Contact: Mike Russell or Mark Coyle at 703-683-5004
April 13, 2005
Washington - The Judicial Confirmation Network, a leading grassroots organization supporting the confirmation of qualified judges to the federal courts, today launched the first phase of a national advertising campaign pointing to the fallout of judicial activism and asking citizens to press their Senators for a vote on the President's judicial nominees.
The television ad, which will air nationally on cable television and in targeted states points to arrogant, activist judges undermining American values and ignoring the Constitution by ruling that the word "God" must be removed from the Pledge of Allegiance and that child pornography is protected as free speech. The ad also reiterates the President's call for judges who decide court cases fairly, according to the law, not based on politics. The ad ends with a message urging people to contact their Senators and support a fair vote on judges.
The initial JCN ad begins running today. JCN has committed $250,000 to the initial TV ad buy, and JCN executive director Gary Marx said "we will spend more if necessary." A second television ad to be released by the JCN soon is in production. In addition, the Judicial Confirmation Network is working with more than 70 grassroots and civic organizations around the nation representing 10 million people to help engage and educate the public about the importance of the debate regarding the President's judicial nominees.
"We're answering the character assassinations and baseless rhetoric of the left with an advertising and grassroots campaign that sets the record straight and calls people to action," Marx said. "This ad, calling on Senators to do their jobs and vote on qualified nominees, coupled with our broad grassroots outreach, says that the American people are fed up with activist judges who bypass the Constitution to advance liberal agendas such as removing God from the Pledge of Allegiance and protecting child pornographers."
"Our national advertising and grassroots outreach will resonate with the great majority of Americans, given that 75 percent of registered voters nationwide support the President's nomination of judges who apply existing law faithfully, and that 82 percent believe qualified judicial nominees should be given an up-or-down vote," said Wendy E. Long, counsel to the Judicial Confirmation Network.
"The American people are becoming more engaged over the role of courts in our representative democracy. They see how courts affect their lives, and they see good men and women being subjected to smear and fear campaigns waged by some groups and individuals on the left. These unfair attacks, and partisan Senate tactics of preventing a vote on qualified judges, will not hold up under the scrutiny of an increasingly informed and involved public," Long added.
Aside from national airplay on cable television, JCN will distribute its latest ad via e-mail alerts through dozens of other grassroots and civic organizations including Focus on the Family, Americans for Tax Reform, the Committee for Justice, Americans for Limited Government and the American Center for Law and Justice.
In addition, JCN is in the midst of a national petition drive supporting a fair nomination process and ending the effort to block the President's qualified nominees to the federal bench. Both the JCN ad and the national petition calling for an end to unconstitutional obstruction are accessible by visiting JCN's website at: www.judicialnetwork.org
The Judicial Confirmation Network is an organization of citizens joined to support the confirmation of highly qualified judges and justices to the federal courts. In addition, JCN works to ensure that the confirmation process for all judicial nominees is fair and that every nominee sent to the full Senate receives an up or down vote.
To schedule an interview with Gary Marx or Wendy E. Long of the Judicial Confirmation Network, please call Mark Coyle, ext. 130 or Mike Russell, ext. 109 at 703-683-5004.
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