Federal Review Targets “Judge Shopping” Practices in One-Judge Division Districts

Judge shopping, a tactic where lawyers select venues and judges likely to favor their cases, is under scrutiny this week within the legal community. Discussions at a federal judiciary rules committee meeting have sparked debates around implementing anti-forum shopping guidance in one-judge division districts. Judge A. Marvin Quattlebaum of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit remarked on the practice, saying, “Judge shopping sounds very sinister… but lawyers often look for venues and places they think will be favorable.” This reflects a growing concern about ensuring fairness and consistency across judicial proceedings. To explore which one-judge divisions are adopting these policies, more information is available in the detailed report.