Judiciary
Task Force Description
The ALEC Judiciary Task Force develops model policy solutions on criminal and civil justice matters. Currently, nearly one in every 100 American adults is behind bars and once released from prison more than four in ten return within three years. This failing system costs federal, state, and local governments approximately $85 billion, yet does not deliver adequate public safety results for taxpayers, victims, and individuals. In addition, our current criminal justice system places tremendous human costs on society.
In response, the American Legislative Exchange Council began its work in criminal justice and aimed to advance proven criminal justice reforms based on over two decades of data-driven research and practice. Members of the Judiciary Task Force advance solutions that refocus criminal justice resources on dangerous individuals and put the right programs in place to hold those who commit nonviolent offenses accountable while providing them with the resources they need to successfully reenter society.
On civil justice, the Judiciary Task Force and its members are at the forefront of the efforts to restore fairness and predictability to the civil justice system. The Task Force has developed model policy to protect the legal system from frivolous litigation that threatens its reliability, strains judicial resources and cripples businesses’ ability to innovate, employ and engender economic prosperity. We bring together legal scholars, state lawmakers and industry representatives to craft targeted reforms that minimize loopholes, oust outrageous legal theories, align lawsuits with commonsense liability, and make the legal system a better arbiter of the free market economy.
This work has resulted in the development of over 75 diligently developed model policies that balance justice in such areas as consumer protection liability, judicial overreach, asbestos litigation, workers’ compensation, product liability, anti-SLAPP public speech protection, jury service, sue and settle regulatory expansion and more.
Meeting Information
Judiciary Task Force
- Subcommittee Meeting
- Thursday, July 16, 2026
- 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST
- Task Force Meeting
- Thursday, July 23, 2026
- 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM EST
Task Force Meeting Agenda
- 2:00 PM – Call to Order: Introductions
- Policy Presentation: Probation Reform
- Policy Presentation: Open Fields Doctrine / No Government Trespassing Act
- Consideration of New Model Policies:
- A Resolution to Safeguard First Amendment Rights in Charitable Giving and Increase Efficiency
- Women’s Childbirth Alternatives, Resources, and Education (CARE) Act
- Reporting on Incarceration Pregnancy Postpartum Outcomes Act
- Energy Security and Independence Act
- Public Nuisance Reform Act
Draft Policies
All Model Policies
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Energy Security and Independence Act Draft
Section 1. Purpose and scope. (a) This Act shall be known and may be cited as the “Energy Security and Independence Act”. (b) The purposes of this Act are: To prohibit causes of action against those who lawfully produce, manufacture, purchase…
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Women’s Childbirth Alternatives, Resources, and Education (CARE) Act Draft
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF __________: Section 1. Short Title This Act shall be known and may be cited as the “Women’s Childbirth Alternatives, Resources, And Education (CARE) Act.” Section 2. Legislative Findings and Purpose (A)…
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Reporting on Incarceration Pregnancy and Postpartum Outcomes Act Draft
Section 1. Legislative Findings and Purposes In enacting this legislation, the [State] Legislature recognizes the need for accurate, standardized information to evaluate pregnancy-related care in custodial settings and to support responsible oversight of correctional health systems. Accordingly, the Legislature makes the following findings and declares the following purposes: (a)…
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A Resolution to Safeguard First Amendment Rights in Charitable Giving and Increase Efficiency Draft
WHEREAS, the First Amendment protects freedom of speech and association, and forcing charities to register with the state and pay a fee before speaking is a prior restraint on speech; WHEREAS, many state charitable registration systems are duplicative of information already provided by private sector charity watchdog organizations, imposing unnecessary burdens on…
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Public Nuisance Reform Act Draft
Section 1. Public Nuisance Exemptions (A) In addition to any other claim, action, or condition determined by the courts applying the common law not to constitute or give rise to a cause of action for public nuisance, and notwithstanding any other law, the following list of actions or conditions shall not be considered…
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An Act to Establish a Court Appearance Reminder Program and Reduce Failure to Appear Final
Section 1. Legislative findings and purpose. The Legislature finds that: (a) Every missed court appearance where a warrant is a consequence costs the government an estimated $1,496 in time and resources; (b)Every missed court appearance where a warrant is a consequence drastically…