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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!
Supreme Court Hearings Schedule
Supreme Court Hearings Schedule
No update at this time.
Visit our SCOTUS Page for more details. Oral arguments occur at 9AM Central. Listen in here.
Senate Judiciary Committee
Senate Judiciary Committee
The committee met on December 11 and voted to send the following nominees to the full Senate: Nicholas Ganjei to the District Court for the Southern District of Texas (opposed by NCJW), David Clay Fowlkes to the District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, and Aaron Peterson to the District Court for the District of Alaska. Although Nicholas Ganjei was approved along party lines, the other nominees received votes from some of the Democrats on the committee. Ganjei who is a former staff member to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has a long history of affiliation with far-right groups. In what is expected to be the final hearing of the year, the committee will meet on December 17 to question Justin Olson to the District Court for the Southern District of Indiana (opposed by NCJW) who has been touted as a “specialist” in cases of excluding transgender women athletes from school sports, Brian Lea to the District Court for the Western District of Tennessee who defended cuts to NIH; and Judge Megan Benton to the District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
Weekly Wrap Up
Weekly Wrap Up
The 60-vote threshold for breaking a filibuster thwarted the Senate from moving ahead to address the looming crisis in health care costs as Obamacare subsidies expire. But only a simple majority is required to invoke cloture on judicial nominees, so three new Trump-nominated federal district court judges were confirmed this week on party-line votes: Justice Robert Chamberlin to the District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi (51-46); Justice William Crain to the District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (49-46); and James Maxwell to the District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi (51-46). William Crain, a justice on the Louisiana Supreme Court, and Robert Chamberlin, who also serves on his state’s Supreme Court, have especially extreme records when it comes to abortion and other important rights. That brings the total number confirmed in this presidential term to 26. As a reminder, any nominees who are not confirmed at the end of this first session of the 119th Congress (expected to end late next week) will be returned to the White House for renomination.
The US Supreme Court had an active week, too, with cases on campaign finance, the death penalty and intellectual disabilities, and the power of the president to fire members of independent agencies. But when it comes to cases that “capture the clicks” this week, it was lower federal courts that “won the week.” Here’s a look at some of those cases:
Obama-nominated Judge Paula Xinis of the District Court for the District of Maryland released her long-awaited ruling in the Kilmar Abrego Garcia habeas case, requiring his immediate release from immigration detention because he was “redetained, again without lawful authority.” The very next day, Abrego had to appear before ICE and, fearing another detention, his attorneys sought and Judge Xinis issued a temporary restraining order against re-detention. This case continues.
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, in a decision written by Judge John Lee who was nominated by President Obama, blocked the release of hundreds of people held in immigration detention as part of ‘enforcement’ operations in Chicago. However the judge did reject the Trump administration’s interpretation of immigration law leading to mandatory detention and concurred with the district court judge’s restriction against ICE warrantless arrests in Illinois and nearby states
Judge Charles Breyer, a Clinton nominee to the District Court for the Northern District of California, ruled that the Trump administration must end its deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles and return control of the guard to the state of California. He wrote that adopting the Trump administration’s interpretation of the law would, “permit a president to create a perpetual police force comprised of state troops, so long as they were first federalized lawfully.” An appeal is expected.
Headlines
Headlines
(NYTimes) Judge Bove faces ethics complaint for attending Trump rally
(MotherJones) GOP justices are about to hand Trump way more power
(The Hill) Trump blames stalled US attorney nominations on GOP, blue slips
(NYTimes) We’re trying to find a line the Supreme Court won’t cross
(Axios) Trump aides bullish on Supreme Court boosting GOP in the midterms
Special Message For Yearend Giving
Special Message For Yearend Giving
Dear Friends of Courts Matter Illinois,
Thank you for being part of our community to hold our judicial system accountable in keeping our core Constitutional values of liberty, equality and justice at the forefront. Right now, the courts top the news on a daily basis. Rulings from our local circuit and appellate courts to our state supreme courts and all the way up to the federal Supreme Court are impacting the actions of our elected leaders in uncertain ways. Staying informed about the courts and its decisions has never been more important, and in some cases, more confusing. That’s why the work of Courts Matter Illinois (CMIL) is so critical to defend justice for all.
Courts Matter Illinois exists to educate the public and our elected officials about nominees (both elected and appointed) who may sit on our courts, wielding immense power over our everyday lives. We mobilize our communities to speak out and take action on matters involving judicial issues that might otherwise fly under the radar. We are committed to make certain that our courts perform for the benefit of all Americans.
More than ever, we need your help to do this. Please consider making a year-end tax deductible donation in any amount to continue this vital work. Donations (made payable to Courts Matter Illinois) can be mailed to:
Courts Matter Illinois
P.O. Box 607132
1723 W. Devon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60660
These difficult times demand the courts protect our Constitution and laws against egregious actions. Help CMIL educate and grow a network of citizens who value this mission and join us in defending justice! Your contribution will help us succeed.
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