The Judicial Conference, the body that governs the federal judiciary, has announced a new policy to curb “judge shopping” — a loophole that lets some plaintiffs choose their judge when they file a lawsuit. Activists across the political spectrum have used this tactic to win nationally applicable rulings on policies affecting tens of millions of people, from abortion to environmental protection. Judge shopping undermines public trust in the judiciary, and the conference’s nonbinding guidance isn’t enough to put a stop to it. Judicial leaders must do more to restore fairness and protect our courts from political agendas.

Threats against local elected officials and state legislators across the country have surged in recent years. Beyond the harm to individuals, this hostility is also distorting representative democracy. A Brennan Center analysis finds that women, people of color, and young people in office experience higher levels of abuse and greater disruptions to their personal and professional lives as a result. In the long run, intimidation makes it harder for members of these already underrepresented groups to run for and remain in office, hampering their ability to create policy change on behalf of their communities.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a shell of its former self after the Supreme Court eliminated one of its most crucial protections, known as “preclearance.” This provision required places with histories of racial voting discrimination to get federal permission to change their voting rules. A new Brennan Center explainer breaks down why this provision matters, why it was struck down, and what can be done to better safeguard the voting rights of all Americans.

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s newly announced running mate, Nicole Shanahan, is a wealthy tech entrepreneur who can help fund his campaign. This kind of self-funding has become increasingly common in politics, and though self-funders rarely win, their unlimited spending helps drive up campaign costs. As a result, candidates rely on bigger and bigger donations to run for office, discouraging otherwise promising candidates from running for fear of being unable to secure financing. Reforms such as public campaign financing are key to making politics open to all, not just a privileged few.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments last week in a case that could have disastrous consequences for efforts to combat disinformation on social media. In Murthy v. Missouri, the plaintiffs argue that government communication with social media companies to identify false narratives about topics like elections or Covid-19 amounts to unconstitutional censorship. The Court should make clear that fighting the spread of disinformation is crucial to securing American elections and democracy.

Patricia Bauman, a longtime leader and devoted champion of the Brennan Center, passed away on Tuesday morning. She co-chaired our board of directors for 12 years and was instrumental in shaping the organization’s vision for the future. Her guidance and wisdom will be missed as we continue to advance the democracy and justice issues she cared about so deeply.