At the LWVUS 2024 Convention, delegates voted overwhelmingly to proceed with a study on the federal judiciary. Our goal is to develop a position that outlines the values the League of Women Voters should use in evaluating proposed changes to policies, laws, and regulations about the federal judiciary. The study's purpose includes addressing concerns and clarifying judicial accountability, transparency, independence, and ethics. The scope addresses the Supreme Court as well as the other federal courts.
The Federal Justice study will be completed on a fast-track timeline in time for a position to be announced at the LWVUS 2025 Council in June 2025.
The Federal Judiciary Study Committee prepared a series of briefs on particular, specific topics designed to help spark discussion among League members as we work toward a LWVUS position on the federal judiciary.
LWVDV members: See the email updates about the Federal Judiciary Study to view the study materials and read the summary notes from each of our weekly meetings.
Here are the scheduled meetings for LWVDV to discuss the topics and come up with a consensus.
- Monday, February 10, 2025 (Completed)
- (1) Common Terms
- (2) Financial Disclosure
- Tuesday, February 18, 2025 (Completed)
- (3) Judicial Ethics & Enforcement
- Monday, February 24, 2025 (Completed)
- (4) Recusal
- (5) Stare Decisis and Binding Precedent
- Monday, March 3, 2025 (4-5:30 pm, Zoom)
- (6) Structural Reforms for the US Supreme Court
- Monday, March 10, 2025 (4-5:30 pm, Zoom)
- (7) Shadow Docket
- (8) Judge Shopping
- Tuesday, March 18, 2025 (4-5:30 pm, Zoom)
- (9) Legitimacy & the US Supreme Court
- (10) Judicial Representation
Once LWVDV has completed the consensus process, the team will complete the survey report and submit it to LWVUS by the April 14, 2025 deadline.
If you have questions regarding this process or the study material content, you are welcome to contact shawn [at] lwvdv.org (subject: Judiciary%20study) (Shawn Gilbert) or ana [at] lwvdv.org (subject: Judiciary%20study) (Ana Pan).
