Ranking Member Morelle Introduces Supreme Court Justice Circuit Riding Act
WASHINGTON – Rep. Joe Morelle (NY-25), the top Democrat on the Committee on House Administration, introduced the Supreme Court Justice Circuit Riding Act.
"As public trust in the Supreme Court craters, it is important for the justices to leave the confines of D.C. This bill will reestablish the tradition of circuit riding and allow the justices to reconnect with Americans across this great nation," said Ranking Member Joe Morelle. "The tradition of Supreme Court justices riding circuit among the courts of appeals dates to the founding of the Republic. The practice has gone dormant, and the Supreme Court justices are more sheltered from everyday Americans than ever before."
The Supreme Court Justice Circuit Riding Act will reinstate Circuit riding during the Court’s recess periods. This bill is one element of the complete judicial reform needed to reconnect the highest Court with the desires and beliefs of the American people, as it continues to issue opinions that reverse human and civil rights.
Fix the Court and Demand Justice, two organizations focused on judicial reform, endorsed the Supreme Court Justice Circuit Riding Act with the following statements:
"Supreme Court justices’ circuit-riding responsibilities may have made little sense in the horse-and-buggy era, but they’re eminently reasonable nowadays when the nine can avail themselves of modern transportation, are seeing a declining number of cert. petitions and have the summers off. A dozen retired justices, including Justice Breyer earlier this year, have ridden circuit since the law changed in 1937 to permit the practice, and I recall countless lower court judges saying what an enriching experience it was when Justice O'Connor would sit on a panel with them. I'd imagine that'd be even more the case if the circuit-rider were an active justice. I applaud the introduction of this legislation and look forward to working on its passage," said Gabe Roth, executive director of Fix the Court.
"The Supreme Court Justice Circuit Riding Act provides is a creative, concrete proposal to require Supreme Court justices to grapple with legal issues facing everyday Americans outside of Washington. When enacted as part of a suite of comprehensive reforms, this bill could help restore faith that the Supreme Court can work on behalf of all Americans, not just wealthy elites," said Celeste Drake, chief counsel of Demand Justice.
Reps. Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), and Nikema Williams (GA-05), all co-chairs of Rep. Morelle's Anti-Corruption and Democracy Reform Task Force co-sponsored the legislation. Click here to read the Supreme Court Justice Circuit Riding Act.
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