Why Do Courts Matter?
The federal courts system in the U.S. includes district courts, circuit courts, and the Supreme Court. A judge in any of those courts is a federal judge.
Federal judges have a lot of power and influence in our daily lives. They make decisions every day about health care, reproductive rights, bodily autonomy, voting rights, climate, law enforcement, LGBTQ+ rights, civil rights, and more.
These decisions impact our lives today and the lives of future generations.
Judges are appointed for life.
They must be fair, independent, qualified, and representative of our communities.
Courts matter to Maine people.
Federal judges must be:
FAIR: They understand how the law impacts our daily lives. They truly believe in equality and justice for all.
INDEPENDENT: They will be impartial, nonpartisan, and won’t be influenced by special interest groups.
QUALIFIED: They have experience and are competent. They have what it takes to be a good judge who will listen and apply the law to the cases they hear.
REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR COMMUNITIES: They reflect the communities they serve. This helps them make better-informed decisions and increases public confidence in their rulings.