Congress Must Challenge “Judge Shopping” And Restore Judicial Legitimacy
“Judge Shopping” Is Undermining Public Interests: Random Selections of Judges Nationwide Is Essential To Democracy
QUICK READ: The GOP’s practice of “judge shopping” undermines public interests and invalidates judicial legitimacy. We must compel district courts either to change their own rules about judge distribution or have Congress step in with legislation requiring a random selection of judges nationwide.
CONTENTS:
BACKGROUND
The GOP’s nefarious practice of “judge shopping” to systematically replace the Biden agenda with conservative and religious dogma undermines public interests and invalidates judicial legitimacy.
Judge shopping entails filing cases in state districts wherein one can predict precisely which judge will hear a case. For example, Republican Attorney Generals have repeatedly filed multistate cases in Amarillo, Texas because they know that anti-LGBTQ activist and culture warrior Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk will be selected to preside over cases concerning immigration policy, LGBTQ discrimination laws, abortion access, student loan debt relief, federal Covid mandates, and more.
One such case concerns FDA approval of mifepristone, a key element long used for medical abortions as well as certain cancers and life-threatening conditions that disproportionately affect women. Despite decades of safety evidence, Kacsmaryk alone will make a decision for the nation any day now.
According to Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, “[y]ou’ve got this one judge making a mockery of the rule of law, stomping all over the privacy rights of millions of American women….This is all about hot-wiring the system in order to produce an anti-abortion ruling — which is what [Kacsmaryk’s] whole career has been about.”
We cannot allow the GOP to undermine the legitimacy of the justice system. District courts must either change their own rules about random judge distribution or Congress must legislate such practice.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. We cannot allow the GOP to undermine the legitimacy of the justice system. District courts must either change their own rules about random judge distribution or Congress must legislate such practice.
SEN. WYDEN: Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. We cannot allow the GOP to undermine the legitimacy of the justice system. District courts must either change their own rules about random judge distribution or Congress must legislate such practice.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. We cannot allow the GOP to undermine the legitimacy of the justice system. District courts must either change their own rules about random judge distribution or Congress must legislate such practice.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. We cannot allow the GOP to undermine the legitimacy of the justice system. District courts must either change their own rules about random judge distribution or Congress must legislate such practice.
Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. We cannot allow the GOP to undermine the legitimacy of the justice system. District courts must either change their own rules about random judge distribution or Congress must legislate such practice.
Script for Val Hoyle (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. We cannot allow the GOP to undermine the legitimacy of the justice system. District courts must either change their own rules about random judge distribution or Congress must legislate such practice.
Script for Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05)
Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. We cannot allow the GOP to undermine the legitimacy of the justice system. District courts must either change their own rules about random judge distribution or Congress must legislate such practice.
Script for Andrea Salinas (OR-06)
Salem office: 503-385-0906 | DC office: 202-225-5643
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. We cannot allow the GOP to undermine the legitimacy of the justice system. District courts must either change their own rules about random judge distribution or Congress must legislate such practice.
