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Courts Matter Illinois is a coalition of diverse organizations and individuals working to ensure a federal judiciary comprised of judges committed to upholding constitutional values. Our judicial systems at the state and federal levels are a vital part of the checks and balances defending people’s rights. Federal and state judges -- appointed and elected -- make decisions about every aspect of our lives. From the quality of the air we breathe and water we drink, to our consumer protections, reproductive rights, and who we can marry: Courts Matter!
Senate Judiciary Committee Update
Senate Judiciary Committee Update
With the cancellation (delay?) of the committee vote on the Blanche nomination that had been scheduled for July 30, the committee isn’t planning to meet again until August 5 for a hearing featuring Judge Anna St. John to the Fifth Circuit Court and Judge Gregory Cook for the District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.
If the undecided Republican senators are placated sufficiently to support Todd Blanche, a vote could be slotted within the week leading to cloture and a final vote at the earliest over the weekend. Otherwise, the committee isn’t expected to meet again until after the Senate recess in mid-September.
Supreme Court Hearings Conclude for 2025-26 Term; Read Our SCOTUS Term Wrap Up
Supreme Court Hearings Conclude for 2025-26 Term; Read Our SCOTUS Term Wrap Up
As of the end of April, the Supreme Court concluded its hearings of oral arguments for the 2025-26 term. Read our special end-of-term review of the final decisions!
Visit our SCOTUS Page for more details.
When oral arguments resume in the next term they will continue to occur at 9AM Central. Always listen in here.
Weekly Wrap Up: As of Aug. 1;
Weekly Wrap Up: As of Aug. 1;
On Haitus Until Mid-Sept.
On Haitus Until Mid-Sept.
In an institution as entrenched and seemingly predictable as the US Senate, every once in a while there are last-minute unexpected occurrences. That’s what happened in front of the Senate Homeland Security Committee where Dr. Anthony Fauci, whom many consider a hero thanks to his leadership during the COVID pandemic, invoked the Fifth Amendment to avoid self-incrimination.
It is also what happened in the confirmation process for Todd Blanche, nominee to US Attorney General. On July 29, the day before his nomination was set to be approved (or not!) in the Senate Judiciary Committee, the committee vote was canceled.
It seems that conversations with two undecided Republican senators, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), has not resulted in the outcome committee Chair Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) needed to ensure Blanche would get the votes to send his nomination to the full Senate.
With the Senate set to go out on an extended recess, this delay does not bode well for the nomination, but the “negotiations” are ongoing. President Trump has threatened to pull the nomination and reintroduce it during the “lame duck” Senate after the November election. This adds another pressure point on the talks which might encourage some kind of agreement that wins over Sens. Cornyn and Tillis.
In that case, we could have a vote scheduled within the week in committee, followed by a floor vote over the weekend. (It is worth noting that senators are more excited about going home than they are about having to cast a vote on the Blanche nomination, so stay tuned!)
Our next update will be published in mid-September.
Headlines
Headlines
(ProPublica) Federal judges chastise Trump’s Justice Department for “unlawful” “unethical”
(Slate) The Supreme Court’s biggest case of the term shows popular constitutionalism in action
(Federalist Society) Lindsey Graham and the judiciary (Video)
(the Hill) Blanche test is a red alert moment for the rule of law
Doing Nothing is Not Acceptable
Doing Nothing is Not Acceptable
Courts Matter Illinois Chair Carole Levine shares her framework for coming off the sidelines and making change through our "superpowers." Read her blog post here.
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