Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On The Introduction Of Legislation To Curtail Judge Shopping And Restore Fairness To The Judicial System

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on yesterday’s bill introduction of legislation that would codify the Judicial Conference’s new policy and curtail judge shopping across the country. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks:

Yesterday, I led a group of 40 Senators in introducing a bill that would curtail judge shopping and restore fairness to the judicial system. I will work with my colleagues to enact this important legislation.

We here in the Congress have a duty to hold the federal judiciary accountable. And when the federal judiciary is being exploited by dangerous practices like judge shopping, it is both proper and appropriate for the Congress to exercise its oversight authority.

Some of my Republican colleagues have suggested that it is unconstitutional for Congress to oversee the judicial branch. That is just ridiculous and avoids a plain reading of the Constitution.

Even the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court – hardly a liberal – agrees that judge shopping is a problem that and ought to be addressed.

Congress has clear authority under the Constitution to exercise oversight of the courts. We will continue weighing legislative options to ensure that the federal judiciary is committed to equal justice under the law.

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