SUPREME COURT VACANCY MESSAGING + SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDE

This document includes sample social media content and messaging guidance for talking about the current Supreme Court vacancy.

Our primary goal is to highlight our core value: We need judges on the bench who have a diversity of backgrounds, informed by real-life experience, who will ensure equal justice for all and protect the rights of all of us, not just the wealthy and powerful. We need to avoid process-based messaging and instead frame this fight around the impact the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court would have on the lives of ordinary people and on the future of equal justice in our country.

Messaging last updated: March 10, 2022

 Table of Contents: 

MESSAGING PRINCIPLES: 

  1. It is about protecting all people (regardless of their race, background, religion, etc), not protecting the Supreme Court. We need to avoid process-based messaging and instead frame this fight around the impact a Black woman Supreme Court justice with a commitment to upholding equal justice for all would have on the lives of ordinary people of all backgrounds, for this generation and the generations to come.
  2. Portray this opportunity for a nomination as a step toward equal justice. Our role in the upcoming confirmation fight is to portray this as a break from appointing extremists justices who favor special interests over people. This nomination gives us a chance to have a justice who understands the lived experiences of all Americans and will work to ensure equal justice under law for all. Our justice system is improved when judges and justices come from a diverse set of backgrounds – this increases public trust in our courts and improves judicial decision-making. We need a justice who will work for and protect the rights of all of us.
  3. Shift the narrative framework by focusing on what we stand to gain. We need to frame this as a fight against the influence of corporations and the powerful – not a fight between Republicans and Democrats. The public is tired of partisan politics. Support for the nominee should be framed for what it is: a way to move our country forward and deliver on the issues that we care about the most.

PROACTIVE MESSAGE FRAMEWORK: 

  • To ensure equal justice; protect and advance civil rights; expand health care access, including abortion; and ensure our voting rights are protected (or swap in issues relevant to your work), we need fair-minded justices who will protect the rights of everyone, not just the wealthy and powerful.
  • The Supreme Court is not working for all of us: It is stacked against us to favor the wealthy and powerful. The vacancy created by Justice Stephen Breyer’s retirement should be filled by a fair-minded justice who will put equal justice first and not pick and choose whose rights they care about, and she will be a Black woman.
  • There is a deep bench of incredibly qualified Black women from many different legal backgrounds who are ready to serve on the Supreme Court. This historic nomination will increase public trust in our courts and improve judicial decision-making.
  • We need a justice who has a proven record of protecting the rights of everyone, no matter their race or background, and who values the lived experiences of all people in America.

Nominee Specific Messages: 

  • Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is eminently qualified and has a proven dedication to the fight for voting rights, economic justice, and other pressing civil and human rights issues that affect all of our lives. (Add mentions to specific qualifications). Her lived experiences and deep commitment to equal justice make her uniquely qualified to serve as a Supreme Court justice. Having Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson serve as the first Black woman Supreme Court justice will ensure all Americans, no matter their race or background, will be better represented in the highest court.
  • To ensure equal justice, protect and advance civil rights, health care access including abortion, and voting rights for all (or swap in issues relevant to your work), we need a fair-minded justice on the Supreme Court who will protect the rights of everyone, not special interests. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has a proven record of protecting the rights of everyone, no matter their race or background. Confirming Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who will be the first Black woman Supreme Court justice, will ensure we create a more just system for all, now and for future generations.
  • For too long, wealthy and powerful special interests have rigged the system to favor corporations instead of people. We need a justice who will not pick and choose whose rights they care about and will put equal justice first. Confirming Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will move us closer to a Supreme Court that better represents all people in America. That is how we will protect and advance civil rights, health care access, and ensure the freedom to vote for all (or swap issues relevant to your work).

 

JUDGE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON: TALKING POINTS

  • Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s exceptional record as a judge demonstrates that she is highly qualified for this nomination, and that she is committed to fairness, impartiality, and equal justice for all. She should be quickly confirmed with a unanimous vote by the Senate.
  • Judge Jackson served with distinction for over eight years on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, where she wrote nearly 600 opinions.
  • Judge Jackson was confirmed to the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in 2021. On the federal bench, Judge Jackson has issued many decisions showing her commitment to upholding legal protections for persons with disabilities, workers, immigrants, freedom of speech, and environmental laws and protections.
  • Judge Jackson also issued multiple important rulings on the limits of executive privilege, the separation of powers, and sovereign immunity.

