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Shira A Scheindlin

Shira A Scheindlin is a former US district judge for the southern district of New York, where she served for 22 years. She was appointed by Bill Clinton. She is a member of the executive committee of the board of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

October 2021

  • ‘Trump and his sidekick, former majority leader Mitch McConnell, did all they could to entrench an actively conservative judiciary.’

    double quotation markTrump’s judges will call the shots for years to come. The judicial system is broken

    Shira A Scheindlin
    In just one term, Trump was able to appoint 33% of US supreme court justices and 30% of US appellate judges. They’ll serve for life

September 2020

  • ‘President Trump announced within a day of Justice Ginsburg’s death that he would fill the seat immediately and then made his nomination just a week later.’

    double quotation markConservatives' assault on the supreme court is a judicial tragedy in the making

    Shira A Scheindlin
    Ramming a nominee through like this is inexcusable – and it will cement rightwing control of the courts for decades

April 2020

  • The U.S. Capitol is seen from the U.S. Supreme Court, as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak continues in Washington, U.S., April 27, 2020. REUTERS/Tom Brenner

    Trump's court takeover
    double quotation markTrump's judges are a giant step backward for America

    Shira A Scheindlin
    After three years of Trump’s appointments, the federal judiciary is 73% white and 66% male, but it will be even more male and pale by the end of his term

May 2019

  • Sen. Mark Warner Volunteers At Arlington Food Assistance Center To Assist Families Hurt By Gov’t Shutdown<br>WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 18: Protesters on both sides of the abortion issue gather in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building during the Right To Life March, on January 18, 2019 in Washington, DC. The Right to Life Campaign held its annual March For Life rally and march to the U.S. Supreme Court protesting the high court’s 1973 Roe V. Wade decision making abortion legal. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

    double quotation markIf Roe v Wade is overturned, we should worry about the rule of law

    Shira A Scheindlin
    Affirming precedence is an important legal principle. If it’s ignored, which other supreme court decisions could be overturned next?

April 2019

  • Supreme court judges Neil Gorsuch, left, and Brett Kavanaugh were both nominated by Donald Trump.

    double quotation markTrump is capturing the judiciary at an alarming rate

    Shira A Scheindlin
    Judges confirmed by the president – 92 to date – have shown loyalty to their party which seeks to roll back decades of progress

August 2018

  • US-POLITICS-JUSTICE-TRUMP<br>US Judge Brett Kavanaugh looks on as the US President announces him as his nominee to the Supreme Court in the East Room of the White House on July 9, 2018 in Washington, DC. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

    double quotation markShould Brett Kavanaugh occupy the swing vote seat? His judicial record says no

    Shira A Scheindlin
    No one can deny that Kavanaugh is qualified to be a supreme court justice. But a closer look at his career should be concerning to all Americans

May 2018

  • President Trump Speaks At The “Campaign for Life” Gala Hosted By The Susan B. Anthony List<br>WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 22: President Donald Trump delivers remarks during the Susan B Anthony List gala at the National Building Museum on May 22, 2018 in Washington, DC. Trump is the first sitting president to speak at the anti-abortion organization’s annual dinner. (Photo by Oliver Contreras-Pool/Getty Images)

    double quotation markTrump's hard-right judges will do lasting damage to America

    Shira A Scheindlin
    The president has appointed an array of judges who are anti-choice, anti-union, anti-immigrant and pro-gun. They could cause permanent harm

January 2018

  • #Me Too Rally

    double quotation markAfter #MeToo, we can't ditch due process

    Shira A Scheindlin and Joel Cohen
    There has recently been a groundswell of high-profile ‘televictions’ of men accused of workplace harassment. We must find a better way to deliver justice

November 2017

  • Trump has appointed judges at a breakneck pace – and his selection process also raises serious concerns about the criteria for selecting new judges.

    double quotation markTrump's new team of judges will radically change American society

    Shira A Scheindlin
    Unlike legislation, these life-time appointments are not reversible. The impact of his nominees will be felt for decades
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