Listen

To this story in on our podcast

Watch

Ali Velshi explain Judge Shopping

Listen

Ali Velshi on Judge Shopping

MSNBC anchor and Citizen Board member explains the prevalence and dangers of allowing plaintiffs to choose their own federal judge

Listen

Ali Velshi on Judge Shopping

MSNBC anchor and Citizen Board member explains the prevalence and dangers of allowing plaintiffs to choose their own federal judge

MSNBC’s Ali Velshi digs into the legal practice of judge shopping, which has made Amarillo, Texas the epicenter of conservative federal lawsuits.

Plaintiffs in federal suits can, by law, choose the district and division where they would like their case to be tried. In the past, plaintiffs representing more Democratic causes have chosen San Francisco, California, and those representing Republican causes have gone to New Orleans, Louisiana. This practice is called forum shopping.

But now, plaintiffs are getting even more specific, aiming for “single judge divisions” — smaller court systems where they’re guaranteed to get the judge they want, who’ll further their cause. This has turned “forum shopping” into “judge shopping.”

Recently, conservatives’ judge of choice has been Amarillo’s Matthew Kacsmaryk. Kacsmaryk is best known for banning the use FDA-approved Mefipristone, one of widely used two abortion medications. He also ruled that “medical providers across the whole U.S. should be allowed to discriminate against LGBT people,” says Velshi, and he enforced a Trump era remain in Mexico policy.

Now, members of U.S. Congress and the Senate are pushing back on the practice of judge shopping. They — and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan — say one federal judge should not be able to single-handedly overturn federal law.

LISTEN: ALI VELSHI ON JUDGE SHOPPING

WATCH: ALI EXPLAIN WHY CONGRESS IS PUSHING BACK ON JUDGE SHOPPING

 

 

MORE FROM MSNBC’S ALI VELSHI

Advertising Terms

We do not accept political ads, issue advocacy ads, ads containing expletives, ads featuring photos of children without documented right of use, ads paid for by PACs, and other content deemed to be partisan or misaligned with our mission. The Philadelphia Citizen is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization and all affiliate content will be nonpartisan in nature. Advertisements are approved fully at The Citizen's discretion. Advertisements and sponsorships have different tax-deductible eligibility. For questions or clarification on these conditions, please contact Director of Sales & Philanthropy Kristin Long at [email protected] or call (609)-602-0145.