However, the Chief Judge of any District Court -- and Taylor is, or was, the Chief Judge in the Eastern District of Michigan -- can override the random assignment and give a particular case to a particular judge.
If Taylor jumped ranks and assigned this case to herself so she could assist her buddies in the ACLU, she should not only be disciplined and removed from the case, she should be removed from the Bench. Either her fellow judges can act, or Congress can impeach her.
John / Billybob
The ACLU did choose this judge.