On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, Oded Oren announced that Scrutinize.org, his New York‑based platform for tracking judicial decisions, will broaden its coverage to include additional courts and judges throughout the city. The expansion is paired with a call for voters to examine judges’ sentencing trends and their engagement with legal arguments when assessing candidates for elected judicial positions.
Scrutinize.org was originally created after Oren spent time as a public‑defender in the Bronx. During that period he observed consistent differences in how individual judges handled similar cases, a pattern that sparked the idea of a public‑access database that could make such information transparent. Since its launch, the site has gained traction within legal circles for aggregating rulings, sentencing data, and case outcomes.
The new phase of the project will add data from a wider range of trial and appellate courts, as well as more detailed metrics on how often judges reference specific legal precedents. Oren says that presenting this information in an accessible format will give ordinary citizens the tools to evaluate judicial performance before casting ballots in upcoming elections.
Oren’s motivation stems from the belief that informed voting on the bench can improve accountability. By highlighting patterns in sentencing and argument engagement, he hopes to reduce the opacity that often surrounds the judiciary. The platform’s growth reflects a broader interest among attorneys, scholars, and advocacy groups in using data to monitor the legal system.
The expansion comes at a time when New York City voters are slated to consider several judicial seats in the next election cycle. Oren urges residents to consult Scrutinize.org as a resource for comparing candidates’ records, noting that the site now offers a more comprehensive view of how judges have ruled in past cases.