Constitutional Accountability Center Constitutional Accountability Center

Federal Courts and Nominations

Preserving the independence and fairness of our justice system
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Confirmation Hearing of Sonia Sotomayor | Office of Sen. Patrick Leahy

Summary

CAC reviews the records of federal judicial and executive nominees — and when appropriate, takes a position in support of, or in opposition to, Senate confirmation — and works to ensure that our justice system remains fair and independent.

View all nominees on which CAC has taken a position

Federal Courts and Nominations in Brief

Confirmation Hearings for John Roberts | U.S. Senate Historical Office

President Trump has levied unprecedented attacks on the judiciary and nominated ideological and unqualified judges for the federal courts. As a result, CAC’s work to ensure that the judiciary remains fair and independent is now more vital than ever.

Featured Case

Federal Courts and Nominations March 16, 2017

The Selective Originalism of Judge Neil Gorsuch: A Review of the Record

Judge Neil Gorsuch has styled himself as an originalist cut from the same mold as Justice Antonin Scalia. To those on the right, this makes Gorsuch an ideal nominee: brilliant, scholarly, and an impassioned defender of the Constitution. The problem is that Gorsuch’s record—reflected in his opinions and other writings—suggests that he is a selective originalist, committed to following only some of the Constitution’s text and history. Judge Gorsuch will therefore have a heavy burden to meet when he testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee: he can’t simply call himself an originalist; he has to demonstrate that he is committed to following...