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AFJ Condemns Poisonous Partisanship of Republican Filibuster of Judge Robert Bacharach
07/31/12
The failure today of the Senate to end the filibuster of Judge Robert Bacharach for a seat on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals is one of the most disgraceful acts of obstruction in the unending line of delaying tactics used by Republicans to stymie the judicial appointments of President Obama. It is profoundly discouraging that the American political system has fallen so far into the realm of hyper-partisan dysfunction that senators are willing to play politics with the federal judiciary. The Senate has become a theater of the politically absurd, and is so poisoned with partisanship that even the two senators from Judge Bacharach’s home state, who had expressed unequivocal support for his nomination, willingly voted to ignore their obligations to the Constitution and their fellow Oklahoman.
Read More »AFJ Condemns Unprecedented and Unconscionable Republican Filibuster of Judge Robert Bacharach
07/26/12
Today marks another disappointing day in the United States Senate as once again unabashed Republican obstruction has forced Majority Leader Harry Reid to file a cloture petition to end a filibuster of a highly qualified judicial nominee who is universally considered an excellent choice for a seat on the federal appeals bench. Oklahoma Judge Robert Bacharach, who has the enthusiastic support of both Republican senators from his state, is just the latest victim of the theater of the politically absurd that is the U.S. Senate. Republican Senator Tom Coburn told The Oklahoman newspaper in June that efforts to block Bacharach are “stupid.” We agree. The fact that cloture has to be filed for this nominee is bad enough, but it would be unconscionable if a circuit court nominee reported to the floor with bipartisan support was successfully filibustered for the first time in history.
Read More »AFJ Condemns Partisan Maneuvers in Holder Contempt Proceedings
06/28/12
The House of Representatives will today vote on whether or not to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress for his refusal to turn over sensitive Department of Justice documents to a House committee. Holder had offered to allow committee members to inspect the documents, but maintained that they should not be made public. The dishonest, outrageous decision to hold this vote is an affront to congressional traditions and an unprecedented intrusion of election-year politics into a legal proceeding.
Read More »AFJ Praises Supreme Court Ruling in Health Care Case
06/28/12
This morning, the United States Supreme Court released a decision in the health care cases that comes as an enormous relief to tens of millions of Americans whose lives depend on access to health insurance. The importance of this law to American families cannot be underestimated and it was a big win for this policy, the president, and the American people. While a majority allowed the core provisions of the law to stand by finding a justification for its legitimacy in Congress’ constitutional powers to enact a tax, we fear that embedded in the decision is a ticking time bomb that may have profound implications for the future.
Read More »AFJ Condemns Republican Obstruction of Circuit Court Nominees
06/14/12
Washington, D.C., May 3, 2012—As part of a relentless and destructive three-year-long campaign by Republicans to block and delay President Obama’s federal court nominees, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has told members of his caucus that he will prevent any votes on pending circuit court nominees for the remainder of the year, ensuring that our severely understaffed courts will remain in crisis and further undermining Senate procedures and traditions in the name of partisan warfare.
Read More »Alliance for Jusice Poll Shows Americans Concerned About Pro-Corporate Bias and Politicization on the Supreme Court
06/14/12
With national attention riveted on the United States Supreme Court as major decisions loom on the Affordable Care Act, the Arizona immigration law, and other key cases, a national poll conducted by Alliance for Justice has found that only 41% of voters approve of the way the Court is handling its job. In addition, a majority believe it is functioning as a political institution and have serious concerns that the justices’ decisions favor corporate interests over those of individual Americans.
Read More »Alliance for Justice Calls for Action on D.C. Circuit Court Nominees
06/11/12
Today’s nominations of Caitlin Halligan and Sri Srinivasan to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals represent a significant step toward staffing one of the most important courts in the federal judiciary. Both nominees deserve swift consideration before the end of this year. The fact that Halligan faced a Republican filibuster in 2011 and had to be re-nominated speaks volumes about the unprecedented level of partisan obstruction that has severely damaged the federal court system.
Read More »Alliance for Justice Announces "Bolder Advocacy" Initiative
05/08/12
Alliance for Justice, the leading expert in nonprofit advocacy law, announced the launch of a new initiative to provide greater support and enhanced resources for nonprofit organizations seeking to have a policy impact in 2012 and beyond. The new Bolder Advocacy initiative is a comprehensive approach to training and equipping nonprofits and foundations to be effective in their work by better understanding the laws and regulations governing organizations engaging in advocacy.
Read More »Alliance for Justice Joins Community and National Leaders in Calling for an End to the Obstruction of Judicial Nominees
05/08/12
Today marked an important milestone in the fight to confirm President Obama’s nominees to the federal courts. With the nation’s judicial system suffering from the cumulative effects of over three years of relentless Republican obstruction, community leaders and advocates from around the country met with White House officials to lend renewed vigor to an effort to end the destructive pattern of procedural delays that have left nearly one in ten federal judgeships without a judge.
Read More »Alliance for Justice Report Details President's First-Term Record on Judicial Nominations and Calls for End of Election-Year Obstruction
05/03/12
On the occasion of the end of the deal struck between Senate Democrats and Republicans to give final votes to 14 of President Obama’s judicial nominees by May 7, Alliance for Justice today released the latest in its series of reports on the severely dysfunctional judicial nominations process that has plagued this administration.
Read More »New Guide to Lobbying Recordkeeping Requirements from National Experts in Nonprofit Law
03/29/12
Alliance for Justice today released an important new resource designed to help public charities better understand and comply with federal tax law by tracking their lobbying activities. “Keeping Track: A Guide to Recordkeeping for Advocacy Charities” is an essential guide for managers, lawyers, and accountants, as well as for foundations that provide funding to advocacy organizations.
Read More »AFJ Mourns the Loss of John Payton, Tireless Advocate for Human and Civil Rights
03/23/12
With the heartbreaking death of John Payton, the nation has lost a brilliant, tireless, and effective fighter for civil rights and justice, while those of us who have had the privilege of working with him have lost a great friend and partner.
Read More »AFJ Condemns Vote in House of Representatives that Tears a Hole in the Civil Justice System and Harms American Families
03/23/12
The vote today in the House of Representatives in favor H.R. 5, the perversely named “Protecting Access to Healthcare Act,” is an affront to basic American standards of fairness and justice, and a declaration that the rights and lives of men, women, and children who have been injured or killed by medical malpractice and patient abuse are secondary to corporate profits.
Read More »AFJ Urges Congress to Preserve the Rights of Americans Harmed by Medical Providers
03/20/12
The so-called “Protecting Access to Healthcare Act” would fundamentally weaken every American’s legal rights the moment he or she walks into a hospital, checks into a nursing home, or picks up a prescription from the pharmacy. Alliance for Justice has joined with patient and consumer-rights groups to ask Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to oppose the bill, which is scheduled to come to the floor of the House of Representatives on Thursday.
Read More »AFJ Disappointed by Senate's Return to Inadequate Confirmation Pace
03/15/12
We are disappointed by the United States Senate’s continued delay in carrying out its constitutional responsibility. With 102 vacancies in the federal courts, the Senate should make the staffing of the judiciary a priority. But as we saw yet again today, many in the Senate would rather turn a routine confirmation process into a political spectacle.
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