Justice & Court Reform

As the former chair and now ranking member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet, Congressman Johnson is the leading voice in the House on court reform -- particularly the Supreme Court. Even before the 6-3 right-wing supermajority took control of the court, Rep. Johnson proposed legislation to expand the Supreme Court (Judiciary Act); require that the justices follow a code of ethics, transparency, and recusal standards (SCERT Act); and establish term limits for justices (TERM Act).  Rep. Johnson has also introduced legislation to ensure that employees of the federal judiciary have strong statutory rights and protections against discrimination and workplace misconduct  (JAA).

For more on the Congressman’s work on court reform, please read below.
 

More on Justice & Court Reform

Congressman Johnson’s statement on the Attorney General Garland’s announcement that he is appointing a special counsel to probe President Biden’s classified documents
January 12, 2023
Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) released the following statement after Attorney General Merrick Garland announced he is appointing a special counsel to investigate the handling of classified documents found at a former office and the Delaware home of President Biden.

Issues: Justice & Court Reform
Congressman Hank Johnson's Statement on the Second Anniversary of the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol
January 6, 2023
Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today is the second anniversary of the January 6th attack on the United States Capitol. Congressman Johnson (GA-04) posted the following statement in remembrance of that tragic day. 

Issues: Justice & Court Reform
Congressman Johnson Votes to Require Annual IRS Audit of Sitting Presidents
December 22, 2022
Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) voted for common-sense legislation to guard the public trust and ensure tax laws are applied evenly and justly to every American – particularly the president of the United States. The Presidential Tax Filings and Audit Transparency Act will require the IRS to conduct an annual, publicly-disclosed audit of the President's finances.

Issues: Justice & Court Reform
Ex-Conservative Reverend Testifies That Samuel Alito Leaked Outcome Of 2014 Decision
December 9, 2022
In The News

By Paul Blumenthal, HuffPost

Rev. Rob Schenck repeated under oath his allegation that Justice Alito leaked t…

The Times report led to a flurry of letters between the Supreme Court, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) on the court’s failure to adopt and abide by a binding ethics code, and a push from progressive groups for Congress to hold hearings on the subject.

Issues: Justice & Court Reform
Advocate tells lawmakers of ‘stealth’ efforts to influence Supreme Court
December 9, 2022
In The News
By Ann E. Marimow and Emma Brown, The Washington Post
 
The Rev. Robert Schenck, a former antiabortion activist, testified as Democrats…

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), who have long pushed for ethics reform at the Supreme Court, have sent multiple letters to Roberts seeking information about “Operation Higher Court” and about any court investigations that may have been opened into attempts to improperly influence justices.

Read More

Issues: Justice & Court Reform
Bill protecting same-sex, interracial marriages heads to president’s desk
December 9, 2022
In The News

Zoe Seiler, Decaturish

The United States House of Representatives passed the legislation on Thursday.

“The government has a responsibility to protect the American people’s liberties, rights, and freedoms, and this includes ensuring their marriages will always be recognized,” Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-4) said in a statement.

Issues: Justice & Court Reform
Fizzling voting rights push angers Black lawmakers
December 9, 2022
In The News

by Mike Lillis, The Hill

The House will revert to Republican control in January.

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), another member of the Black caucus, acknowledged the gambit was a long shot, but argued the high stakes justified the effort. The House will revert to Republican control in January, likely putting any voting rights push on ice for at least two years.

“This is our last opportunity to do something. So, the thinking is that we’ll take it as far as we can to try to get it passed,” Johnson said.

Issues: Justice & Court Reform
Rep. Johnson Pushes Passage of SCERT Act In Supreme Court Whistleblower Hearing
December 8, 2022
Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) pushed for passage of H.R. 7647, the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency (SCERT) Act during a House Judiciary Committee hearing entitled, “Undue Influence: ‘Operation Higher Court’ and Politicking at SCOTUS.”

[WATCH VIDEO]

Issues: Justice & Court Reform
Rep. Johnson Celebrates the Passage of the Respect for Marriage Act
December 8, 2022
Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), a member of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, celebrated the passage of H.R. 8404, the Respect for Marriage Act. The Respect for Marriage Act repeals the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act, protects marriage equality for federal purposes, and provides additional protections at the state level. 

Issues: Justice & Court Reform
Sen. Whitehouse And Rep. Johnson Are Demanding Accountability From SCOTUS
December 6, 2022
In The News
MSNBC, The Katie Phang Show
 
Sen. Whitehouse And Rep. Johnson Are Demanding Accountability

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Hank Johnson have both sent letters to the Supreme Court regarding their procedure, or lack thereof, for accountability amongst the justices. Whitehouse and Johnson join Katie Phang to discuss.

View here

Issues: Justice & Court Reform
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