CPAC Insider
Judges Making Law: How Activism Corrupted the US Courts
By Anthony Anthony Ma - 2026 CPAC Global Explorer
Australia, like the United States, has three separate but co-equal branches of government; the legislature, executive and judiciary. Though the finer details differ greatly between our countries, the fundamental purpose is to provide interlocking systems of accountability that prevent abuses of power.
Accountability through the judiciary arises only when it is independent. Australia safeguards independence robustly through non-partisan appointment processes and a strong culture of keeping the judiciary free of politics. This has produced a judiciary that for decades was the most conservative in the common law world, deferring to the will of the elected legislature so as not to legislate from the bench while still enforcing constitutional red lines.
He took issue with a number of fellow conservatives but finished it by saying this: “I would walk across hot coals with them arm in arm to stop the Democrats”.
A key message from Matt and Mercedes Schlapp when opening the CPAC conference was on the need for the broad base of conservatives to unite and work together for the Midterms.
Michael Knowles and Matt Schlapp hosted a session called “Can’t We all Just Get Along”. They discussed the importance of celebrating the wins the right have accomplished and recognising that the threat against them is too great. That this moment is do or die.
The stakes for the upcoming Midterms are high.
The Republicans losing would create a massive legislative and political barrier for the Trump administration. There’s no doubt that the Democrats will begin their campaign of impeachments. This would cripple the continual achievements of the President.
Ultimately, the message was to recognise that the political enemy is not those inside the tent but those outside.
The right in Australia faces a similar situation.
The long line of political parties that sit on the right are all fighting each other, fighting over the same voters and letting the real ideological opponents get away unchecked.
The recent South Australian state election was a demonstration of this. The focus of right-wing parties was largely directed toward seats already held by non-Labor parties, all while SA Labor won its highest number of seats in its history. This was a spectacular failure for the conservative cause.
Each of the parties has its own approach to politics and attracts its own supporters, but failing to match the discipline of the left will see our cause lose time and time again.
On the first day of the conference, CPAC Australia's own Andrew Cooper made a very important point by saying: “The only way to change the policy is to change the government”.
CPAC may well provide the forum in Australia for achieving that unity, advancing our conservative values in government and our way of life.
The Global Explorers program
is made possible by the generosity of our CPAC donors. Applications for 2027 will open later this year — stay tuned for details.
Think this could be you? Learn more about the Global Explorers program here and start getting ready.








JOIN NOW
TO ACTIVATE TICKET DISCOUNTS!
Discount codes can be applied once you
select your ticket type.