 

  • When confirmed, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson would bring critically important criminal legal system experience to the Supreme Court, which is currently dominated by former corporate lawyers, prosecutors and former law professors at elite private universities.
  • If confirmed, Judge Jackson would bring invaluable criminal defense experience to the Supreme Court– a perspective that the Court is sorely lacking.
  • Before her time as a federal judge, Judge Jackson served in the District of Columbia’s Office of the Federal Public Defender, where she represented people with limited resources that were accused of federal crimes.
  • Judge Jackson’s experience also includes service on the U.S. Sentencing Commission, where she helped reform the unjust discrepancy between sentences for crack and powder cocaine, which disproportionately affect Black, brown and indigenous people.

 

  • By nominating Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Biden has delivered on his promise of nominating the nation’s first Black woman Supreme Court justice with an established record of judicial fairness and a commitment to equal justice for all.
  • Judge Jackson has a deep and demonstrated commitment to civil rights.
  • Judge Jackson devoted the majority of her career to public service, including representing people in Washington, D.C., as a public defender.
  • As a former public defender and a Black woman, Judge Jackson will bring important lived and experiential diversity to the Supreme Court that will help the Court better understand the law’s effects on people’s rights and lives.

 

  • Throughout her career, Judge Jackson has earned broad, bipartisan support, demonstrating her firm commitment to fairness and equal justice for all. Senate Republicans should join every Senate Democrat in quickly confirming Judge Jackson to the Supreme Court.
  • Judge Jackson has been confirmed by the Senate three times with bipartisan support, and already has a distinguished career as a jurist.
    • In 2021, Judge Jackson was confirmed to the D.C. Circuit Court by a bipartisan vote of 53-44
    • In 2013, Judge Jackson was confirmed to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by a voice vote.
    • In 2010, Judge Jackson was confirmed to the U.S. Sentencing Commission by a voice vote.

SAMPLE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS:

*Graphics are located in THIS FOLDER.

*Into Action KBJ gifs are located HERE.

*More hearing clips are located HERE.

Hearing Clips

Day 1 roundup: https://sites.google.com/view/justiceforalltoolkit/hearing-day-1

Day 2 roundup: https://sites.google.com/view/justiceforalltoolkit/hearing-day-2

Day 3 roundup: https://sites.google.com/view/justiceforalltoolkit/hearing-day-3

“America is ready for the Supreme Court glass ceiling to finally shatter. And you, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, are the person to do it.” – @SenatorDurbin #JusticeForAll #ConfirmJackson pic.twitter.com/bmvTFjNOpx

WATCH: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson explains what she hopes to bring to the Supreme Court. It’s clear that she will be a #JusticeForAll. Let’s #ConfirmJackson. pic.twitter.com/D4Z4bjFKXU

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson isn’t just history in the making. Her nomination is a legacy of the work of the civil rights movement. History in the making AND history, made. #ConfirmJackson #JusticeForAll pic.twitter.com/FMkNiYD5Wg

WATCH: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson explains what it means to be the first, like Judge Constance Baker Motley and Justice Thurgood Marshall. #ConfirmJackson #JusticeForAll pic.twitter.com/idk1C2Hu8v

.@SenBooker is right: We’re not going to let anyone steal our joy about the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Judge Jackson will be a #JusticeForAll. And we need our senators to #ConfirmJackson pic.twitter.com/89if0tYeea

WATCH: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson talks about the letters and notes she’s gotten from little girls across the country since she was nominated – and what her nomination means to them. #JusticeForAll #ConfirmJackson pic.twitter.com/Kw4g5sAHKJ

WATCH: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson talks about how her experience as a public defender is an asset to her work as a judge. #ConfirmJackson #JusticeForAll pic.twitter.com/HexuxMOWxI

One of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s strengths as a judge is her ability to explain the law and our judicial process. Watch her explain how she approaches every case. #JusticeForAll #ConfirmJackson pic.twitter.com/wPryxpaVDh

“I am committed to serving as an even-handed Supreme Court justice,” says Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, “and I have a record, over the past decade, that’s precisely how I’ve treated all of my cases.”

