New federal court rule could block Texas AG Ken Paxton, others from 'judge shopping'

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Judge shopping needs to be blocked

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https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/ken-paxton-court-rule-18971181.php

A new federal policy cracking down on so-called "judge shopping" could impede Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s ability to thwart Biden Administration policies by strategically filing suits in geographic areas with only one judge.

The Judicial Conference of the United States, the policymaking body of the federal courts, said Tuesday that the new rule will apply to all civil cases that seek to block or mandate state or federal actions.

Under the policy, judges would instead be assigned through a random selection process spanning the entire judicial district. Texas has four districts splitting the state by north, south, east and west.

The new rule “promotes the impartiality of proceedings and bolsters public confidence in the federal Judiciary,” said Judge Robert J. Conrad, Jr., the conference’s secretary, in a statement.....

Texas in recent years has also sought injunctions in single-judge divisions over environment regulations and labor and gun rights, among other highly politicized issues. Paxton’s office has been accused of selectively choosing courtroom venues since he took office in 2015.

The Biden Administration, American Bar Association and Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about the apparent loophole. In April, Sen. Chuck Schumer and other Democratic senators called on the Judicial Conference to take action. Schumer wrote a letter to David Godbey, the chief judge of the Northern District of Texas, urging him to change district rules.