Collaborative for Gender + Reproductive Equity Appoints ICRW’s Ann Warner as New Executive Director

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Judicial

CGRE supports efforts that use state courts to advance gender, reproductive, and racial equity. We push to ensure that state courts are a strong and fair safeguard for reproductive rights and gender equity.

With the federal judiciary dominated by judges hostile to gender, reproductive, and racial equity, advocates can no longer rely on federal courts to advance legal protections or stop harmful laws. State courts handle nearly 95% of all legal cases in the U.S., from abortion access and gender-affirming care protections to voting and parental rights — meaning so much of what shapes our freedoms plays out at the state level.

CGRE’s judicial strategy supports organizations and leaders developing new pathways for advancing gender, reproductive, and racial equity through the power of state courts. State courts are a major and under-resourced opportunity. This informs our focus, ensuring that state courts are positioned to enshrine rights at the state level and advance an equity agenda.

Through this strategy, we invest in building long-term legal and civic infrastructure, strengthening judicial independence, and ensuring that courts remain a viable avenue for advancing justice. Our approach includes:

  • Advancing cross-state legal collaboration through convenings and networking opportunities.
  • Expanding nonpartisan civic engagement and public education on the importance of an independent judiciary.
  • Leveraging state constitutions through impact litigation to advance gender, reproductive, and racial equity.

We aim to strengthen a diverse ecosystem of state and regional law centers, expand public understanding and participation in judicial systems, safeguard judicial independence, and advance gender, reproductive, and racial equity through movement-driven litigation and more inclusive judicial pipelines.

Developing Proactive Litigation Strategies

Two of our grantee partners won a landmark court case in 2022, which not only ruled that numerous Minnesota abortion restrictions are unconstitutional but also permanently blocked their enforcement. The case was a catalyst that helped launch a critical coalition, which used the case to build a bigger movement for reproductive rights and justice in the state.

CGRE supports the impact litigation strategy of these organizations, which bring a movement-based approach to litigation, including partnership and coalition building, policy advocacy, and public education to use state courts as a pathway to advance gender and reproductive rights. This model recognizes community education and engagement are required to change the way we talk and think about gender equity.

“CGRE provided critical support for [our] State Court Justice Project allowing us to further build out the State Court Justice Project Hub, educate the public about the importance of state courts, and channel this work into developing new coalitions." Judicial Grantee Partner

Support from CGRE is made by invitation only; we do not accept unsolicited proposals. We are grateful to our grantee partners who navigate the current environment and provide critical leadership in the pursuit of gender, reproductive, and racial equity.