Supreme Court
The famous injunction in the Torah: Tzedek, Tzedek, Tirdof, or Justice, Justice, You Shall Pursue, is situated in the context of verses imploring us to create a fair and impartial judiciary; our pursuit of a non-partisan judiciary is, in its essence, the pursuit of justice.
NCJW believes in a federal judiciary that is of and for the people with judges who are fair, independent, and qualified with a commitment to constitutional rights for everyone. This is even more critical for those appointed to serve on our nation’s highest court.
We hold a vision of a Supreme Court that:
Reflects the country it serves. The Supreme Court decides cases that impact every community, therefore its justices must reflect America’s diversity. Nominees should come from varied professional, educational, regional, religious, and personal backgrounds and represent different age ranges, ethnicities, abilities, religions, and genders. Bringing diverse experiences and perspectives to the bench allows justices to make better-informed decisions, increases public confidence in their rulings, helps address existing inequalities, and safeguards our civil and human rights.
Dismantles legacies of white supremacy by being composed of fair, impartial, and qualified justices who represent the diversity of America and are committed to equal justice for all. Our system of justice was founded by white men whose intention was to uphold their supremacy and interests. A high court that looks more like the country it serves can help dismantle systems of power and oppression through the cases it chooses to hear — and those it chooses not to hear — as well as by its decisions.
A diversity of perspectives and experiences — justices with backgrounds in civil rights, labor law, public interest, and more — would diversify the existing makeup of the Court, better ensuring the rights and liberties of everyday people.
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and the final arbiter of our rights. As such, it must serve as a bastion of justice for everyone in this nation.
Learn more about the important cases we’re watching this term.