What You Can Do to Protect State and Federal Courts

People across America are working together to oppose the right-wing plan to capture our courts and enact a radical social and economic agenda. Here’s how you can join this effort.

America has both state and federal court systems. Federal judges are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. State judges gain office in different ways in each state, often involving a mix of appointments and elections.

Federal Courts

The Senate is confirming the Trump administration’s judicial nominees at a breakneck speed. To do so, they are ignoring the traditional vetting process that is used to identify and confirm well-qualified nominees.

1. Visit, call, and/or email your Senators’ offices to tell them courts matter to you and ask them what they’re doing to ensure the impartiality of the federal judiciary.

2. Host an event on the importance of courts, judicial vacancies, and the confirmation process with your local ACS Chapter and local organizations (affinity bars, NAACP chapters, Why Courts Matter, local unions, etc.).

3. Reach out to local radio and television stations in your towns and universities (yes, even you, students!). Speak to your communities about the importance of the courts through reliable and proven avenues of communication.
4. Submit an op-ed or letter to the editor to your local paper on what is at stake with these lifetime appointments.
5. Talk to your friends and family about the need to protect the federal judiciary. Post about the importance of the courts on your social media accounts using #courtsmatter.
6. Follow ACS on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for updates on Trump’s transformation of the judiciary.
7. Donate to ACS to ensure we can continue our important work.

State Courts

1. If you are not already familiar with how your state selects judges, visit this resource from the Brennan Center to learn more.
2. If your state uses appointments by the governor or legislature, you can use many of the techniques mentioned above with respect to the federal process to make your voice heard.
3. If your state uses elections (as most do in some way), educate yourself about the candidates and share your opinions with friends, neighbors and colleagues.