TO DISMANTLE WHITE SUPREMACY, WE MUST FIX THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY
Jump to today’s actions:
Background
As recent white supremaciist violence starkly demonstrated, structural racism permeates society:
Our government, founded by white slaveowners, was constructed to protect white supremacy and the wealthy and powerful.
So was our Constitution and many of our laws.
Our conservative, implicitly-biased judiciary, populated largely by white, male corporate lawyers and prosecutors, perpetuates these interests at the expense of everyone else.
Congress last expanded federal judiciary in 1990. Since then, case filings have risen dramatically—some caseloads by almost 50%—overwhelming judicial branch and causing Judicial Conference to request 5 appellate and 65 district court judgeships and making 8 temporary district court judgeships permanent.
Fixing our democracy requires a holistic approach. Along with passage of HR.1/S.1, Congress must dramatically expand the number of judgeships, and Biden and Senate must commit to confirming demographically and experientially diverse judges who’ve demonstrated commitment to civil and human rights, are fair-minded, and possess a progressive vision of the law—to combat judges’ implicit bias.
Biden can start by filling the 70 open seats—including 10 at appellate level—making courts smarter, fairer, and more diverse. But this is only the beginning. Congress can prioritize federal court expansion starting immediately. There’s no time to waste.
1. Call the Senate.
Script 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].
Our federal judicial system is in crisis—permeated by structural racism, long overdue for major expansion, and in need of judges who, unlike corporate lawyers and prosecutors, understand the impact of the law on all Americans because they have fought for justice and equality, represented plaintiffs, workers, or indigent defendants, or studied the law from these perspectives. Congress must prioritize federal court expansion and recommend and push for judges who will make the courts smarter, fairer, and more diverse. There is no time to waste. Please urge the Judiciary Committee to hold hearings on court expansion.
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].
Our federal judicial system is in crisis—permeated by structural racism, long overdue for major expansion, and in need of judges who, unlike corporate lawyers and prosecutors, understand the impact of the law on all Americans because they have fought for justice and equality, represented plaintiffs, workers, or indigent defendants, or studied the law from these perspectives. Congress must prioritize federal court expansion and recommend and push for judges who will make the courts smarter, fairer, and more diverse. There is no time to waste. Please urge the Judiciary Committee to hold hearings on court expansion.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
Our federal judicial system is in crisis, being crushed by a massive increase in cases caused by Congress’ failure to expand the number of judgeships since 1990. Approving court expansion has always been bipartisan, and this practice must continue. I expect the Senator to accede to the request of the Judicial Conference of the United States and vote for court expansion. Your constituents are watching.
2. 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].
Our federal judicial system is in crisis—permeated by structural racism, long overdue for major expansion, and in need of judges who, unlike corporate lawyers and prosecutors, understand the impact of the law on all Americans because they have fought for justice and equality, represented plaintiffs, workers, or indigent defendants, or studied the law from these perspectives. I urge Congress to prioritize federal court expansion and recommend and push for judges who will make the courts smarter, fairer, and more diverse. There is no time to waste. Please urge the Judiciary Committee to continue its work.
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].
Our federal judicial system is in crisis, being crushed by a massive increase in cases caused by Congress’ failure to expand the number of judgeships since 1990. Approving court expansion has always been bipartisan, and this practice must continue. I expect the Senator to accede to the request of the Judicial Conference of the United States and vote for court expansion. Your constituents are watching.
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].
Our federal judicial system is in crisis—permeated by structural racism, long overdue for major expansion, and in need of judges who, unlike corporate lawyers and prosecutors, understand the impact of the law on all Americans because they have fought for justice and equality, represented plaintiffs, workers, or indigent defendants, or studied the law from these perspectives. I urge Congress to prioritize federal court expansion and recommend and push for judges who will make the courts smarter, fairer, and more diverse. There is no time to waste. Please urge the Judiciary Committee to continue its work.
Script for Peter DeFazio (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].
Our federal judicial system is in crisis—permeated by structural racism, long overdue for major expansion, and in need of judges who, unlike corporate lawyers and prosecutors, understand the impact of the law on all Americans because they have fought for justice and equality, represented plaintiffs, workers, or indigent defendants, or studied the law from these perspectives. I urge Congress to prioritize federal court expansion and recommend and push for judges who will make the courts smarter, fairer, and more diverse. There is no time to waste. Please urge the Judiciary Committee to continue its work.
Script for Kurt Schrader (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].
Our federal judicial system is in crisis—permeated by structural racism, long overdue for major expansion, and in need of judges who, unlike corporate lawyers and prosecutors, understand the impact of the law on all Americans because they have fought for justice and equality, represented plaintiffs, workers, or indigent defendants, or studied the law from these perspectives. I urge Congress to prioritize federal court expansion and recommend and push for judges who will make the courts smarter, fairer, and more diverse. There is no time to waste. Please urge the Judiciary Committee to continue its work.
Action 3 - Help Pass For the People Act in the Senate
Help us mobilize activists in other states to contact their MoCs Senators and urge them to support the For the People Act. We’ll have events at 4p on Friday, March 19th and at noon on Saturday, March 20th. Look for sign-up links on the Indivisible Oregon website and here in Action 3 later in the week.
SOURCES:
25 progressive groups urge Congress to expand number of federal judges
Judiciary Makes the Case for New Judgeships
Bring on the Biden Judges Already
Biden under pressure from progressives as he prepares to pick first judges
Congress Might Actually Expand the Courts
New Research Shows Judges With Corporate Backgrounds More Likely to Rule Against Workers
Implicit Bias Leaves a Lasting Mark on the Federal Judiciary
