on Wednesday, August 24, 2005, in Austin, Texas. (AP/Harry Cabluck)

The Million Dollar Judges of 2012

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.

Billy Corriher

Public Financing of Judicial Races Can Give Small Donors a Decisive Role Report
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts speaks to students and faculty at the Northwestern University School of Law in 2007. Justice Roberts in 2011 ruled that matching funds, which even the score between publicly and privately financed campaigns, violated the First Amendment rights of privately funded candidates. (AP/M. Spencer Green)

Public Financing of Judicial Races Can Give Small Donors a Decisive Role

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.

Billy Corriher

Strong Recusal Rules Are Crucial to Judicial Integrity Report
Acting Chief Justice Brent Benjamin, left, and Judge Fred Fox listen to arguments in a rehearing of a $76 million judgment awarded to Harman Mining Co. against Massey Energy Co. before the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals at the West Virginia State Capitol Complex in Charleston, West Virginia, Wednesday, March 12, 2008. (AP/Bob Bird)

Strong Recusal Rules Are Crucial to Judicial Integrity

Mandatory recusal rules would go a long way toward ensuring citizens that judges and by extension, justices, can be bought.

Billy Corriher

Federal Judicial Emergencies Report

Federal Judicial Emergencies

Andrew Blotky and Sandhya Bathija on the state of judicial emergencies in the nation.

Andrew Blotky, Sandhya Bathija

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