MAGA SUPREME COURT JUDGES MUST BE STOPPED
QUICK READ: The MAGA Supreme Court Judges, beset by conflicts of interest and corruption, must be reined in. Last year, they overturned Roe, rewrote the 2nd Amendment, cratered church-state separation, and stymied the EPA’s regulation of carbon emissions. This year, they’ve prevented us from keeping water unpolluted, will soon allow corporations to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people, and will further gut voting rights, equity in higher education, Indigenous people’s rights to decide their futures, and student loan debt relief.
CONTENTS:
BACKGROUND
Although the Supreme Court’s been chipping away at our freedoms for years, it was not until Mitch McConnell stole 3 positions, that the MAGA faction was able to make itself the sole arbiter of our collective future. The coalition of the rich, corporate interests and Christian nationalists is using them to accomplish what’s legislatively impossible—bringing back pre-New Deal America.
They’ve
· Ignored established precedents;
· Misread the Constitution and statutes;
· Used no facts/false facts/invented facts;
· Replaced existing tests with no tests;
· Made substantive law on the brief-less shadow docket;
· Eroded the administrative state;
· Anointed themselves the dominant branch of government.
These MAGA Judges, serving their dark money donors who bankroll many of their cases and amicus briefs, are making the world safer for big business, polluters, certain kinds of religious objectors, and gun manufacturers.
The most effective way to protect our freedoms and prevent these MAGA Judges from further destroying our democracy, our freedoms, and the federal government’s ability to function is by adding 4 justices to the Courts (S.1616/HR.3422). Less effective ways include exposing through hearings the MAGA Judges’ corruption and conflicts of interest and then passing the Supreme Court, Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act (S.359/HR.926), and imposing term limits and mandatory retirement.
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]. Thank you for cosponsoring S.359, the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act, but much more is needed. The most effective way to protect our democracy and our freedoms from the Court’s MAGA Judges, who are making the world safer for big business, polluters, certain kinds of religious objectors, and gun manufacturers, is by passing the Judiciary Act (S.1616), which I urge you to co-sponsor. Please also push for hearings about the ethical transgressions of all 6 of them and help lay the groundwork for ethics reform (S.359), possible term limits, and a set retirement age.
*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]. Thank you for cosponsoring S.359, the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act, and working to expose MAGA Judge Thomas’ corruption, but much more is needed. The most effective way to protect our democracy and our freedoms from the Court’s MAGA Judges, who are making the world safer for big business, polluters, certain kinds of religious objectors, and gun manufacturers, is by passing the Judiciary Act (S.1616), which I urge you to co-sponsor. Please also push for hearings about the ethical transgressions of all 6 of them and help lay the groundwork for ethics reform (S.359), possible term limits, and a set retirement age.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code]. The corruption and ethical lapses of the Supreme Court’s supermajority, along with its extremely unpopular rulings, are creating a crisis of legitimacy. The Supreme Court must abide by the same ethical rules as the federal bench. Please convince your caucus to push for passage of the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act (S.359).
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 corruption and ethical lapses of the Supreme Court’s MAGA Judges, along with their extremely unpopular rulings, are creating a crisis of legitimacy. The most effective way to protect our democracy and our freedoms from these MAGA Judges, who are making the world safer for big business, polluters, certain kinds of religious objectors, and gun manufacturers, is by passing the Judiciary Act (HR.3422), which I urge you to co-sponsor. Please also push for hearings about the ethical transgressions of all 6 of them and help lay the groundwork for passage of the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act (HR.926), possible term limits, and a set retirement age.
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].
The corruption and ethical lapses of the Supreme Court’s supermajority, along with its extremely unpopular rulings, are creating a crisis of legitimacy. The Supreme Court must abide by the same ethical rules as the federal bench. Please convince your caucus to push for passage of the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act (HR.926).
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]. Thank you for cosponsoring HR.926, the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act, but much more is needed. The most effective way to protect our democracy and our freedoms from the Court’s MAGA Judges, who are making the world safer for big business, polluters, certain kinds of religious objectors, and gun manufacturers, is by passing the Judiciary Act (HR.3422), which I urge you to co-sponsor. Please also push for hearings about the ethical transgressions of all 6 of them and help lay the groundwork for ethics reform (HR.926), possible term limits, and a set retirement age.
Script for Val Hoyle (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 corruption and ethical lapses of the Supreme Court’s MAGA Judges, along with their extremely unpopular rulings, are creating a crisis of legitimacy. The most effective way to protect our democracy and our freedoms from these MAGA Judges, who are making the world safer for big business, polluters, certain kinds of religious objectors, and gun manufacturers, is by passing the Judiciary Act (HR.3422), which I urge you to co-sponsor. Please also push for hearings about the ethical transgressions of all 6 of them and help lay the groundwork for passage of the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act (HR.926), possible term limits, and a set retirement age.
Script for Lori Chavez-DeRemer (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 corruption and ethical lapses of the Supreme Court’s supermajority, along with its extremely unpopular rulings, are creating a crisis of legitimacy. The Supreme Court must abide by the same ethical rules as the federal bench. Please convince your caucus to push for passage of the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act (HR.926).
Script for Andrea Salinas (OR-06)
Salem office: 503-385-0906 | DC office: 202-225-5643
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The corruption and ethical lapses of the Supreme Court’s MAGA Judges, along with their extremely unpopular rulings, are creating a crisis of legitimacy. The most effective way to protect our democracy and our freedoms from these MAGA Judges, who are making the world safer for big business, polluters, certain kinds of religious objectors, and gun manufacturers, is by passing the Judiciary Act (HR.3422), which I urge you to co-sponsor. Please also push for hearings about the ethical transgressions of all 6 of them and help lay the groundwork for passage of the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act (HR.926), possible term limits, and a set retirement age.
FURTHER READING
Who Can Rein In the Supreme Court
The Major Supreme Court Decisions in 2022
Supreme Risk: An Interactive Guide to Rights the Supreme Court Could Take Away
Supreme Court weakens EPA power to enforce Clean Water Act
As Right-Wing Judiciary Thrashes Democracy, Dems Reintroduce Bill to Expand Supreme Court
Clarence Thomas Can’t Undermine the Legitimacy of the Supreme Court Fast Enough
