How We Fight
For Fair Courts Toolkit

Over the last few years, we have seen the horrific impact on our daily lives of the extremist majority on the U.S. Supreme Court. But we have also seen seismic shifts for the good in the makeup of the lower federal courts and how those courts can serve as a vital check on unconstitutional actions taken by other branches of government.

Federal district and circuit courts consider the majority of cases decided — thousands of cases that impact every aspect of our lives. They’re the judges who will interpret recent Supreme Court cases and lay the groundwork for a federal judiciary that works for all of us. 2025 is a critical time to engage senators, each of whom casts a vote for every judge who makes up our federal judiciary. 

Now is the time to fight for fair courts

For generations, our communities have advocated for a federal judiciary committed to equal justice for all —  and one that reflects and represents the rich diversity of our nation. The president and our senators play important roles in the selection, nomination, and confirmation of our federal judges, many of whom serve for life. The progress made under the leadership of President Joe Biden, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY), and Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (IL) during the 117th and 118th Congresses was remarkable — and we must not relent in the fight for fair courts moving forward.

During the Biden administration, the Senate confirmed 235 of President Biden’s lifetime judicial nominees — including historic numbers of women, people of color, openly LGBTQ people, civil rights lawyers, and public defenders. This matters tremendously, because each confirmation of a judicial nominee who is dedicated to equal justice makes a difference in the lives of people who appear in that judge’s courtroom and to all of us who are impacted by their decisions.

However, there are immense challenges ahead. Trump prioritizes billionaires over the rights and wellbeing of all of us — and as we saw during his first administration and as we’ve seen so far during his second term, he has chosen people for positions of power for their loyalty and anti-civil and human rights records.

For our rights, our families, our communities, and our future, all senators must scrutinize every single nominee to ensure they meet the highest ethical standards, are fair-minded, possess a commitment to the civil and human rights of all, and have the personal and professional experience that enhance the provision of equal justice for all.