Combatting damaging right-wing court capture to restore progressive federal courts.
WHAT WE DO
The Committee for a Fair Judiciary (CFJ) fights to confirm diverse and progressive federal judges to counter illegitimate right-wing dominated courts.
Staffed by founder Robert Raben and members of The Raben Group who have worked on the composition of the federal courts at every level of government and advocacy, CFJ has deep relationships with Democratic Senate leadership, senators on and off the Senate Judiciary Committee, and key Administration officials.
By bringing influential progressive leaders together directly with Senators and other policymakers for candid two-way conversations, CFJ brings all players into the campaign for a people’s judiciary, one that looks like America and protects us all.
HOW WE WORK
Cultivate, prepare and mobilize key progressive leaders-- grasstops-- facilitating candid, impactful communication with influential Senators and high-ranking Administration officials.
Work with progressive grassroots movement organizations that need to engage more directly on the courts or more effectively reach Senators, policymakers, and other key stakeholders.
Work hand in hand with the civil rights and legal policy organizations that have traditionally been the backbone of progressive organizing around the courts to ensure that grasstops and Senators have the benefit of their knowledge and expertise.
WHY NOW
The Biden-Harris Administration has an extraordinary opportunity.
There is an urgent need to restore balance and address the crisis of confidence that has overtaken our federal courts. The Supreme Court ethics scandals have brought renewed focus to addressing the deep imbalance and corruption that plague our nation’s highest court. And recent rulings in Texas, for example, outline what we already know - Trump-confirmed judges are using their position on the bench to strip rights for people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, women, and immigrants.
Restoring balance to the federal courts is essential to protecting a host of issues the courts touch, including: immigration, abortion, affirmative action, democracy, the environment, gun reform, healthcare, and LGBTQ+ equality.
WHAT IS NEEDED
The Biden administration and Democratic Majority in the U.S. Senate have made significant progress putting progressive, diverse judges on the Federal bench with the confirmation to date (May 31, 2023) of 128 judicial nominees to Federal circuit (34) and district (94) courts, along with the nomination and confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court.
To get from good to great in the next year and a half, the Senate must fill every possible judicial vacancy, including in states with one or two Republican Senators. Accelerating efforts to build a diverse and progressive federal bench requires an aligned and strategic effort by the Administration, Democratic senators, and allies who understand the impact of the courts on individual rights, democracy, and economic justice.
This means that the White House must nominate judges and the Senate must address the barriers to advancing judicial nominees, including attendance at Senate Judiciary Committee meetings and the fight over President Biden’s ability to confirm judges in states with Republican senators.