NCJW opposes Judge Jordan Pratt. Here’s why:
Judge Jordan Pratt’s record reflects a deeply ideological agenda that calls into question his ability to serve as a fair and independent federal judge. From striking down safeguards for young people seeking abortion access to advancing a narrow, Christian nationalist view of religious liberty, Judge Pratt has consistently prioritized extreme beliefs over constitutional rights and equality. His work at First Liberty Institute and his writings reveal a pattern of hostility toward reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, and public safety measures — raising serious concerns about whether all litigants would receive impartial justice in his courtroom.
Judge Jordan Pratt’s stance on important issues:
Abortion:
Judge Pratt authored a ruling that struck down a law allowing minors to obtain abortions without parental consent under certain circumstances. Judge Pratt also wrote an article praising a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision that denied a minor’s request to bypass parental consent in order to receive an abortion, saying that it was a “win for pro-life advocates” and criticizing judicial bypass laws for enabling “secret teen abortions.” While at First Liberty Institute, Judge Pratt authored an amicus brief in support of Florida’s 15-week abortion ban, claiming that the procedure is “barbaric” and one of the most severe invasions of personal rights imaginable.”
Gun Violence Prevention:
In a law review article published in 2013, Judge Pratt argued for a narrow interpretation of so-called “sensitive places” where guns can be restricted, calling for expanded firearm access on public university campuses and federal lands. Recently, Judge Pratt represented a church in opposing a New York law that prohibits guns in places of worship.
LGBTQ+ Rights:
Judge Pratt defended a doctor who had refused to provide or refer patients for gender affirming care and objected to using a patient’s preferred pronouns, arguing that the doctor’s firing was religious discrimination. In another case, Judge Pratt represented a company that denied insurance coverage for gender affirming treatment, once again claiming that the decision had been in line with the employer’s religious values. Judge Pratt also wrote an article criticizing a university for supporting a student’s request to have their preferred pronouns respected, suggesting instead that educators should be allowed to ignore a student’s gender identity if doing so aligns with their religious beliefs.
Religion-State Separation:
Judge Pratt wrote an article supporting a lawsuit that halted COVID-19 vaccine mandates for Navy SEALs, arguing that the policy violated religious freedom protections. He was also the attorney for a Massachusetts church as they challenged pandemic-era restrictions on indoor gatherings, claiming that the policy unfairly targeted religious services. While at First Liberty Institute, he was involved in multiple Supreme Court cases, including ones that attempted to mandate public funding for religious schools, allow public school employees to pray on the job, and make it significantly more challenging for employers to deny religious accommodations in the workplace. In all of the aforementioned cases, First Liberty, and Judge Pratt by extension, defended legal interpretations that prioritized religious, and primarily Christian, beliefs over broader public and constitutional protections.
Education and Career Highlights:
Jordan Pratt earned both his BA and JD from the University of Florida, where he led the Federalist Society and Christian Legal Society chapters. Judge Pratt clerked for Judge Harvey Schlesinger (M.D. Fla.) and Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod of the Fifth Circuit and interned for Judge Jeffrey Sutton on the Sixth Circuit. He served as Deputy Solicitor General in Florida, then held counsel roles in the US Department of Justice and the Small Business Administration. From 2021–2023, he was Senior Counsel at First Liberty Institute. In 2023, he was appointed to the Florida Fifth District Court of Appeals.