Judicial Confirmation Network

The Judicial Confirmation Network (JCN) was created just as the debate in the Senate over Republican leaders' plans to eliminate the use of the filibuster on judicial nominations was reaching its apex. JCN was also active in the right-wing campaign to confirm Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito.

Judicial Confirmation Network
PO Box 791
Alexandria, VA 22313-0791
Website: www.judicialnetwork.com

Executive Director: Gary Marx (Bush-Cheney '04, The Family Foundation of Virginia)
Counsel: Wendy Long (former law clerk for Justice Clarence Thomas)
Founded: 2004

Read the latest news on the Judicial Confirmation Network on the group's Right Wing Watch index page

Purpose

The Judicial Confirmation Network (JCN) was created to ensure that "highly qualified individuals" are confirmed to United States' highest courts. It calls for a "fair, impartial confirmation process" and strongly advocates the up-or-down vote. JCN believes in judges who "strictly interpret the Constitution" and that do not "impose his or her personal or political agenda on the people." It firmly supported Judge John Roberts for confirmation to the United States Supreme Court.

Activities

• JCN was very active in the battle over the "nuclear option" which would have eliminated the use of the filibuster to block the confirmation of judicial nominees. In fact, JCN came into existence mainly to help fight that battle.
• JCN quickly launched a national advertising campaign in support of the "nuclear option," targeting mainly Democratic senators from "red states" as well as moderate Republicans.
• JCN was also very active during the confirmation process for John Roberts, defending his record, praising him in the press and on television, and attacking Democrats.
• JCN partnered with "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" to distribute its e-mails and alerts.

History

Gary Marx was invited by Jay Sekulow, a close friend and president of the ultra-conservative American Center for Law and Justice, in 2004 to create the JCN. The organization also has very close ties to Progress for America.

Funding

In preparation for Supreme Court nomination battles, the JCN was expected to be the main repository of money raised from business groups and other Republican allies. It promised to spend about $18 million for radio and TV ads, phone banks, and other grassroots tools.

About Gary Marx

Before his position at JCN, Marx served on the 2004 Bush-Cheney campaign as the national conservative coalition director who helped organize church-sponsored voter drives in Ohio. Marx was also involved in Bush's campaign while working at the firm Century Strategies, where his task was outreach to pro-family conservative voters during the primary and general election races.

Century Strategies was founded and is led by former Christian Coalition director Ralph Reed, who advises Fortune 500 companies while heavily endorsing political candidates. Reed has worked on seven presidential campaigns and has advised on 88 campaigns for U.S. Senate, Governor and Congress in 24 states. He was the Chairman of the Georgia Republican Party in 2002, and ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia in 2006.

Quotes

"The Republican base, which worked hard to elect President Bush twice, does not think the Supreme Court should be stuck in the mentality of the 1960s, which has proven so destructive to the rule of law and respect for our American institutions. Liberal groups now arguing for 'balance' on the Court and the appointment of a 'moderate' Justice just want to keep the Supreme Court on a leftward march, away from the Constitution. When the people speak through their elected representatives on political and policy matters, as they are entitled to do in our representative democracy, the liberal Left runs to the courts to implement opposite policies through judicial tyranny."
—Wendy Long, "JCN: Americans Deserve Better From U.S. Supreme Court," July 7, 2005

"Seeking a 'consensus' candidate is not the right thing to do. It is not what the Constitution contemplates, in our system built on the consent of the governed... By definition, those will never be 'consensus' nominees. Justices Ginsburg and Breyer were not 'consensus' nominees, nor should any Republican nominees be—particularly when Republicans control the Senate, for heaven's sake."
—Wendy Long, June 22, 2005

Updated: April 2006