THE SUPREME COURT NEEDS MORE THAN JUSTICE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON

Her appointment is a good first step, but Congress must intervene to prevent the Court’s ultraconservative supermajority from constraining both the executive and legislative branches and destroying our democracy in the process.

QUICK READ: The elevation of Judge Jackson to the Supreme Court is a cause for celebration, but it will not change the Court’s 6-3 ultraconservative majority’s rush to return America to the 1950’s when white Christians were in the majority and the government worked only for them. Americans have lost confidence in the Court’s impartiality as we watch the majority rush to overturn settled law it dislikes just because it can, misread the Constitution to prevent executive and legislative behavior it dislikes, misuse the shadow docket, and flaunt its ethical obligations. Congressional investigation and intervention are necessary to prevent the Court from running roughshod over our freedoms and destroying our democracy.


TAKE ACTION NOW:

BACKGROUND

Americans today have lost faith in SCOTUS’ independence and legitimacy, viewing it as highly politicized. 

We’re horrified by 

·      SCOTUS’ ultraconservative majority trying to return America to the 1950s by misusing the shadow docket and discarding precedents to negate settled law protecting majority interests and by willfully ignoring the racially disparate impact of voter suppression laws and pretending that people of color have equal access to the ballot box 

·      The disgraceful, racist attacks Judge Jackson endured during her confirmation hearings

·      Justice Thomas’ refusal to recuse himself from election and January 6 cases in which his wife’s implicated 

·      Such blatant misuse of SCOTUS’ shadow docket that even the Chief Justice dissented.

By the end of this term, SCOTUS will likely have eliminated abortion rights, expanded gun rights, bolstered the death penalty, required taxpayers to fund religious schools, outlawed affirmative action, crippled the administrative state, upheld partisan redistricting, and further eroded voting rights. Unless Congress intervenes, this  erosion if our civil rights will continue for decades.

This supermajority is also greatly enhancing SCOTUS’ power at the expense of Congress and the Executive.

Neutralizing prior GOP court-packing by adding 4 new justices is the only effective way to counteract these attacks 

Congress must tackle these problems before it’s too late.


ACTION One: Call the Senate.

Script for Oregon Senators

SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753

My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

The elevation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court is a cause for celebration, but it will not change the Court’s rush to return America to the 1950’s. Congressional investigation and intervention are necessary to prevent SCOTUS from running roughshod over our freedoms and destroying our democracy. Thank you for co-sponsoring the Supreme Court Ethics Act (S.2512), which is a good first step, but only the Judiciary Act of 2021 (S.1141) will have any meaningful impact on this out-of-control Court.

SEN. WYDEN:

Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

The elevation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court is a cause for celebration, but it will not change the Court’s rush to return America to the 1950’s. Congressional investigation and intervention are necessary to prevent SCOTUS from running roughshod over our freedoms and destroying our democracy. Thank you for co-sponsoring the Supreme Court Ethics Act (S.2512), which is a good first step, but only the Judiciary Act of 2021 (S.1141) will have any meaningful impact on this out-of-control Court.

Script for Republican Senators

D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].

I demand that you speak out against the racist, sexist attacks on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson that occurred during her confirmation hearing. I also expect you to push for Justice Thomas’ investigation for serious conflict of interest, to demand he recuse himself from all future 2020 election and January 6 cases, and to support the Supreme Court Ethics Act (S.2512 in the Senate and H.R 5720 in the House).


ACTION TWO: Call the House.

Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)

Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

The elevation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court is a cause for celebration, but it will not change the Court’s rush to return America to the 1950’s. Congressional investigation and intervention are necessary to prevent SCOTUS from running roughshod over our freedoms and destroying our democracy. The Supreme Court Ethics Act (H.R. 5720) is a good first step, but only the Judiciary Act of 2021 (H.R. 2584) will have any meaningful impact on this out-of-control Court.

Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)

Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

I demand that you speak out against the racist, sexist attacks on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson that occurred during her confirmation hearing. I also expect you to push for Justice Thomas’ investigation for serious conflict of interest, to demand he recuse himself from all future 2020 election and January 6 cases, and to support the Supreme Court Ethics Act (S.2512 in the Senate and H.R 5720 in the House).

Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)

Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

The elevation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court is a cause for celebration, but it will not change the Court’s rush to return America to the 1950’s. Congressional investigation and intervention are necessary to prevent SCOTUS from running roughshod over our freedoms and destroying our democracy. The Supreme Court Ethics Act (H.R. 5720) is a good first step, but only the Judiciary Act of 2021 (H.R. 2584) will have any meaningful impact on this out-of-control Court.

Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)

Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

The elevation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court is a cause for celebration, but it will not change the Court’s rush to return America to the 1950’s. Congressional investigation and intervention are necessary to prevent SCOTUS from running roughshod over our freedoms and destroying our democracy. The Supreme Court Ethics Act (H.R. 5720) is a good first step, but only the Judiciary Act of 2021 (H.R. 2584) will have any meaningful impact on this out-of-control Court.

Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)

Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

The elevation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court is a cause for celebration, but it will not change the Court’s rush to return America to the 1950’s. Congressional investigation and intervention are necessary to prevent SCOTUS from running roughshod over our freedoms and destroying our democracy. The Supreme Court Ethics Act (H.R. 5720) is a good first step, but only the Judiciary Act of 2021 (H.R. 2584) will have any meaningful impact on this out-of-control Court.

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ACTION 3: GOOD TROUBLE

GOOD TROUBLE: Below are opportunities to fight for our democracy. As John Lewis said, go make some “good trouble.” 

  • Find out more about Indivisible Oregon here

FURTHER READING:

Supreme Court pivots to abortion, guns, and death penalty as public approval slides 

Opinion: KBJ’s confirmation fight shows how the Supreme Court must change

Politicians Say the Supreme Court Confirmation Process Is Broken. Here’s Why

The Supreme Court Is Even More Conservative Than You Think

The Supreme Court’s Dead Hand

The Supreme Court’s Abuses of the Shadow Docket Must Be Stopped

How to rein in partisan Supreme Court justices

Thomas controversy fuels efforts to reform Supreme Court rules

Trump’s judges will call the shots for years to come. The judicial system is broken

The radical right’s takeover of the Supreme Court is complete

The Supreme Court’s Total War on Congress

Supreme Court pivots to abortion, guns, and death penalty as public approval slides

Supreme Court Conservatives Plot A Liberal Apocalypse in 2022

US deserves a 21st Century Supreme Court

Taking Back the Supreme Court

I Spent 7 Months Studying Supreme Court Reform. We Need to Pack the Court Now

Most Americans Don’t Think Supreme Court Acts In A ‘Serious and Constitutional Manner’ and Want Reforms, Poll Finds

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