As a second Trump administration approaches, we’re running out of time to confirm as many federal judges as possible to provide a check on his presidential power and curb his stated policy priorities.
There are 40 federal judicial vacancies and 16 nominations before the Senate right now—as our civil rights hang in the balance, take action now!
During its 2015-2016 Term, the Supreme Court heard a number of blockbuster cases affecting women’s rights, making critical rulings on abortion, affirmative action, immigration, and anti-discrimination protections, among other key issues. The Court’s Term was marked by the loss of Justice Antonin Scalia in February. Although President Obama nominated Merrick Garland, Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, to the Supreme Court in March, Republican leaders in the U.S. Senate have thus far refused to move forward on his nomination. As a result, the shorthanded Court was unable to resolve a number of cases, rendering decisions that leave, in some cases, a patchwork of laws across the country. Thus, although several of the Court’s decisions represent tremendous victories for women and girls, those victories are tempered by other decisions in which the impact of a Court operating at less than full strength was apparent.
To read the amicus briefs that the Center wrote or joined in the 2015-2016 term, follow the below links:
