Guidance /
2024-2025 Federal Judiciary Study Process, Committee, and Resources
At the LWVUS 2024 Convention, delegates voted to move forward with a study on the federal judiciary. This page has been created to share information about that study and will be updated often.
At the LWVUS 2024 Convention, delegates voted to proceed with a study on the federal judiciary. The study will be completed on a fast-track timeline in time for a position to be announced at the LWVUS 2025 Council in June 2025.
Please check this page often, as information is added on a rolling basis.
Study Guide and Questions for Consideration
The study guide and consensus questions are now available!
- Discussion Prompts
- FJS Consensus Form (PDF) This is a copy of the online survey form that state and local Leagues will complete with their consensus responses. This form can be used in your consensus meetings, but the official form must be completed online by a local or state League representative. No paper forms will be accepted. Forms from individuals will also not be accepted.
- Online Survey Form Please note this form should be completed by League affiliates, not individual members.
- Study Guide (PDF)
- Groups.io discussion group Connect with League members from around the country regarding the study.
Policy Briefs
The Federal Judiciary Study Committee has prepared a series of briefs on particular, specific topics designed to help spark discussion among League members as we work toward a LWVUS position on the federal judiciary. By providing information on these very specific topics, our intention is to help develop a long-lasting position based on the principles of judicial independence, transparency, accountability, and ethics (and possibly others). Our goal is a position that outlines the values – the standards and norms – the League of Women Voters should use in evaluating proposed changes to policies, laws, and regulations about the federal judiciary.
We hope League members find these briefs useful to read and promote discussion in order to discuss then what principles we want the League of Women Voters to use when acting on these issues and on whatever other issues arise in the future.
Remember that as much as we all may want to address specific remedies in our US position, the position should be principle-based in order to ensure that it lasts for many years to come and allows us to address a wide variety of issues that may arise in future years. Our goal is for the resulting League position to be durable. Consider how many of the League’s positions were adopted decades ago and are as useful today as they were at their inception. If we write a position that applies to specific policy issues we know about and that are part of the current debate, it can limit action on other future issues. Policy papers may be downloaded in a PDF version by clicking the links below.
Online Webinars and Events
The Federal Judiciary Study Committee will offer multiple opportunities for Leagues to ask questions about the study, hear about the committee’s work, and also learn about this issue.
Office Hours February 12, 2025 6:00 PM ET
The FJS Committee will hold office hours to answer questions about the study and study process. We welcome your attendance.
RECORDING February 4, 2025 | 7:00 PM Eastern: National Town Hall on the Federal Judiciary
LWVUS hosted a town hall with experts on the federal judiciary. Panelists included Alicia Bannon from the Brennan Center, Thomas Berry from the CATO Institute, and Erinn Martin from NVG LLC. You can view the recording of this YouTube at the link below.
RECORDING Federal Judiciary Study Kickoff Webinar, November 20, 2024 6:00 PM Eastern: Join the Federal Judiciary Study Committee to hear about the study scope and timeline. We will be sharing materials with Leagues about the study content and the study process.
View the recording
View the slides
The 2024-25 Federal Judiciary Study Committee
Chair: Kimberley Fraser (District of Columbia)
Vice Chair: Helen Hutchison (California)
Judy Ball (West Virginia)
Susan Hart (Texas)
Joan Hunault (Michigan)
Cecile Scoon (Florida)
Nan Shuker (District of Columbia)
Scope
To develop a LWV position on the Federal Judiciary as an essential component of US democracy.
The study's purpose includes, but is not limited to, addressing concerns and clarifying judicial accountability, transparency, independence, and ethics.
The scope addresses the Supreme Court as well as the other Article III federal courts.
Timeline
NOVEMBER
WEBINAR-- NOV 20th 6:00 PM EST
DECEMBER
ADDITIONAL STUDY MATERIALS POSTED ON LMS
JANUARY
INFO ON HOW TO PREP FOR MEETINGS SENT TO LEAGUES
FEBRUARY
TOWN HALL MEETING 2/4/25 7:00PM ET
STUDY GUIDE AND CONSENSUS QUESTIONS SENT TO LOCAL AND STATE LEAGUES BY FEB 7
LEAGUES HOLD MEETINGS FROM 2/7/25- 4/14/25
MARCH
LEAGUES CONTINUE TO HOLD MEETINGS AND COMPLETE CONSENSUS QUESTIONS
APRIL
CONSENSUS SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR LEAGUES 4/14/25
APRIL- MAY
PROPOSED POSITION PRESENTED TO LWVUS BOARD FOR VOTE AND FINAL APPROVAL
JUNE
FEDERAL JUDICIARY POSITION ANNOUNCED AT COUNCIL JUNE 26-28, 2025
Study Resources
Preliminary Background Information:
Understanding Federal Courts: This publication is from the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. It provides an introduction to the federal justice system, including how it is organized and how it relates to the legislative and administrative branches of government.
US Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges: This document includes the ethical principles that apply to federal judges and provides guidance on the official duties and engagements related to outside activities for federal judges.
Congressional Research Service Paper, The Supreme Court Adopts a Code of Conduct: This document was published following the announcement of the US Supreme Court's adoption of the Code of Conduct and provides a legal sidebar with background information on federal judicial ethics rules before the adoption of the code and briefly outlines the substance of the code adopted.