Judge Jackson will be a #JusticeForAll. So let’s #ConfirmJackson. pic.twitter.com/F7gsETpX6X

WATCH: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson explains her family’s dedication to public service – and how that led her to this moment and the Supreme Court. #JusticeForAll #ConfirmJackson pic.twitter.com/f07NbfTZw6

To have to be the first, you have to be “the best, and, in some ways, the bravest.” “But your presence here today will give inspiration to millions of people who see themselves in you,” @SenatorDurbin says. #ConfirmJackson #JusticeForAll pic.twitter.com/ZSMiT7mMie

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, in her own words: “I have dedicated my career to ensuring that the words engraved on the front of the Supreme Court building, equal justice under law, are a reality – and not just an ideal.” #ConfirmJackson #JusticeForAll pic.twitter.com/Rc64CiRVX5

Years ago, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s daughter wrote President Obama a letter urging him to put her mom on the Supreme Court. This moment will mark a new chapter in our country, says @SenBooker. #ConfirmJackson #JusticeForAll pic.twitter.com/aqK0uccCdh

Sen. @maziehirono reminds us that the Supreme Court has existed for over 233 years. It’s had over 115 justices. And not one of them has been a Black woman. It’s time for Judge Jackson to become Justice Jackson. #ConfirmJackson #CourtsMatter pic.twitter.com/q6sR3LuXzu

Judge Jackson is blazing a trail her grandparents may have found unfathomable – but that “her daughters and my sons and future generations will now see as a natural part of the American story,” says @SenAlexPadilla. #ConfirmJackson #JusticeForAll pic.twitter.com/aGLnd2YY6I

Women’s History Month

 This #WomensHistoryMonth, help make history: Call and tell your senators to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court. #JusticeForAll #ConfirmJackson

During #WomensHistoryMonth, we continue to celebrate the historic nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be the first Black woman Supreme Court justice. Her nomination moves us closer to a day when our Court better reflects our nation. #ConfirmJackson #JusticeForAll

This #WomensHistoryMonth, we’re celebrating Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who has dedicated her career to pursuing equal justice for all – and could be our first Black woman on the Supreme court. Tell your senators: #ConfirmJackson pic.twitter.com/Ry9ibVLFmA

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has a demonstrated commitment to equal justice under law. She is exactly who we need on the Supreme Court and deserves a swift confirmation. This #WomensHistoryMonth, tell your senators to #ConfirmJackson! #JusticeForAll

 

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson

Let’s be clear: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson would bring brilliance, stellar qualifications, and sound judicial temperament to the U.S. Supreme Court. We look forward to the Senate’s swift consideration of this outstanding nominee. #JusticeForAll #ConfirmJackson

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has broad support because her record as a judge and lawyer demonstrates that she is fair, impartial, and dedicated to equal justice for all – as well as protecting the fundamental rights of all people in America. #JusticeForAll #ConfirmJackson

 This SCOTUS nomination is a long-overdue step towards a Supreme Court that better reflects the America it serves. To uphold equal justice, our justices must be fair-minded and bolster the rights of ALL people, not just the wealthy and powerful. #JusticeForAll #ConfirmJackson

When judges and justices come from a diverse set of backgrounds, courts make better decisions that reflect a wider variety of perspectives. When people see Supreme Court justices who look like them and care about them, it increases public trust. #JusticeForAll #ConfirmJackson

Judge Jackson will be the FIRST Black woman to the Supreme Court. We’re demanding the media cover this process fairly, without relying on racist and sexist stereotypes. Check out @UltraViolet’s updated guide asking the media #GetItRight: https://weareuv.us/mediaguide2022 #ConfirmJackson

There have been 115 justices who have sat on the Supreme Court, but not one has been a Black woman. Today, we celebrate the decades of work by Black women to get to this historic moment and call on the media to do right in fairly covering the nomination process of Judge Jackson to SCOTUS. #GetItRight #ConfirmJackson

Even before the announcement of Judge Jackson, Republicans wasted no time in lobing sexist, racist attacks against her. We’re in solidarity with Judge Jackson and will celebrate this monumental moment.

