Judge Jackson Was Picked After Appearing On A List For The White House Created By A Far Left Dark Money Group

Senate Democrats Claim That Judge Jackson’s Nomination Was Not ‘The Product Of A Campaign Of Dark Money Groups’

SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL), Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman: “Now there may be others who allege that you are before us today as the product of a campaign of dark money groups. Once again, your record—and the process that led to this nomination—belie that claim…. In selecting you as his nominee, President Biden undertook a transparent selection process.” (U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, 3/21/2022)

WHITEHOUSE: “We are holding a hearing for an accomplished, experienced, highly-qualified nominee to the Supreme Court – who came to us not through a dark-money-funded turnstile, but through a fair and honest selection process.” (U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, 3/22/2022)

In Fact, Judge Jackson Was Selected After Appearing On A List Of Potential Supreme Court Candidates Created By Far Left Dark Money Group Demand Justice

During The 2020 Campaign, Demand Justice Added Judge Jackson To The Group’s Own Shortlist Of Potential Supreme Court Nominees For Joe Biden

“Even before Ginsburg’s death, progressive judicial advocacy groups, like Demand Justice, were readying a list of suggested women for Biden’s shortlist… The Black women newly added to Demand Justice’s Supreme Court shortlist are… U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson” (“Will Biden’s Pledge To Nominate A Black Woman To The Supreme Court Mobilize Voters?”, The 19^th, 9/16/2020)

• Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was listed on “Demand Justice’s Supreme Court Shortlist.” (“Demand Justice’s Supreme Court Shortlist,” Demand Justice Website, Accessed 2/25/2022)

Within A Day Of Democrats Capturing The Senate Majority In 2021, Demand Justice Was Pressuring Justice Breyer To Retire And Promoting Judge Jackson To Replace Him

“The results of the Georgia Senate runoffs aren’t yet final. But left-wing activists are already pressuring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer to take advantage of a possible Democratic majority in the Senate and retire. Demand Justice, the group founded in 2018 as a progressive response to conservative organizing around the courts, praised Breyer in a statement to POLITICO but encouraged him to make way for a younger liberal replacement and to do it early in Joe Biden’s first term.” (“Liberals To Breyer: Time To Retire,” Politico, 1/06/2021)

“Progressives are already eyeing the D.C. Circuit seat that Merrick Garland would vacate if he becomes Biden’s attorney general as a potential springboard for a future [Supreme Court] justice. Biden said on Thursday he’d move promptly to fill Garland’s seat following confirmation. ‘Georgia results resolve the concerns about Garland’s DC circuit seat,’ Brian Fallon, executive director of Demand Justice, a progressive group pushing for aggressive approach to judicial confirmations, tweeted Wednesday. ‘Time to elevate Ketanji Brown Jackson?’” (“Justice Breyer Pressured to Retire, Make Room for Biden Pick,” Bloomberg Law, 1/07/2021)

Even Before President Biden Officially Nominated Judge Jackson For The D.C. Circuit Court Of Appeals, Demand Justice Was Already Pushing For Her To Be Elevated To The Supreme Court

“The expected nomination of District Court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to replace Merrick Garland on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals could be a precursor to another promotion for her — fulfilling Biden’s campaign promise to choose a Black woman for a seat on the Supreme Court…. Court-focused progressive advocates expect she’ll be picked, although they say they haven’t been told it directly. And they’re not only preparing to support her candidacy for the appeals court seat, but also a potential Supreme Court vacancy on the horizon…. The progressive judicial group Demand Justice says it is preparing materials, research documents and social media videos to defend Jackson in preparation for an announcement.” (“Biden Poised To Announce First Wave Of Nominations To Reshape U.S. Courts, NBC News, 3/18/2021)

• DEMAND JUSTICE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BRIAN FALLON: “If [Jackson] is picked for the D.C. Circuit, I’d expect her stay there to be rather brief, because I’d expect her to be the lead candidate for a Supreme Court vacancy in the event that Justice Breyer retires.” (“Biden Poised To Announce First Wave Of Nominations To Reshape U.S. Courts, NBC News, 3/18/2021)

