Republicans haven't won the popular vote since 2004, so they pack the courts with partisan judges to cling to power and rule from the bench. Follow the dark money to see how the GOP does it.
Judge Aileen M. Cannon, a Trump-appointed judge, confirmed by the McConnell Senate after Trump had lost the election, has stepped between the Department of Justice and Trump in the investigation of classified documents stolen from the government. She granted Trump’s request for a special master to review the nearly 11,000 documents FBI agents seized in their search at Mar-a-Lago.
The neutrality of the law is central to democracy. The idea that Cannon felt obliged to reassure MAGA Republicans that Trump is being treated fairly, rather than the rest of us that the rule of law is being protected, redefines the American public and American principles. - Letters from an American
Who are the judges that Trump - McConnell appointed? Where is the $1.3 billion in dark money that helps pack the GOP pack the courts with partisan judges coming from? How do extreme right wing decisions from the courts impact you? What can you do to fix this rigged system where an unelected few control our lives? Get started with this map.
Trump-McConnell court packing
"As Republican policies grew less popular, party leaders focused not on adjusting their policies, but on filling judgeships with judges who would rule in their favor in lawsuits. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) stalled confirmations for President Obama’s nominees including Merrick Garland, creating vacancies for Trump to fill.McConnell continued to push through appointments—like that of Judge Cannon—even after Trump lost the election.
Cannon has stepped between the Department of Justice and Trump in the investigation of classified documents stolen from the government. Trump appointed 234 judges including three associate justices of the Supreme Court of the United States , 54 judges for the United States courts of appeals , 174 judges for the United States district courts .
Neutrality of the law is central to democracy. The idea that Cannon felt obliged to reassure MAGA Republicans that Trump is being treated fairly, rather than the rest of us that the rule of law is being protected, redefines American principles." - Letters From An American
How does the GOP court packing hurt you?
- Abortion ban
- Gerrymandering
- More pollution
- More gun violence
- Handouts for the rich
- Racism
- Native Americans lose out
- Religious bias
- Dark money rules politics
GOP packed Supreme Court bans abortions
In Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization , the court ruled that a Mississippi law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks is constitutional and overturned the constitutional right to abortion established by Roe v. Wade in 1973. - NY Times
Dark money stacks the courts with partisan judges
Barre Seid, an electronics mogul, made a $ 1.6 billion tax-free donation to Marble Freedom Trust, a new political group controlled by Leonard Leo, who has engineered the conservative dominance of the Supreme Court and finance battles over abortion rights, voting rules and climate change policy. It is among the largest single contributions ever made to a politically focused nonprofit and more than the total of $1.5 billion spent in 2020 by 15 of the most politically active nonprofit organizations that generally align with Democrats. - NY Times
Marble is organized as a nonprofit, so when Seid gave it 100% of the stock in Tripp Lite, a privately held company that makes surge protectors and other electronic equipment, it could sell the stock without paying taxes. The arrangement also likely enabled Seid to avoid paying as much as $400 million in capital gains taxes on the stock. - Letters From An American. How does Leonard Leo's network of dark money groups stack the Supreme Court with extremists to overturn Roe v Wade? Follow the money.
TakeAway: Elections matter. Vote Democrat to unrig the system by which the rich pack the courts to get the laws they want.
Deepak
DemLabs
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