How Mitch Rigged the Courts

<p>While the Supreme Court gets all the focus, lower federal courts are just as much in need of reform. Unfortunately, rigging the courts is a game the GOP knows how to play. In this episode, Leah talks with <a href="https://www.afj.org/team_member/rakim-brooks/">Rakim Brooks</a> of Alliance for Justice, and <a href="https://law.wlu.edu/faculty/full-time-faculty/brandon-hasbrouck">Brandon Hasbrouck</a>* of Washington &amp; Lee Law School, about how federal judges get picked, how Mitch McConnell has played the long game, and how the Democrats need to move forward in the judicial selection process.</p><p>*Brandon also wrote an article called "<a href="https://www.nyulawreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/NYULawReview-Volume-97-Issue-2-Hasbrouck.pdf">Movement Judges</a>," which just came out in the NYU Law Review. Check it out for more on this subject!</p><p></p><p>Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025! </p><ul>

<li>3/6/26 – San Francisco</li>

<li>3/7/26 – Los Angeles</li>

</ul><p></p><p>Learn more: <a href="http://crooked.com/events">http://crooked.com/events</a></p><p>Order your copy of Leah's book, <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Lawless/Leah-Litman/9781668054628">Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes</a></p><p>Follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/strictscrutinypodcast/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.threads.net/@strictscrutinypodcast">Threads</a>, and <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/strictscrutiny.bsky.social">Bluesky</a></p>