DEMAND JUSTICE: “Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is a rising star whose time on the Court of Appeals may prove a stepping stone. She and the other public defenders and civil rights lawyers in this group are exactly the kind of judges we need …” (Demand Justice, Press Release, 3/30/2021)

Demand Justice Even ‘Launched A Six-Figure’ Ad Campaign To Support Her Nomination For The D.C. Circuit

“Courts-focused Democrats see Jackson as being on the shortlist, if not a front-runner, for a Supreme Court vacancy should one open up during the Biden administration…. The courts-focused liberal group Demand Justice has elevated Jackson in a recent ad campaign to build support for her among Black audiences.” (“Senate Confirms Ketanji Brown Jackson To Be Judge On Powerful Appeals Court,” NBC News, 7/14/2021)

“Demand Justice has launched a six-figure, digital and radio ad campaign reaching Black audiences to build support for the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the D.C. Circuit.” (Demand Justice, Press Release, 6/07/2021)

And Two Days Prior To Her Announcement As Biden’s Supreme Court Nominee, Demand Justice Sent A Letter To The White House ‘Unmistakably Crafted To Boost Jackson’

“President Joe Biden is on the cusp of picking a Supreme Court nominee, and a dozen progressive groups are revealing their preferred candidate among the finalists: U.S. Appeals Court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. In a Wednesday letter to Biden led by the courts-focused Demand Justice, the 12 groups nudge him to nominate someone with a background working as a public defender or in civil rights…. Although they didn’t name names, the letter appears unmistakably crafted to boost Jackson, who is currently a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, in the final stretch before a decision.” (“Liberals Gather In Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Corner As Biden’s Supreme Court Decision Nears,” NBC News, 2/23/2022)

• “The left-leaning groups that signed the letter — which also include MoveOn, Indivisible, Justice Democrats and Demos — noted the Biden White House’s push to put more public defenders and civil rights lawyers on the courts …” (“Liberals Gather In Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Corner As Biden’s Supreme Court Decision Nears,” NBC News, 2/23/2022)

Demand Justice ‘Is Slated To Lead The Fight On The Left’ For Judge Jackson’s Confirmation, Even Creating Ads For Her Before Her Nomination Was Announced

“Demand Justice, a progressive judicial advocacy outfit, is slated to lead the fight on the left. Demand Justice has already announced a $1 million ad campaign in support of Jackson and said it's prepared to spend much more.” (“Scoop: Progressives Prep Big Spending For SCOTUS Confirmation,” Axios, 3/06/2022)

• “According to tax exemption applications filed with the IRS, Demand Justice projected a budget of $7.5 million for 2022.” (“Scoop: Progressives Prep Big Spending For SCOTUS Confirmation,” Axios, 3/06/2022)

Demand Justice Was So Eager To Promote Judge Jackson’s Nomination That They Had ‘Already Produced Ads To Support’ Her BEFORE She Was Announced As President Biden’s Nominee

“Demand Justice has already produced ads to support Jackson in case she’s chosen, a source familiar with the matter said.” (“Liberals Gather In Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Corner As Biden’s Supreme Court Decision Nears,” NBC News, 2/23/2022)

REMINDER: Schumer’s Standard On Groups Backing Supreme Court Nominees: ‘What Do They Know About You That We Do Not?,’ ‘We Would Be Remiss If We Didn’t Explore Why’

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY), 2005: “You [Judge Roberts] told me when we met that you were not an ideologue and you share my aversion to ideologues. Yet you have been embraced by some of the most extreme ideologues in America …That gives rise to a question many are asking: What do they know about you that we do not?” (U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, 9/12/2005)

• SCHUMER, 2006: “The same critics who called the President on the carpet for naming Harriet Miers have rolled out the red carpet for you, Judge Alito. We would be remiss if we didn’t explore why.” (U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, 1/09/2006)