Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 9, 2012 - Justice at Stake Executive Director Bert Brandenburg has issued the following statement on the swearing-in of  Washington Supreme Court Justice Steven Gonzalez. Justice Gonzalez is the first Mexican American to serve on Washington’s high court, and is the only person of color currently on the court. 

 WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 6—The Tennessee Supreme Court this week adopted a new Code of Judicial Conduct to prohibit judges from hearing cases involving campaign supporters in which “the judge’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned.

WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 28—Justice at Stake, a nonpartisan national partnership dedicated to protecting courts from partisan and special-interest agendas, has issued the following statement regarding recent calls for Justices Kagan and Thomas to recuse from the Supreme Court case involving health care legislation:

WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 16—Justice at Stake, a legal reform group dedicated to protecting fair and impartial courts, has issued the following statement on the case of Jerry Sandusky, a former Penn State football coach accused of sex crimes.

Non-candidate spending in state high court elections nearly doubled as a share of total costs in 2009-10, compared to the previous off-year election, a new report shows.

This spending fueled a flood of non-candidate TV advertising, making this the costliest non-presidential election cycle ever for TV spending in judicial elections. 

Justice at Stake has issued the following statement on judicial disqualification and recusal rules, following a resolution by the American Bar Association's House of Delegates:

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Wisconsin voters' confidence in their supreme court hasplummeted to just 33 percent, down from 52 percent just three years ago, according to an opinion survey conducted on behalf of Justice at Stake.

The confirmation of J. Paul Oetken, the first openly gay man to be named a U.S. District Court judge, is a historic step toward a diverse federal judiciary, Justice at Stake said.  

JAS statement on McComish v. Bennett: Today's ruling is disappointing, but not fatal for America’s courts. State judicial elections are drowning in special-interest spending. Properly crafted public financing laws are more critical than ever, so that judges do not have to dial for dollars from major donors who may appear before them in court.”

Declaring that judges play a unique role in our governmental system, two nonpartisan national reform groups urged a federal appeals court today to uphold Wisconsin’s Impartial Justice Act, which provides for public financing of state Supreme Court elections.

Nearly two years after the Supreme Court’s Caperton v. Massey ruling on the influence of special-interest cash in the courtroom, most states have failed to adopt any reforms responding to threats identified in the landmark decision, the Brennan Center for Justice and Justice at Stake Campaign said today.

In the wake of an ongoing vacancy crisis and recent contentious nominations to the federal bench, Justice at Stake has joined forces with allied organizations to release a new “how to” guide for those seeking to become a federal judge. The guide, tailored for candidates from diverse backgrounds, provides suggestions for a successful candidacy, detailing the intricacies of the process and pitfalls to avoid.

Justice at Stake hailed the end of attempts to impeach four Iowa Supreme Court justices. "If angry fans could fire the umpire, they'd never get past the third inning," said JAS Executive Director Bert Brandenburg.

Justice at Stake Campaign said today that the recent Wisconsin campaign is the latest damaging assault on the state Supreme Court's credibility. 

             Special Interest TV Spending Sets Record in Wisconsin Non-Candidate Ads Outpace Those in 2008 Butler-Gableman Race   APRIL 5, 2011—Special interest groups have spent more than $3.5 million on TV ads in this year’s Wisconsin Supreme Court election, breaking the state’s previous record for television spending by...

A campaign ad attacking Justice David T. Prosser Jr. is the latest example of Wisconsin’s furious descent into negative politics in state high court elections, Justice at Stake said today.

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in McComish v. Bennett, which seeks to throw out a provision of Arizona’s public finance election law. The case could undermine the courts in four states, where similar laws protect judicial candidates from the impact of special-interest money.

Justice at Stake and the Brennan Center for Justice have commended a proposed New rule to keep campaign cash out of the courtroom but urged action to address two concerns.

JAS Statement: This week, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker proposed dramatically cutting funding for the state's system for public financing for supreme court candidates.  Gutting public financing would be a mistake, since it reduces the need for judges to dial for dollars from donors who appear before them in court. 

RALEIGH - More than six in 10 North Carolina voters say the country is on the wrong track, according to a poll exploring attitudes on money, courts and politics, commissioned by the Justice at Stake Campaign and the N.C. Center for Voter Education.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Warning that a “deluge of special interest money is eroding public trust in America’s courts,” Justice at Stake and 14former jurists have warned the U.S. Supreme Court that elected courts would be gravely threatened by outside influence if the Court strikes down a key provision used in many state public financing laws.

In an amicus brief filed Feb. 22 in McComish v. Bennett, the non partisan reform group said, “Public financing eliminates the need for judges to‘dial for dollars’ from major contributors, many of whom appear before them in court.  It is therefore one of the most powerful reforms in shielding courts from special-interest influence.”  The jurists signing the brief included 13 former state supreme court justices and a former trial court judge.

An overwhelming majority of North Carolina voters say campaign contributions to judicial candidates can influence the outcome of court cases, according to a new poll commissioned by the Justice at Stake Campaign and the N.C. Center for Voter Education.

The poll finds that 94 percent of North Carolina voters believe campaign contributions have some sway on a judge’s decision, including 43percent who say campaign donations can greatly affect a ruling.

Justice at Stake is one of 76 groups to sign a letter to U.S. Senate leaders urging faster action on federal judicial nominees. For details, see Gavel Grab.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16—The Justice at Stake Campaign is among 76 groups urging the U.S. Senate to speed its pace of judicial confirmations, saying that “obstructionist practices” have delayed up-or-down votes, and that severe shortages on the federal bench have reached a “state of crisis.”

Justice at Stake, Brennan Center Praise N.Y. Judicial Ethics Rule Letter to Chief Judge Cites Threat of Soaring Election Spending WASHINGTON, Feb. 16—The Justice at Stake Campaign and the Brennan Center for Justice have sent the following letter to Jonathan Lippman, chief judge of the State of New York Court...