Sandy Adams Introduces Bill to Prevent the Misuse of Foreign Law in Federal Courts
Legislation Upholds American Constitution and U.S. Laws
Earlier today, U.S Representative Sandy Adams of Florida's 24th Congressional District introduced a bill to protect the misuse of foreign law in our federal courts. The bill is co-sponsored by 51 Representatives, including Congressman Bill Posey, who represents the southern part of Brevard County in Florida's 15th Congressional District.
The two-page bill plainly states that “in any court created by or under Article III of the Constitution of the United States, no justice, judge, or other judicial official shall decide any issue in a case before that court in whole or in part on the authority of foreign law, except to the extent the Constitution or an Act of Congress requires the consideration of that foreign law.”
Adams released the following statement regarding her proposed legislation:
“We have an American judicial system for a reason and my bill aims to protect it. Over the years, Supreme Court justices have interjected international law into their rulings, creating precedent for national sovereignty and our Constitution. Not only does using international precedent chip away at our nation’s founding principles, but it could be used to promote a judge’s personal political agenda instead of what’s best for the country. My bill protects the integrity of our Constitution and U.S. laws by clarifying that our courts should follow and uphold our laws – not defer to those of foreign nations.
“Every case that cites foreign law is another opportunity for precedent to be set and the Constitution to be challenged or overrun. Policy should be decided through the American policy-making process prescribed by our Constitution, not by foreign courts or the preferences of the judges who happened to be serving at the time. We have an American judicial system for a reason, and it is time we protect our Constitution and the system that was put in place over 200 years ago.”
The bill's 51-co-sponsors include:
Todd Akin (MO-02)
Spencer Bachus (AL-06)
Lou Barletta (PA-11)
Diane Black (TN-06)
Marsha Blackburn (TN-07)
Mo Brooks (AL-05)
Ann Marie Buerkle (NY-25)
Dan Burton (IN-05)
John Carter (TX-31)
Jason Chaffetz (UT-03)
Howard Coble (NC-06)
Tom Cole (OK-04)
Jeff Duncan (SC-03)
John Duncan (TN-02)
Renee Ellmers (NC-02)
Bill Flores (TX-17)
Randy Forbes (VA-04)
Elton Gallegly (CA-24)
Scott Garrett (NJ-05)
Phil Gingrey (GA-11)
Louie Gohmert (TX-01)
Bob Goodlatte (VA-06)
Tim Huelskamp (KS-01)
Darrell Issa (CA-49)
Walter Jones (NC-03)
Steve King (IA-05)
Jack Kingston (GA-01)
Dan Lungren (CA-03)
Donald Manzullo (IL-16)
Tom Marino (PA-10)
Tom McClintock (CA-04)
Thaddeus McCotter (MI-11)
Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-03)
Candice Miller (MI-10)
Jeff Miller (FL-01)
Randy Neugebauer (TX-19)
Richard Nugent (FL-05)
Ron Paul (TX-14)
Mike Pence (IN-06)
Joe Pitts (PA-16)
Bill Posey (FL-15)
Tom Reed (NY-29)
Phil Roe (TN-01)
Tom Rooney (FL-16)
Dennis Ross (FL-24)
Jean Schmidt (OH-02)
Jim Sensenbrenner (WI-05)
Marlin Stutzman (IN-03)
Tim Walberg (MI-07)
Lynn Westmoreland (GA-03)
Joe Wilson (SC-02)
To read the entire text of the bill, visit http://adams.house.gov/press-release/adams-introduces-bill-prevent-misuse-foreign-law-federal-courts
Comments