BLOGGER View
Attached is a document I held and now share. The confirmation process, as most of "news worthy" items are less to be found in popular media in the past weeks. In light of the news of Indictments related to intelligence leaks in the White House, the re-opening of discussion on the decision to invade Iraq, and the blame game/diversion on who is more patriotic or who can wear the mantle of patriot. Attached is the NAACP's position on the justice nominee. With requisite call to action and the how to's on contacting Senators.
It is a reasonable call to action, those of us who seek a just society need to articulate what that may look like: in how we govern, who is the ultimate arbiter to the laws of the land, and the role elected officials have in representing the views and interest of ethically driven and moral people.
Kindly review and act.
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WASHINGTON BUREAU · NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE 1156 15th Street, NW Suite 915 · Washington, DC 20005 · P (202)463-2940 · F (202)463-2953 E-MAIL:mailto:washingtonbureau@naacpnet.org · WEB ADDRESS http://www.naacp.org/
ACTION ALERT
DATE: November 1, 2005
TO: Concerned Parties
FROM: Bruce Gordon, NAACP President & CEO
Hilary O. Shelton, Director, Washington Bureau
NAACP SERIOUSLY CONCERNED WITH SUPREME COURT NOMINEE SAMUEL ALITO'S RECORD
PAST RULINGS AND WRITINGS ON CIVIL RIGHTS, CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND RACE DISCRIMINATION NEED TO BE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED AND REVIEWED
THE ISSUE: On Monday, October 31, President Bush nominated Samuel Alito of New Jersey to serve as Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
This nomination comes after the withdrawal of Harriet Miers' nomination to the seat. Judge Alito currently sits on the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, where he has served for the last 15 years. Prior to his time on the court, Judge Alito worked in the Reagan Administration for six years, arguing civil and criminal cases for the Administration.
During his time on the Court of Appeals, Judge Alito has consistently supported efforts to limit civil rights claims of those who have been discriminated against; he has tried to go further than the US Supreme Court in restricting Congress' ability to protect civil rights and liberties; he has attempted to narrow acceptable evidence in gender discrimination lawsuits, and he has provided some very troubling opinions in cases of blatant police misconduct. In short, the NAACP has serious concerns about his ability to take into consideration the impact of race.
Given what we already know of Judge Alito's problematic views and records to date, the NAACP intends to continue to thoroughly review his writings, work and judicial temperament. Likewise, we urge every Senator to diligently follow their Constitutionally mandated role of advice and consent in the process to fill vacancies on the Supreme Court and carefully review this nominee to ensure that he is not an extremist who wishes to legislate from the bench. Specifically, we call on the members of the Senate to get clear answers on where Judge Alito stands on issues such as equal opportunity programs (including Affirmative Action), criminal justice issues, employment discrimination, continuing inequities in public education, racial discrimination, police misconduct, voting rights and the death penalty, especially for the mentally retarded or juvenile offenders. As part of their investigation, the NAACP urges the Senate to demand and thoroughly review all writings by Judge Alito while he worked for the Reagan Administration as well as during his current tenure on the Federal bench.
THE ACTION WE NEED YOU TO TAKE: Contact your Representative and both your Senators and URGE THEM TO THOROUGHLY REVIEW JUDGE ALITO'S RECORD AND HIS POSITION ON ISSUES IMPORTANT TO AFRICAN AMERICANS AND OTHER RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY AMERICANS . To contact your Senators you may:
o Make a Phone Call: Call your Senators in Washington by dialing the Capitol Switchboard and asking to be transferred to your Senators' offices. The switchboard phone number is (202) 224-3121 (see message section, below).
o Write a Letter: To write letters to your Senators, send them to The Honorable (name of Senator) U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510
o Send a Fax: If you would like to send a fax, call your Senators' offices (through the Capitol switchboard) and ask for their fax numbers (you can use either the attached sample letter or the message box, below).
o Send an E-Mail: To send an e-mail to your Senators, simply go to www.senate.gov, and click on "Contacting the Senate"; you can look your Senators up either alphabetically or by state. Unfortunately, not all Members of Congress have e-mail addresses.
REMEMBER TO CONTACT BOTH YOUR SENATORS!!!!!
THE MESSAGE
º Senators must execute the Constitutional duty of advice and consent in the process to fill Supreme Court vacancies to find out as much as possible about Judge Alito prior to voting on his confirmation to the United States Supreme Court.
º Of paramount importance to every Senator should be Judge Alito's position on protecting and promoting the civil rights and civil liberties of all Americans.
º Senators must ask direct questions – and receive direct answers – on Judge Alito's position on issues important to African Americans and other racial and ethnic minority Americans, including equal opportunity programs (including Affirmative Action), criminal justice issues, employment discrimination, continuing inequities in public education, racial discrimination, police misconduct, voting rights and the death penalty, especially for the mentally retarded or juvenile offenders.
º The importance of the seat Judge Alito has been nominated for cannot be understated; this is a lifetime position to fill a vacancy created by a judge who is often considered the "swing vote" on many issues important to racial and ethnic minorities.
(Sample Letter)
(date)
The Honorable ___________________________ United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510
RE: NOMINATION OF SAMUEL ALITO TO ASSOCIATE JUSTICE ON THE US SUPREME COURT
Dear Senator _______________________________;
I am writing to urge you to do all you can and to fulfill your Constitutional duty to thoroughly assess the ability of Judge Samuel Alito to ensure the continued protection under law of the civil rights and civil liberties of all Americans, especially those of color. Specifically, I hope that you will demand direct and detailed answers to questions on Judge Alito's position on issues important to African Americans and other racial and ethnic minority Americans, including equal opportunity programs (including Affirmative Action), criminal justice issues, employment discrimination, continuing inequities in public education, racial discrimination, police misconduct, voting rights and the death penalty, especially for the mentally retarded or juvenile offenders.
It is vitally important that the justices of the US Supreme Court be willing to interpret the Constitution in a manner that is fair and respectful of the rights of all Americans. Furthermore, it is your duty as my elected representative and as my voice in the United States Senate to insure that every Supreme Court nominee uphold my basic civil rights and civil liberties.
Thus, I am urging you again to do all you can to see that prior to any final vote that Judge Alito's views on civil rights and civil liberties are well known. Please contact me in the very near future to let me know what you are going to do on this matter and what I can do to help you make certain that the civil rights and civil liberties of all Americans are protected.
Sincerely,
(sign and print your name and remember to include your address)
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS IMPORTANT MATTER!!! If you have any questions, call Hilary Shelton at the Washington Bureau at (202) 463-2940.
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