A federal judge spotlighted by forum shopping in Texas criticized efforts by the judiciary to limit the practice, attributing the policy response to persistent outside forces. Judge Reed O’Connor of the Northern District of Texas addressed these concerns at a Federal Society conference in Fort Worth, stating that the Judicial Conference’s recent actions seem to be motivated by “external political criticism.”
Judge O’Connor remarked that the policy guidance issued in the spring was selective, and he expressed relief that judges and legal professionals opposed it. Nevertheless, he cautioned that further efforts to strengthen the policy would continue and that the pressure “will not ease up anytime soon.”
His comments arrive amid an ongoing debate about forum shopping, a tactic often criticized for allowing plaintiffs to choose courts perceived to be more favorable to their case. The Judicial Conference’s measures to curb this practice have been seen by some as a necessary step to ensure justice is fairly administered, while critics argue that these measures are influenced by political considerations.
Additional context about Judge O’Connor’s role and the backlash he received for appearing in a federal court’s civics education video can be found here.