VIDEO: Senator Moody Champions Legislation to Bring Greater Transparency and Accountability to Federal Courts

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Senator Ashley Moody is working to bring greater transparency to the judicial system. Senator Moody is championing the Blocking Overt Attempts at Shopping By Enforcing Randomization Guidelines (BOASBERG) Act, which would require cases to be randomly assigned to judges, helping prevent manipulation of the judicial process. Currently, loopholes exist to allow parties to shop around for a favorable judge. The BOASBERG Act will help ensure cases are decided fairly in America's judicial system.

"As a former judge and prosecutor, I understand the importance of an independent judiciary and upholding the rule of law. That's why I'm championing legislation to bring greater transparency and accountability to our federal courts. The American people need confidence that justice is administered fairly and impartially-and I'll keep working to protect the integrity of our courts," saidSenator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:

• The BOASBERG Act would enforce random case assignment, promoting confidence in judicial impartiality and helping prevent erroneous rulings.
• The BOASBERG Act requires all district courts to randomly assign civil cases to ensure that no party, attorney, or judge can select or influence the assignment of a case to a particular judge.
• The bill also requires Circuit Court of Appeals panels to be assigned at random, stopping improper panel rigging.
• The bill requires cases to be reassigned to a new district judge if the Supreme Court overturns the original district judge's ruling.
• The legislation also requires courts to publicly disclose their randomization procedures.
• Read bill text here.
• Senator Moody recently introduced legislation to clean up two federal courts in Washington, D.C. Senator Moody's Better Bench Act would allow nominees and active judges on the Court of Federal Claims and the Federal Circuit - both courts with nationwide jurisdiction - to reside anywhere in the United States by doing away with an outdated residency requirement that limits service to those in the D.C. area.

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