Trafficking in unfair sexist, racist attacks on Black women in politics doesn’t just threaten Judge Jackson, it threatens all of us. That’s why we’re not only uplifting Black women, but creating the conditions that will help them thrive ✨  https://weareuv.us/mediaguide2022  #ConfirmJackson

The research is clear: Black women in politics are disproportionately harmed by disinformation, online harassment, and media manipulation that rely on sexist, racist, attacks on their identities. /1

What’s worse, The media helps fuel these attacks by repeating and legitimizing them. This creates a media landscape where Black women are judged by racist, sexist stereotypes rather than by their character. /2

All Black women leaders like Judge Jackson deserve to be judged by their qualifications, merits, and values, not racist, sexist attacks on their character. Here’s how: https://weareuv.us/mediaguide2022 #ConfirmJackson

This is a historic moment and we need bold leadership. @SenSchumer, please bring the vote to #ConfirmJackson ASAP!

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s background and experience make her an excellent choice to make history as the first Black woman to serve as a Supreme Court justice. She is the #JusticeForAll our nation needs on SCOTUS. #ConfirmJackson

This Supreme Court nomination is about protecting the rights of people from all backgrounds,  for generations to come. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is the nominee that the American people need – exceptionally qualified with immense legal experience. #JusticeForAll #ConfirmJackson

We need Supreme Court justices who will ensure equal justice for all and protect the rights of all of us – not just the wealthy and powerful. With the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, we have the power to confirm a Supreme Court #JusticeForAll. #ConfirmJackson #CourtsMatter

The Supreme Court is not working for all of us. We need a Supreme Court justice who is committed to equal #JusticeForAll. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will be that justice. We need the Senate to move forward with a swift confirmation! #ConfirmJackson #CourtsMatter

The Supreme Court decides important cases on our civil and human rights. We need the Senate to #ConfirmJackson, who will be a justice who understands us, reflects us, and is fair-minded – knowing how our Constitution and laws can make a difference in people’s lives. #JusticeForAll

Say it with us: We need diverse and fair-minded Supreme Court justices who are committed to equal justice for ALL of us. We need the Senate to #ConfirmJackson. She will be a #JusticeForAll. #CourtsMatter

Diversity on the federal bench isn’t a “nice to have” – it’s a necessity. Confirming the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court will bring a new perspective to the Court – and bring us closer to the promise of #JusticeForAll. #ConfirmJackson #CourtsMatter

Of the 115 people who have served on the Supreme Court, only three of them have been people of color – and only five have been women. It’s time to bring a new perspective to the Supreme Court. It’s time to #ConfirmJackson. #JusticeForAll #CourtsMatter

The Supreme Court is not working for all of us. We need to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who will bring a new perspective to the Court and who is committed to ensuring equal #JusticeForAll. Sign here to #ConfirmJackson!  https://pfaw.org/ConfirmJackson #CourtsMatter

Judge Jackson devoted her career to public service. She brings to the Supreme Court the perspective of someone who has seen the justice system through the eyes of our society’s most vulnerable. She will be a #JusticeForAll. Let’s #ConfirmJackson! https://pfaw.org/ConfirmJackson

The Supreme Court is not working for all of us. We need to seize this moment and confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who will bring a new perspective to the Court and who is committed to ensuring equal #JusticeForAll. #ConfirmJackson #CourtsMatter

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has a demonstrated commitment to equal justice under law. She is exactly who we need on the Supreme Court and deserves a swift confirmation. Tell your senators: #ConfirmJackson. #JusticeForAll #CourtsMatter

“There is a direct line between my defender service and what I do on the bench.” Watch Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson explain how her work as a public defender has informed her work as a judge. #ConfirmJackson #JusticeForAll #CourtsMatter pic.twitter.com/7dmJsHS0v3

