Coalition Letter Demanding Judicial Nominees Who Are Fair-Minded, Well-Qualified, and Committed to Civil and Human Rights
View the PDF of the letter here.
Dear Senator:
On behalf of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and the undersigned 84 national organizations, we write to press the urgency of building a federal judiciary that lives up to its promise of equal justice for all. The civil rights community has spent decades advocating for a demographically and professionally diverse federal judiciary that works for all of us, not just the wealthy and powerful. We do this work, without regard to the president’s party or who is in the Senate majority, because we believe in equal justice and understand the immense power of federal judges and justices to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people throughout the nation. It is in that spirit that we urge you to make our federal judiciary an enduring priority and demand that all judicial nominees are fair-minded, well-qualified, and have a demonstrated commitment to civil and human rights.
All federal judges decide cases that impact our rights and ability to live in a thriving, multiracial democracy. Judges rule on cases involving voting rights, access to health care, LGBTQ equality, disability rights, protections for immigrants, rights of working people, sexual harassment, freedom from discrimination based on religion, environmental protections, gun safety, and more. Throughout the 117th and 118th Congresses, President Biden and the Senate made great strides to improve our judiciary through the confirmation of judicial nominees who possess a dedication to equal justice. Many of these confirmed judges came to the bench with significant experience protecting civil and human rights and represent communities who have long been excluded from and unrepresented on the bench. These judges are already ensuring that justice is served in more corners of our country and making a real difference in people’s lives. This progress is significant.
At the same time, some of our federal courts have limited or rolled back our rights. Throughout the previous Trump administration, nominees were often selected for their anti-civil and human rights work, and overall they did not reflect our communities. Unfortunately, this has had dire consequences for the communities we represent. For the first time in our nation’s history, a majority on the U.S. Supreme Court took away a fundamental right — the right to abortion. The Supreme Court and lower federal courts have jeopardized other civil and human rights and protections as well. Our nation’s highest court has also failed to address the serious ethics crisis that calls into question their fairness and impartiality. For our rights, our families, our communities, and our future, all senators must seriously evaluate every single judicial nominee to ensure they meet the highest ethical standards, are fair-minded, possess a commitment to the civil and human rights of all, and have the personal and professional experience that enhance the provision of equal justice for all. Every judicial seat in America matters for the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, and it is up to the Senate to ensure these seats are filled by nominees who are committed to this important task.
Senators have a constitutional duty, as part of their constitutional advice and consent responsibility, to carefully consider each of the president’s nominees for the federal bench, most of whom are nominated to serve in lifetime positions. It is crucial that anyone you consider for a federal judgeship is fair-minded and possesses a record that reflects their commitment to protecting the rights of all people, not just the wealthy and powerful.
For our democracy to work, all people in America need to be able to trust that judges and justices will be fair. We call upon the Senate to do everything in its power to make sure any nominee who is confirmed will truly deliver equal justice under law.
Sincerely,
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Accountable.US
Advancement Project
African American Policy Forum
AFL-CIO
AFT
Alliance for Justice
American Civil Liberties Union
American Constitution Society
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
Americans for Financial Reform
American Humanist Association
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
The Andrew Goodman Foundation
Ashoka
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action
A Better Balance
Center for Constitutional Rights
CenterLink: The Community of LGBTQ Centers
Clearinghouse on Women’s Issues
Coalition on Human Needs
Court Accountability
DemCast USA
Demand Justice
Demos
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
Drug Policy Alliance
Earthjustice
Empowering Pacific Islander Communities
Equal Justice Society
Equal Rights Advocates
Feminist Majority Foundation
Friends of the Earth
FFRF Action Fund
Government Information Watch
Greenpeace USA
Hispanic Federation
Indivisible
Interfaith Alliance
Japanese American Citizens League
Juvenile Law Center
Lambda Legal
LatinoJustice PRLDEF
Lawyers for Good Government
League of Conservation Voters
League of United Latin American Citizens
NAACP
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.
Nathaniel R. Jones Foundation
National Association of Consumer Advocates
National Association of Social Workers
National Council of Jewish Women
National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)
National Education Association
National Employment Law Project
National Employment Lawyers Association
National Fair Housing Alliance
National Health Law Program
National Homelessness Law Center
National Immigration Law Center
National LGBTQ+ Bar Association
National Network of Abortion Funds
National Organization for Women
National Partnership for Women & Families
National Urban League
National Women’s Law Center
NBJC
OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates
People For the American Way
People’s Parity Project
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Popular Democracy in Action
Public Advocacy for Kids (PAK)
Reproaction
Reproductive Freedom for All
The Secular Coalition for America
SEIU
Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund
The Sikh Coalition
Stand Up America
Supermajority
Union for Reform Judaism
Voices for Progress
The Workers Circle