The right-wing power grab happening in the U.S. court system

[Take Action] Hold corrupt justices accountable Problems viewing this email? [View it in your browser]( [Center for American Progress]( InProgress from the Center for American Progress To make sure you never miss an email from us, please add progress@americanprogress.org to your contacts or safe senders list. Thanks for staying connected with us! The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has gone rogue [A demonstrator holds a sign in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building. ]( Photo credit: Getty Images Traditionally, U.S. Courts of Appeals serve as [gatekeepers]( to the U.S. Supreme Court, keeping judges in lower-level district courts in check. However, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit has proved to be an outlier in any type of effective gatekeeping, with disastrous results for the American people. Although the 5th Circuit only serves Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, it has had an [unprecedented number of politically charged cases]( before the Supreme Court this term involving issues such as abortion, guns, immigration, and federal power. That’s not happening by chance; it’s part of a right-wing strategy to get more controversial cases from the circuit courts before the Supreme Court’s conservative majority—and the 5th Circuit is leading the way. In doing so, the 5th Circuit invites the Supreme Court—currently dominated by more [right-wing extremists]( than ever before—to take sweeping action to roll back decades of progress. In short, the 5th Circuit is pushing the Supreme Court to take unequivocally extreme positions that strip away Americans’ fundamental rights and hard-fought protections. Rulings such as [Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization]( which originated in the 5th Circuit and dismantled the constitutional right to abortion, are just the tip of the iceberg. Should the Supreme Court continue to follow the 5th Circuit’s lead, American jurisprudence will continue shifting radically to the right, in blatant disregard for the will of the American people. [Keep reading]( Take action: Hold corrupt justices accountable The U.S. Supreme Court is facing a reckoning of its own making. From the blatant power grab coming out of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to activist billionaires pampering Supreme Court justices such as Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, it's clear we need to restore trust and accountability in the U.S. judicial system. Sign our letter to demand a real code of ethics for Supreme Court justices: [Add your Name]( ‘STATEMENT: Alito’s Ugly Flag Display Demands Investigation, Recusal From Insurrection Cases’ Following a report that U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito flew an upside-down American flag at his house in the days leading up to President Joe Biden’s inauguration, [Devon Ombres]( senior director for Courts and Legal Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the [following statement]( Justice Alito’s open display of a blatant symbol of lawlessness outside his home isn’t just a shocking breach of judicial ethics. It’s a matter-of-fact admission of his partisan sympathy with Donald Trump’s “stop the steal” movement, which led to the violent insurrection on January 6. His pathetic excuse that his wife hung the flag as part of a political dispute with a neighbor is even more damning because he’s admitting it was a partisan act. It’s unacceptable that Alito now sits in judgment of whether Trump’s actions deserve the imprimatur of presidential immunity. Chief Justice John Roberts and the other justices must demand Alito’s recusal from any case related to the January 6 insurrection. If Alito had any sense of propriety or humility, he would resign. Absent that, the chief justice must open a full, transparent investigation into this matter. The Senate Judiciary Committee should also open an investigation. To ignore this would only further embarrass the court and undermine its standing with the public. [Share our Statement]( CAP’s principles and positions on Israel and Palestine [Tents of displaced Palestinians are seen at a camp in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip]( Photo credit: Getty Images For decades, Israelis and Palestinians have endured cycles of violence that have wrought exceptional suffering. This violence is tied to a seemingly intractable political and security situation made worse by corrupt, stubborn leaders who have prioritized short-term political gains over long-term peace. Time and again, violence, corruption, and a failure of political vision have overwhelmed the best efforts of world leaders (including—and often—at the highest levels of U.S. leadership) over decades of mistrials. While this conflict may seem intractable, it need not be. The United States has a critical role to play in advancing peace and security in the Middle East, and this role must be grounded in the dignity and self-determination of Israelis and Palestinians as well as governed by the rule of law. In taking strong, principled positions, the United States can lead with credibility to address this conflict. This much we know to be true: All the people of the region deserve peace and security, and we cannot lose sight of that greater goal. Read CAP’s set of principles and positions. [rEad More]( Access to contraception should not be up for debate [Reproductive healthcare provider Dr. Barbara Zipkin councils a patient at Camelback Family Planning in Phoenix, Arizona]( Photo credit: Getty Images When the far-right U.S. Supreme Court majority upended nearly 50 years of precedent and eradicated the constitutional right to an abortion with its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, it put abortion access and reproductive rights [at risk]( across the country. Furthermore, meritless cases such as Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) put access to critical abortion care at risk and serve as an open invitation to political actors to challenge independent institutions such as the FDA. As a women's health nurse practitioner and educator, Shawana Moore knows firsthand the essential role medication abortion and contraceptives play in women’s health care, and she’s witnessed the ebbs and flows of reproductive freedom in our country. While positive strides have been made—for example, the recent introduction of the first [over-the-counter birth control pill]( Opill—more work must be done to ensure that all women have access to the contraception and reproductive health care services they need, particularly in the aftermath of Dobbs. [rEad MorE From Shawana]( Women deserve to live the lives they want Despite what NFL kickers may be saying in viral commencement speeches, Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) explains the policies we need to ensure that women and the U.S. economy reach their full potential. [Tweet: "Other countries have safety nets. The United States has women." As @SenTinaSmith said, we need economic and social policy that supports women.]( [Share This]( ICYMI: ‘A Conversation With Dr. Lael Brainard’ [Dr. Lael Brainard speaking at a podium at a Center for American Progress event]( CAP President and CEO Patrick Gaspard was joined by National Economic Adviser Dr. Lael Brainard for a wide-ranging conversation on the Biden administration’s “Investing in America” agenda and how recently announced tariffs on select Chinese goods will help protect American workers and the competitiveness of U.S. businesses by cracking down on excess production underwritten by the Chinese Communist Party. [Watch the Recording]( Federal investments in action [Biden Administration Investment Tracker]( Explore the [Biden Administration Investment Tracker]( to see the impacts of the administration’s legislation—including new jobs, better infrastructure, and more. [Explore the Tracker]( [Stay Up to Date with the Latest Projects]( Follow us on [Follow us on Twitter]( [Follow us on Facebook]( [Follow us on YouTube]( [Follow us on Instagram]( [Support CAP]( [Manage Email Preferences or Unsubscribe]( [Privacy Policy]( [Center for American Progress]( Center for American Progress 1333 H Street NW Washington, D.C. 20005 [supporter]