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s dedication to the even-handed administration of justice and the depth of her experience, integrity and intellect make her the perfect person to sit on our Supreme Court. Tell your senators: #ConfirmJackson. #JusticeForAll #CourtsMatter

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s experience as a public defender will bring a unique viewpoint that is often missing from the federal bench. We need her on the Supreme Court so she can be a #JusticeForAll. Tell your senators: #ConfirmJackson. #CourtsMatter

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s past work as a public defender further deepens and informs her understanding of our justice system and its effects on real people. She will be an outstanding addition to the Supreme Court. Tell your senators: #ConfirmJackson. #JusticeForAll #CourtsMatter

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is a brilliant jurist – and her demonstrated commitment to equal justice under law and experience as a public defender make her the perfect choice for the Supreme Court. Tell your senators: #ConfirmJackson. #JusticeForAll #CourtsMatter

 

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s credentials are outstanding. A Harvard Law graduate, she has served with distinction on the second-highest court in the land, the D.C. Circuit. And she has a deep and demonstrated commitment to civil rights. #ConfirmJackson. #JusticeForAll #CourtsMatter

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is committed to upholding laws that protect the rights of people with disabilities, which you can see in her ruling for Pierce V. District of Columbia. We need someone with her dedication on the Supreme Court. #ConfirmJackson. #JusticeForAll #CourtsMatter

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is committed to upholding laws that protect workers, which you can see in her rulings for cases like AFL-CIO v. Trump. We need someone with her dedication on the Supreme Court. #ConfirmJackson. #JusticeForAll #CourtsMatter

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is committed to upholding laws that protect people from dangerous police practices, such as the abuse of qualified immunity. We need someone with her dedication on the Supreme Court. #ConfirmJackson. #JusticeForAll #CourtsMatter

Judge Jackson devoted years of her career to public service, which means that she brings to the Supreme Court the perspective of someone who has seen the justice system through the eyes of our society’s most vulnerable. She will be a #JusticeForAll. #ConfirmJackson. #CourtsMatter

Judge Jackson would bring a new understanding to the Court that would broaden its grasp of the issues most important to our daily lives and bring it closer to the ideal of delivering equal #JusticeForAll, not just the wealthy and powerful. #ConfirmJackson. #CourtsMatter

For people who share Judge Jackson’s lived experience as a Black woman, this is a chance to look at our Supreme Court and know that somebody inside “gets it.” We cannot wait for her to be confirmed – the Senate must do so without delay. #ConfirmJackson. #JusticeForAll #CourtsMatter

We need judges who understand how our justice system impacts real people. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has that unique perspective. We need her on the Supreme Court. Call (202) 224-3121 and tell your senators: #ConfirmJackson. #JusticeForAll #CourtsMatter

 

Ketanji Brown Jackson would bring brilliance, unquestioned qualifications, and sound judicial temperament to the Supreme Court.

We need a #JusticeForAll. The Senate must confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson. #CourtsMatter #ConfirmJackson

When people see Supreme Court justices who look like them and are committed to equal justice, it increases public trust.

Ketanji Brown Jackson’s background and experience make her an excellent choice to be a Supreme Court Justice. #CourtsMatter #JusticeForAll #ConfirmJackson

Judges and justices from diverse backgrounds make decisions that reflect a wider variety of perspectives.

Ketanji Brown Jackson will uphold equal justice and fight for the rights of all people, not just the wealthy and powerful. #CourtsMatter #JusticeForAll #ConfirmJackson

This nomination is about protecting people from all backgrounds, for generations to come. Ketanji Brown Jackson is a jurist the American people need – exceptionally qualified, with immense legal experience. #CourtsMatter #JusticeForAll #ConfirmJackson

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has been confirmed by the Senate three times, twice without opposition, and already has a distinguished career as a jurist.

The Senate should move quickly to confirm her a fourth time, this time to the Supreme Court. #ConfirmJackson #JusticeForAll

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson served for over eight years as a U.S. District Court judge and wrote nearly 600 opinions.

