When 11 days to go April 08, 2025 at 10:00am 2 hrs
Where Miller Branch Library 9421 Frederick Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21042, United States
Contact Laura Mettle [email protected]

Join us In Person to discuss the proposed Federal Judiciary Positions.

Note this event is for members only. The sign up is at the bottom of this page.

At the national League of Women Voters (LWVUS) 2024 Convention, delegates voted to proceed with a study on the federal judiciary. The study is unusual in two respects:

  1. It covers a broad range of issues, covering an entire branch of government; and
  2. It is on a fast-track timeline with the goal of announcing a position at the LWVUS 2025 Council in June 2025.

All of the background information can be access on the LWV web page

The purpose of this meeting is to get members input on the following 12 position statements:

  1. Transparency is essential to an effective Federal Judiciary.
  2. Accountability is essential to an effective Federal Judiciary.
  3. Independence is essential to an effective Federal Judiciary.
  4. Ethics is essential to an effective Federal Judiciary.
  5. There should be binding universal standards of conduct for judges and Justices at all levels of the Federal courts.
  6. Court hearings, documents filed in the court, and rulings for all federal cases should be open and available to the public.
  7. There should be an effective enforcement mechanism for the Federal Judiciary code of ethics at all levels.
  8. An enforcement mechanism should include a process to require a judge or Justice to recuse when a reasonable litigant would believe that the judge or Justice has a bias against any party or an issue raised in the case.
  9. A judge or Justice’s decision and rationale to recuse or not recuse should be publicly disclosed in writing.
  10. Federal judges and Justices should be subject to rigorous financial disclosure requirements, enforcement, and penalties for all financial benefits, including but not limited to income, gifts, paid speaking engagements, and book deals.
  11. Stability of law (stare decisis) is a value that contributes to a strong democracy.
  12. Public perception of the Supreme Court’s legitimacy contributes to a strong democracy.

The Montgomery County LWV has put together a fact sheet that summaries much of this information.  You can access it here.

Will you come?