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State Courts on the Road

Panels, Power, and What’s at Stake

State courts shape everything from voting rights to reproductive freedom — and right now, they’re more important than ever. That’s why our State Courts team is on the road, taking part in panels and conversations across the country to shine a light on what’s at stake in your state.

Explore our most powerful talks, panels, and resources to stay informed, engaged, and ready to defend justice where it matters most — close to home.

Dive in. Get inspired. Protect justice at every level.

Mapping the Movement: Our Team Joins re:power’s State Courts on the Power Map Cohort

Each member of the state courts team participated in trainings sponsored by long-term AFJ partner re:power for their State Courts on the Power Map 2025 training cohort.

Fighting Extremism in the Courts: Rachel Bracken Joins La Defensa Activists in Conversation

Senior Regional State Courts Manager Rachel Bracken joined activists from La Defensa to discuss how state courts are a critical battleground against the rise of extremism and authoritarianism

Lawyers for Liberation: Tish Gotell Faulks on Using State Courts to Expand Civil Rights

Director of State Courts Tish Gotell Faulks joined a training focused on the role that movement lawyers and law students can play in leveraging the power of state courts to support expanding civil rights

Diversity on the Bench: Erin Butler and People’s Parity Project Examine Who Our Justices Are

Regional State Courts Counsel Erin Butler joined AFJ partner People's Parity Project to discuss trends in demographic and professional diversity among past and present state supreme court justices

Meet the Candidates: Rachel Bracken Moderates Pennsylvania Judicial Forum with New PA Project

Rachel moderated a forum hosted by New Pennsylvania Project featuring Allegheny Court of Common Pleas candidates in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Centering Justice in the Midwest: Tish Gotell Faulks at the Illinois Black Legislative Policy Summit

- Tish attended the Illinois Black Legislative Foundation’s annual policy summit, joining a panel that discussed the critical role of state supreme courts and shone a spotlight on courts in the Midwest.

Defending Rights, State by State: AFJ’s Panel at Netroots Nation 2025

- Tish also moderated the team’s panel at the 20th annual Netroots Nation conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, that highlighted how state courts can interpret state constitutions to defend our fundamental rights even as these same rights are being eroded at the federal level.