She was confirmed to the U.S. Court of Appeals in June 2021. #JusticeForAll #ConfirmJackson #CourtsMatter

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has issued many decisions showing her commitment to upholding legal protections for people with disabilities, workers, immigrants, and freedom of speech.

Her record proves that she is highly qualified to serve on the Supreme Court. #ConfirmJackson

Judge Jackson’s experience also includes service on the U.S. Sentencing Commission, where she reformed the unjust discrepancy between sentences for crack and powder cocaine, which disproportionately affect Black, brown and indigenous people. #JusticeForAll #ConfirmJackson

Judge Jackson devoted years of her career to public service, including representing people in D.C., as a public defender.

If confirmed, she will ensure due process rights for all Americans, including our most vulnerable. #JusticeForAll #ConfirmJackson

If confirmed, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson would bring invaluable criminal defense experience to the Supreme Court.

There has not been a justice with similar experience since Justice Thurgood Marshall retired in 1992. #ConfirmJackson #JusticeForAll

General Social Media Messaging: #JusticeForAll

We need Supreme Court justices who will ensure equal justice for all and protect the rights of all of us – not just the wealthy and powerful. With this vacancy, we have the power to confirm a Supreme Court #JusticeForAll.

The truth is this: The vacancy created by Justice Breyer’s retirement should be filled by a fair-minded, empathetic justice who will not pick and choose whose rights they care about and will put equal justice FIRST. #JusticeForAll

Now that there’s a Supreme Court vacancy, we’ll say it again: We need a justice who cares about people and has a proven record of protecting the rights of everyone, no matter their race or background, and understands the lived experiences of all Americans. #JusticeForAll

To ensure equal justice, protect & advance civil rights, expand health care access (including abortion), and ensure our voting rights are protected, we need fair-minded Supreme Court justices who will bolster the rights of everyone, not just the wealthy & powerful. #JusticeForAll

Our country has never lived up to the promise of equal justice for all. But we can change that. With this Supreme Court vacancy, we have the opportunity to confirm a fair-minded justice who will work for all of us – not just the wealthy and powerful. It’s time for a #JusticeForAll.

For too long, the Supreme Court has put its thumb on the scale in favor of big corporations and the wealthy and powerful. We can change that. It’s time for a Supreme Court justice who will work for all of us. It’s time for a #JusticeForAll.

The Supreme Court is not working for all of us. We need a Supreme Court justice who is committed to equal justice for all. We need a #JusticeForAll.

We need justices on the Supreme Court who have a demonstrated commitment to equal justice under the law and who will ensure that our rights are protected. That’s why we’re calling for a #JusticeForAll of us – not just the rich and powerful.

With this Supreme Court vacancy, we have the chance to confirm a Supreme Court justice who will work to realize the promise of equal justice under law. We have the chance to confirm a #JusticeForAll. Let’s get it done. #CourtsMatter

If we want to protect and advance civil rights, health care access, LGBTQ equality, reproductive justice, climate justice, and so much more, then we need a Supreme Court justice who will work for all of us – not just the wealthy and powerful. We need a #JusticeForAll.

We need more Supreme Court justices like Thurgood Marshall, RBG, and Sonia Sotomayor – who come from all walks of life, who understand how their rulings impact our lives, who will defend our civil rights, and who represent and reflect the diversity of America. #JusticeForAll

Let’s be clear about it: We need a Supreme Court that looks more like America and serves ALL in America – with justices who understand how their rulings impact our lives and who will defend our civil rights. #JusticeForAll

The Supreme Court decides important cases on our civil and human rights. We need justices who understand us, reflect us, and are fair-minded – knowing how our Constitution and laws can make a difference in people’s lives. #JusticeForAll

For too long, wealthy and powerful special interests have rigged the system to favor corporations instead of people. We need a Supreme Court justice who will not pick and choose whose rights they care about – a justice who will put justice first. We need a #JusticeForAll.

