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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
Senate Judiciary Committee
At the June 10 hearing, nominees used a new formulation for their evasive answers to questions about who won the 2020 election.
Michael Martin, nominee to the District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, when asked by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) about the winner of the election, said “as a matter of law, Joe Biden won…”
This new script was also followed by Angela Colmenero who is a nominee to the District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Also appearing at the hearing were: Judge Daniel Traynor, nominee to the Eighth Circuit Court: Kasdin Mitchell to the District Court for the Northern District of Texas; and Antonia Pozos to the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) was the first Senate Democrat to return a blue slip on a nominee in the second Trump term. Shortly thereafter both Democratic Michigan senators Gary Peters and Elise Slotkin returned their blue slips for Michael Martin who has a very troubling record of partisanship.
The mark-up scheduled for June 11 (rescheduled from June 4) is now set for June 18. Votes will be taken in committee on: Jeffrey Kuntz to the District Court for the Southern District of Florida; Mike Hendershot to the District Court for the Northern District of Ohio; and John Marck and Arthur “Rob” Jones to the District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
Two circuit court nominees, Benjamin Flowers to the Sixth Circuit Court and Matthew Schwartz to the Second Circuit Court, opposed by Courts Matter Illinois, are also expected to be included.
Save the Date July 6 at 11AM CT and Register for Webinar on Blockbuster SCOTUS Cases
Save the Date July 6 at 11AM CT and Register for Webinar on Blockbuster SCOTUS Cases
Join our national partner National Council of Jewish Women on July 6 at 11am CT (12PM ET) for “Gavel Down: The Supreme Court’s Biggest Cases of the 2025-2026 Term.”
Dahlia Lithwick, award-winning legal journalist, longtime Supreme Court correspondent for Slate, and host of the acclaimed Amicus podcast will help us break down the blockbuster cases shaping the country’s future — from reproductive freedom and executive power to lgbtq rights and the limits of federal authority.
Together, we’ll explore how the Court’s rulings will impact our rights and communities, what these decisions signal about the direction of the Court, and what advocates, organizers, and everyday people should be prepared for in the months and years ahead.
This conversation will provide both clarity and context at a pivotal moment for the nation, helping us understand not only what the Court decides, but what those decisions mean for our democracy, institutions, and daily lives. Register here.
Supreme Court Hearings Conclude for 2025-26 Term; Stay Tuned for Decision Updates
Supreme Court Hearings Conclude for 2025-26 Term; Stay Tuned for Decision Updates
As of the end of April, the Supreme Court concluded its hearings of oral arguments for the 2025-26 term. Stay tuned for updates on rulings and decisions from SCOTUS that Courts Matter Illinois will be monitoring.
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 June 12
Weekly Wrap Up: As of June 12
There are certainly winners and losers in the process of confirming nominees who will sit in lifetime seats on the federal court. But the impact of the Senate’s action goes far beyond the individuals under consideration.
Just take a look at how federal judges are ruling on Trump administration policies, making decisions that impact every aspect of our lives. Alarmingly, the Senate is plowing ahead and confirming extreme, partisan nominees who do not pass the independence test (which is likely how they got the nod to begin with).
The Senate confirmed two very troubling nominees to lifetime seats on the District Court for the District of Kansas: Tony Mattivi (51-46) and Anthony Powell (50-44); and invoked cloture on Justin Smith to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals (47-43) whose final vote will take place on June 15.
Maybe these nominees are the “winners” but there’s no doubt who the losers will be!
Headlines
Headlines
(Guardian) ‘I love you sir:’ Todd Blanche devoted Trump enforcer, tapped to do his bidding
(NPR) Federal judges face scrutiny after alleged misconduct in three states
(The Hill) 35 former judges can’t all be wrong about Trump’s fraudulent self-settlement
(Bulwark) Dems see a major Black voter backlash to SCOTUS
(NBCNews) Meet the judges powering Trump’s deportation machine
Separation of Church and State at Risk in the Courts
Separation of Church and State at Risk in the Courts
Courts Matter Illinois Chair and Co-Founder Carole Levine ponders the risks of a recent state court ruling in Texas that blurs the line between religious freedom and public education. Read her latest blog post, "The Ten," here.
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