New LWVUS Study on the Federal Judiciary
- deborahshefler
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
By Helen Hutchison, Interim Executive Director, LWVC
At the LWVUS Convention last spring, delegates adopted, i.e., voted to conduct, a new study of the federal judiciary. The League advocates only on issues on which it has developed a "position" through study. While we have longstanding positions on the presidency and Congress, we have not had a position on the judiciary.
Legislators and some of our partner organizations have been discussing potential changes to the judiciary. The LWVUS has been invited to join these discussions, but without a position from which to act, we are stymied. Because the League’s voice could be influential in shaping potential changes, we adopted this study.
The charge to the study committee was two-fold: create study material and consensus questions for local Leagues – standard League study process and material – and do this in a more streamlined fashion than past League studies.
I was privileged to be a part of the study committee, seven League members from around the country. The committee developed study material addressing some of the most controversial issues facing the judiciary. These policy briefs were designed to help promote discussion.
In a League study, League members around the country participate in discussion and respond to consensus questions. The League then uses answers to these questions to craft a League position. League positions that are the most useful – that provide the foundation for productive League advocacy, and stand the test of time – are based on principles rather than on responses to individual issues. The Federal Judiciary Study Committee wrote consensus questions based on principles the League should apply in evaluating proposals for changes to the judiciary.
Based on our experience in Oakland, and the feedback provided by Leagues all over the country, League members engaged in lively discussion, and provided lots of thoughtful feedback for the study committee to consider in crafting a position.
The next step is for the study committee to read all the responses, including the comments, and use those to write a position. The committee will present its work to the LWVUS board at its meeting in June. Once approved by the board, League staff and board members can begin to use the new position to advocate for or against proposed changes to the federal judiciary.