Say it with us: We need diverse and fair-minded Supreme Court justices who are committed to equal justice for ALL of us. #JusticeForAll

We’re working to create a more just system by demanding a Supreme Court that looks more like America and serves ALL in America. We need a #JusticeForAll!

First Black Woman on the Supreme Court

We need a Supreme Court justice who will live up to the legacy of Justice Thurgood Marshall and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. A Supreme Court justice who will bring a new perspective to the Supreme Court. We need to put a Black woman on the Supreme Court. #JusticeForAll

Diversity on the federal bench isn’t a “nice to have” – it’s a necessity. Confirming the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court will bring a new perspective to the Court – and bring us closer to the promise of #JusticeForAll.

Of the 115 people who have served on the Supreme Court, only three of them have been people of color – and only five have been women. It’s time to bring a new perspective to the Supreme Court. It’s time to put a Black woman on the Supreme Court. #JusticeForAll

The Supreme Court is not working for all of us. We need to seize this moment and nominate a Supreme Court justice with a new perspective and who is committed to ensuring equal justice for all. It’s time to put a Black woman on the Supreme Court. #JusticeForAll

It’s time for a Black woman on SCOTUS who is committed to civil and human rights, who will uphold equal justice for ALL, who is fair-minded and empathetic, who will represent the lived experiences of more people in America. It’s time for a #JusticeForAll. pic.twitter.com/tXBTgtamB7

 

Thanking Justice Stephen Breyer

Justice Breyer valiantly strived to ensure our nation lives up to the promise inscribed above SCOTUS and delivers “equal justice under the law.” We thank him for his service and look forward to President Biden’s announcement on who he will nominate to serve our country next.

Throughout his principled service as a judge on the First Circuit and as an associate justice on the Supreme Court, Justice Breyer pragmatically approached cases, seeking to understand how the law and his decisions could impact people’s lives and rights. We thank him.

We thank Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer for his service and for the legacy he leaves in bolstering our civil and human rights, including on rulings impacting access to health care and the freedom to vote.

We owe Justice Breyer a debt of gratitude for his years of service. His legacy includes important decisions in support of abortion rights and in opposition to the death penalty and to racial bias in our criminal-legal system. And we are also inspired by the opportunity before us.

Justice Breyer’s retirement from the Supreme Court signals the end of an era. Justice Breyer’s 27 years on the highest bench in the country have been profound for both his opinions and dissents. We celebrate his legacy and look forward to @POTUS’s nomination.

 

RESPONDING TO ATTACKS AND DISINFORMATION: 

This section is meant to help shape the narrative around President Biden’s nomination of the first Black woman to the U.S. Supreme Court as a values-based and impact-focused conversation. You will find tips to identify and avoid spreading disinformation and the opposition’s frame, and message guidance to inoculate our base and wider audiences against racialized attacks and disinformation around the nominee.

We must proactively frame the nomination in our terms and highlight the impact of the historic moment. As we know, a Black woman Supreme Court justice with a commitment to upholding equal justice for all will benefit the lives of people of all backgrounds, for this generation and generations to come. Right-wing media and dark money groups are already pushing attacks on the future nominee, including narratives that pander to racists and conspiracy theorists. While most people support the nomination of a Black woman to the Supreme Court, we cannot leave dangerous and extreme narratives unchallenged and risk our opposition winning over a wider audience.

 Recommendations 

  • Use proactive messages to inoculate our audience against racist, extreme narratives. Give people the tools to talk about the nominee in terms of the benefits for all of us and our shared goal of equal justice. People need something to fight for, not just something to fight against.
  • Do not repeat any attacks, even when trying to disprove them. The purpose of these attacks is to prevent us from getting our message out by keeping us busy replying to falsehoods. We need to help people understand how beneficial a justice for all on the Supreme Court will be for our communities. Don’t spend time and effort discussing our opposition’s narrative.
  • Keep our messaging focused on values and the benefits for all of us. Talk about our vision for equal justice and how we can achieve it. Highlight the benefit of a diverse Court with qualified justices who care about all of us and will rule for all of us, not just the rich and powerful. Don’t get bogged down on process or talking in our opposition’s terms.

