Movie Buzz

The power to nominate judges to the Supreme Court and the federal courts of appeal gives our presidents the opportunity to make their influence felt long after they leave office. How have President Bush's confirmed nominees affected the direction and ideological makeup of the courts?

On March 12, 2008, Alliance for Justice and Center for American Progress co-hosted a film screening of Supreme Injustices and a luncheon panel discussion with Nan Aron, President, Alliance for Justice, David Frum, Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute and Contributing Editor, National Review, and Roger Wilkins, Clarence J. Robinson Professor of History and American Culture, George Mason University to discuss these important questions.  Mark Agrast, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress moderated the panel.

» View a podcast of the event
» Read news coverage of the event

For nearly 15 years, AFJ has used new media strategies to engage the public around social justice issues. AFJ's pioneering short documentary films, use of blogs and web messaging efforts have helped to change the face of advocacy outreach.  On February 28th, Nan Aron, President of Alliance for Justice joined Glen Pearcy, an Academy Award nominated filmmaker in an interactive conversation sponsored by American University's Center for Social Media about the use of new mediums in education and advocacy campaigns. 

The event concluded with a screening of Supreme Injustices and tales of how AFJ has utilized the film to raise awareness about the importance of the federal judiciary in the lives of ordinary Americans. 

Read more about this event in the Center for Social Media's March newsletter.

On January 16, 2008, Roger Williams School of Law student chapters of Women’s Law Society, Association of Public Interest Law, American Constitution Society, Multicultural Law Student Association and Federalist Society sponsored a screening of Supreme Injustices followed by a debate focusing on the topic: Should the U.S. Supreme Court be Conservative?

Nan Aron, president and founder of Alliance for Justice kicked off the debate representing a progressive viewpoint, while Ronald Cass, president of Cass & Associates, and chairman of the Center for the Rule of Law, an independent non-profit center of international scholars analyzing rule of law issues argued from a conservative perspective on the topic area. Although the debaters differed on several major issues, both agree that as Americans head to the polls and elect a new President of the United States, they will have a number of important issues to consider, including the future direction of the Supreme Court and our nation’s judicial selection process.

» View a podcast of the debate here

» Read about the debate in the Providence Journal

15 Organizations Join to host a screening of
Supreme Injustices at Stanford Law School

On Tuesday, November 13, 2007, more than 60 students and faculty members gathered at Stanford Law School for a screening of Supreme Injustices. This special lunchtime event was sponsored by the John and Terry Levin Center for Public Service and Public Interest Law and Law Students for Reproductive Justice, and co-sponsored by 13 law student organizations.

Susan Feathers, Executive Director of the Center for Public Service and Public Interest Law , opened the program by welcoming audience members and acknowledging student organizations that helped plan the event. After the film screening, Stanford Law Professor Larry Marshall moderated a lengthy question and answer exchange between AFJ President Nan Aron and event participants.

Supreme Injustices was well received, especially by students. They asked how lawyers and law school students can explain and emphasize the importance of judicial nominations and the courts to the general public. Mrs. Aron responded by calling on students to ask federal judges who visit Stanford tough questions, especially about their views and records on civil rights and other important constitutional protections. She encouraged students to get involved in the judicial selection process by expressing their opinions and concerns about judicial nominees to their elected representatives. Mrs. Aron concluded by encouraging students to vote in November 2008. She says, “With the Supreme Court so closely divided, the outcome of the 2008 presidential election will determine the make up of the Court for years to come.”

At the end of the event, student organizers urged their colleagues to take action by signing and circulating a sign-on letter addressed to Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA). The letter expressed disappointment with Senator Feinstein's role in the confirmation of Leslie Southwick to the Fifth Circuit of Appeals, and Michael Mukasey as U.S. Attorney General, confirmations that aid President Bush in his pursuit to nominate individuals and implement policies that undermine our nation’s commitment to equal rights and the rule of law. The letter concluded by urging Senator Feinstein to use her leadership to ensure the civil rights and protections guaranteed by the Constitution.

We are offering Supreme Injustices as a centerpiece for educational forums, debates and class room discussions focusing on the Supreme Court. Since October 1st, screenings of Supreme Injustices have occurred, or are scheduled to occur on campuses and at community-based events in the green states on the map. Please see Upcoming Events to learn more, or sign up to host a screening in your area.

Supreme Injustices Premieres!

Nan Aron talks with students at the Howard University Law School Screening of Supreme Injustices.