March 20, 2026 Update

It’s Spring! Finally! But even as a season brings the beauty of new blooms and buds, ugly realities persist. The war in Iran rages on. New survivors of sexual assault by powerful men are speaking up, including feminist icon and union leader Delores Huerta. Immigrants are still being targeted. And the assault on democracy continues with the attack on voting rights taking center stage. The Senate is likely to be working through the weekend as Republicans hope to pass the so-called SAVE Act, a bill that would institutionalize steep barriers to voting. The bill is unlikely to muster the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster as evidenced by the motion to proceed which passed 51-48 with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voting with Democrats against bringing up the bill. President Trump is putting pressure on Republicans to change the filibuster rules to require a simple majority to invoke cloture and end the filibuster which is a bridge too far for even some Republicans.

The Senate did find time to confirm Anna St. John, an unqualified and extreme nominee opposed by NCJW, to the District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (51-45). To date there are 34 confirmed judges in Trump’s second term. Three nominees are pending on the floor: John Thomas Shepherd to the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, and Andrew Davis and Chris Wolfe to the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. It is not likely that they will receive a vote next week.

The federal courts are busy, hearing cases and making decisions on Trump administration actions and policies. Here are some recent court actions:

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments in two cases involving TPS (Temporary Protective Status) for Syrian and Haitian immigrants. The Trump administration has terminated TPS for those groups as well as immigrants from other countries living and working in the US with legal status conferred by TPS. The cases, Noem v. Doe (concerning Syrians) and Trump v. Miot (Haitians), will be heard in late April.
Judge James Boasberg, chief of the District Court for the District of Columbia, threw out two subpoenas related to an investigation into Federal Reserve head Jerome Powell. The Obama-nominated judge was outspoken in his opinion that the subpoenas were issued to harass Powell and pressure him into lowering interest rates. President Trump blasted the judge in a fiery social media post.
Biden-nominee to the District Court for the District of Massachusetts Judge Brian Murphy blocked some of the new CDC childhood vaccine policies from going into effect. Judge Murphy said that the new policies did not go through the proper legal channels. Medical associations that sued to block the controversial policy claimed that they were harmed because the new vaccine recommendations burdened physicians. The administration plans to appeal this decision.
Judge Murphy’s ruling requiring meaningful notice and other changes to the policy of deporting immigrants to third countries went to the First Circuit Court of Appeals where a three-judge panel allowed the policy to continue for now. The two-judges who ruled to keep the deportation policy were Judge Jeffrey Howard (nominated by George W. Bush) and Judge Seth Aframe (Biden nominee). Judge Lara Montecalvo, a Biden nominee, dissented.

► Opportunity

Learn more about Justin Smith, nominee for the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals who is opposed by NCJW. AFJ Action will hold a virtual briefing on Tuesday March 31 at 1 pm ET to share information about this extreme nominee whose history as a partisan operative and personal attorney to Donald Trump raises serious questions about his ability to be fair and independent. Register here!

► Senate Judiciary Committee

On March 25, the judiciary committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on: Evan Rikhye to the District Court for the District of the Virgin Islands (which is not a lifetime position); Katie Lane to the District Court for the District of Montana; Sheria Clarke to the District Court for the District of South Carolina; and Kara Westercamp to the Court of International Trade. Katie Lane (opposed by NCJW) has a troubling record while serving as Montana’s deputy solicitor general as well as the fact that she has not had the 12 years experience recommended by the American Bar Association for a judgeship. There are also concerns about Kara Westercamp’s nomination. Although the Court of International Trade is not a lifetime appointment, it will have heightened importance as it hears tariff-related cases. After the spring holiday recess, the committee is planning to hold a hearing on April 15 which is expected to feature: Justin Smith for the Eighth Circuit (opposed by NCJW) and nominees to the District Court for the District of Kansas Tony Mattivi; Jeffrey Kuhlman; and Anthony Powell.

► ICYMI

(Slate) The Supreme Court just heeded one of Ketanji Brown Jackson’s sharpest dissents

(CBS) Trump judicial confirmation machine shows signs on slowing compared to first term boom

(Hill) Chief Justice Roberts speaks out about hostility toward judges

(Time) Trump lashes out at Supreme Court and district court Judge Boasberg

(Reuters) US judges condemn Trump appointee’s ‘vulgar barroom talk’ in transgender bias case

To those celebrating: Eid Mubarak! And to all, a restful and peaceful weekend.

Thank you for your steadfast partnership in this work –