Talking Points Against Harmful Narratives 

  • Falsehood: Ketanji Brown Jackson has a soft-on-crime record
  • Say this: Judge Jackson has a proven record of protecting the rights of everyone, no matter their race or background, and has a lifetime of public service dedicated to keeping our communities safe. And her work representing indigent people accused of crimes has given her insight into how the system works in real life — insight that circuit court panels could use to make more informed decisions.
    • In recent years, there’s been bipartisan agreement that we don’t have to choose between community safety and meaningful reforms that deliver justice to all. The racial and economic inequalities that have been exacerbated by the pandemic, the influx of guns into our communities and the lack of police accountability threaten our public safety. To have safe communities we need to invest in reforms that deliver justice to all.
  • Falsehood: Ketanji Brown Jackson has helped get criminals out of jail and into our streets, fueling the rising crime wave
  • Say this: Our Constitution guarantees the right to counsel for all, no matter their race, income, background, or zip code. Our criminal-legal system is rigged in favor of the wealthy and powerful, we cannot ignore that reality. Public defenders and community activists who work with people impacted by the criminal-legal system are making our communities safer by providing opportunities for all, especially the ones that most need them most in the fight for equal justice. Judge Jackson’s record as a public defender representing indigent people accused of crimes has given her insight into how the system works in real life — insight that circuit court panels could use to make more informed decisions.

 

  • Falsehood: Ketanji Brown Jackson is a far-left activist handpicked by dark money groups
  • Say this: For too long, the wealthy and powerful have rigged the system to favor corporations instead of people. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has a proven record of protecting the rights of everyone, no matter their race or background, and she will continue her commitment to equal justice. Her confirmation will move us closer to a Supreme Court that will protect and advance civil rights, health care access, and ensure the freedom to vote for all.

 

  • Falsehood: President Biden’s promise to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court is reverse discrimination and racist.
  • Say this: For most of U.S. history, the prerequisites to become a Supreme Court justice were to be White and male. When the Supreme Court includes justices who come from all walks of life and who have different legal backgrounds, that diversity will improve decision-making on the bench and increase public trust in our courts. We need a justice for all — a justice who has a proven record of protecting the rights of everyone, no matter their race or background, and values the lived experiences of all people in America.

 

  • Falsehood: The nominee will not be qualified, since President Biden has narrowed the field to only Black women and refuses to consider others who might be more qualified.
  • Say this: This nomination will shine a light on the deep bench of qualified Black women from many different legal backgrounds who are ready to serve on the Supreme Court. We are confident the nominee will be a fair-minded justice who will put equal justice first and not pick and choose whose rights are protected. She will also be the first Black woman on the Supreme Court and a justice for all.

 

  • Falsehood: President Biden is politicizing the nomination process and the Supreme Court by using this nomination to fulfill a campaign promise.
  • Say this: We need a justice who has a proven record of protecting the rights of everyone, no matter their race or background, and who understands how their rulings will impact our lives. This historic nomination will increase public trust in our courts and improve judicial decision-making. We want all senators to vote to confirm the nominee based on her commitment to civil and human rights, not partisan politics.

 

Best Practices For Preventing The Spread Of Disinformation 

Use the updated Threat Matrix to determine whether your organization should respond to mis- and disinformation you see online.

  • Avoid amplification: Social media algorithms feed on engagement, whether negative or positive. Even reacting with “angry” on a Facebook post boosts it and ensures more people will see the piece of disinformation. Only comment on disinformation that is a high-level threat — and then, only to debunk false information.
  • Report: If you encounter disinformation, flag it for removal from the social network or submit it to the tip line for further evaluation. You can also flag disinformation at reportdisinfo.org.
  • Avoid cross-pollination: If you see a post on Facebook, avoid posting on Twitter about it, even to remark that it is incorrect. That only helps the disinformation spread and makes it more likely that it will become viral on other platforms.
  • Inoculate: Prime your audience to distrust disinformation when they see it by naming bad actors’ motivations and by sharing factual information from trusted sources that encourages people to make a plan for voting.
On March 28, 2022   /   Advocacy, Recent Posts