Friday, February 9, 2018

ACTION: STOP TRUMP FROM PACKING THE COURT

From Indivisible Oregon...

**CALL TO ACTION**
Friday, February 9, 2018
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STOP TRUMP FROM PACKING THE COURT
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Trump inherited many judicial vacancies because the GOP refused to conduct hearings or confirm many of Obama’s nominees, including supremely-qualified Merrick Garland. Even after Trump had a record-breaking 12 appellate and 10 trial judges confirmed, 160 judgeships remain unfilled.

The GOP is pushing the life-time appointment of anti-choice, anti-gay rights, anti-minority, and pro-business judges by:

• Ramming through multiple nominees in single hearings
• Refusing to honor the traditional approval (blue-slip) process by home-state senators
• Ignoring “not qualified” ABA ratings

Trump has made 43 district court nominations. 23 are awaiting a confirmation vote, which could happen any time. One nominee, Thomas Farr, helped draft North Carolina’s voter suppression law that “targeted African-American voters with almost surgical precision,” according to the Appeals Court. Farr also defended re-districting that federal courts struck down as a “racial gerrymander.”  Another nominee, Matthew Kacsmaryk, fought to allow retailers to refuse service to same-sex couples.

Trump’s nominees are 91% white and 81% male Many are under 50 and could serve for decades. More are rated “unqualified” than appointees of past presidents.

The Senate must block nominees who will deny the fundamental dignity, equality and rights of all people long after Trump leaves office.

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**ACTION 1: CALL SENATORS WYDEN AND MERKLEY **
(Leave a message if you can’t get through.)

SAMPLE SCRIPT:
“My name is [--] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling to oppose Trump’s unqualified nominees for lifetime federal judgeships, I especially oppose Thomas Farr and Matthew Kacsmaryk. I ask the Senator to do everything possible to prevent these nominees from being confirmed to life-time appointments on the federal bench. Thank you.”

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**ACTION 2: SHARE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY**

Share this post with friends and family. Help them leave messages for their Senators to oppose Trump’s unqualified judicial nominees.

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**PHONE NUMBERS**

SENATOR MERKLEY
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129

SENATOR WYDEN
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691

** After you call, please comment below and briefly share your experience! **