Overview
Given both the urgency and the opportunities we have to grow and strengthen our power in this arena, re:power’s State Courts on the Power Map (SCPM) programming aims to meet this moment by investing in the people and organizations that are most impacted, delivering the knowledge and skills we need to navigate and organize in the judicial arena, while working with partners on the ground to build and sustain our capacity in this realm. SCPM addresses the critical need to understand and navigate courts at the state level as key decision-makers in our collective fight to win racial, gender and reproductive justice as we work to defend our rights and achieve our long-term vision of building a liberated multi-racial democracy.
re: power invites directly impacted and/or BIPOC organizers and leaders working in or entering the State Supreme Courts field to apply for the State Courts on the Power Map Judicial Cohort. The cohort will accept 14 participants from different states to participate in a 15-week learning lab to develop research strategies and tools to better understand and navigate state courts using your own home states as a learning container to learn, experiment, and build strategic campaigns targeting the State Courts. The training focuses on building the strategic skills and training capacity of strategists, movement lawyers, and organizers who work across issues.
SCPM centers the communities who are the most impacted by the decisions state courts are making: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, especially women, trans and queer folks.
Who is this course for?
Our primary objective for this work is to collaborate with state allies to build sustainable BIPOC-led infrastructure that can successfully organize state courts that reflect the communities they serve and that stand for justice. We will work with:
- Movement-focused partner organizations and communities of all levels of experience who are committed to learning new frameworks and building strategic skills to navigate the judicial arena
- Directly impacted and/or BIPOC organizers and leaders working in or entering the State Supreme Courts field
- Folks involved in related movement work: We seek to support leaders who are currently part of organizations or efforts to advance and defend issues that are impacted by the courts and are seeking to educate and engage new and existing allies in efforts to impact the judicial arena.
- Relational & people-focused participants who are excited to build relationships, invest in the leadership of others, and build teams of purpose-driven leaders.
What will you learn?
Our 15-week learning lab cohort is designed with our movements in mind. This learning container will offer a week-by-week training and skill building approach to help you learn:
- The judges sitting on your State Supreme Court Bench and unpack how they’re selected, evaluated, and held accountable
- Strategies used by the Right to attack to pack, limit, and weaken state supreme courts
- Identify, track, and organize around key cases moving forward in your state’s Supreme Court
- The importance of judicial diversity and representation in our supreme courts and how to build judicial pipelines in your state
- Conduct a state-specific SWOT analysis and power map that includes state courts
- Learn the different ways to organize in and around state courts from experts and leaders in the field
Lesson Plan
State Court Judicial Selection & Composition: Learn about your state’s judicial selection method and begin to gain an assessment of the cohort’s state court structure.
Identifying Opportunities and Threats: 2025 Key Cases Moving Forward: Learn how to identify and unpack key cases moving forward in the Supreme Court. Understand the relationship between the courts, state laws, and the rights we are fighting to protect.
Identifying Opportunities and Threats: 2025 Legislation Impacting Courts: Understand the relationship between courts and other branches of government. Participants will learn how to identify and track important pieces of legislation as they relate to the courts.
State Courts Under Attack: Unpacking the Threats to State Supreme Courts
Judicial Evaluation & Accountability: Learn about the types of judicial evaluation in your state. Identify official and unofficial evaluation mechanisms in your state.
Understanding the Importance of State Courts and Organizing: Learn what organizing around state courts looks like from BIPOC and WOC leaders across the nation. Provide a container for dialogue between cohort and state court leaders
Talking About State Courts: Developing movement-centered communication & narrative around State Courts
Who is Sitting in Our State Supreme Courts?: Working to diversity our State Supreme Courts
State Courts SWOT Analysis: Identifying the Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats in our state court system
Building Campaigns Around State Courts: Expanding our campaigns to include state courts on our power map
Expectations
This is an interactive course with live practice, 1:1 coaching, and bi-weekly assignments. Our learning sessions require active participation from our cohort, including engaging in the chat box, sharing verbally, and participating in group breakout discussions to practice key concepts and skills we are learning. We encourage but do not require, participants to turn on video at all times, especially during breakout discussions.
To join the cohort, participants must:
- Commit to attending our cohort in-person team launch
- Commit to attending all 9 bi-weekly learning sessions
- Attend 4 coaching sessions
- Complete state-specific case study work
Make-up Policy
In case of a work or family emergency that cannot be rescheduled without putting jobs/health in jeopardy, participants may miss up to two scheduled sessions (lectures or coaching sessions). Make-up work will be required.
