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Hi John,

Washington slows down in August and every year I revel in the opportunity to write and reflect, but also, connect with my leadership team to take stock of what we are doing well and what opportunities lie ahead.

I’m so proud of this organization and what we are contributing to the movement for justice for all – and yet I know that we can always find new ways to meet our mission. The summer slowdown is our chance to get stronger and recharge for the fights ahead.

August also means travel and this summer I am looking forward to the chance to spread the word about the indispensable work of the AFJ at this crucial historical moment. I just attended the New Leaders Council conference and will head to the Black Economic Forum next week. At both, I get to connect with national leaders driving innovative change across the country. Getting outside of the DC bubble reinforces my confidence that equity and justice remain a priority for most Americans.

Finally, last week my monthly piece in Democracy Docket [[link removed]] was published, celebrating the number of movement lawyers that have been confirmed during the Biden administration. The piece argues that while this is still the best antidote to an unhinged Supreme Court, the insidious blue slip custom [[link removed]] continues to be an obstacle to the confirmation of new judges. This arcane practice allows for Republicans to arbitrarily and cynically block judicial nominees from being confirmed, a power grab that allows them to maintain control of the courts. Our movement is dedicated to filling every vacancy possible during this administration, with as many movement lawyers as possible, no matter what. Our fight continues when the Senate reconvenes in September.

Yours in the fight,
Rakim

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Federal Courts
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President Biden announced four new judicial nominations [[link removed]] in late July—his 36th slate. This latest wave keeps the momentum going for this administration’s historic work [[link removed]] to strengthen the judiciary and ensure it works for—and represents—all Americans, not just a select few.

We are particularly thrilled by the nomination of Judge Eumi K. Lee , to the District Court for the Northern District of California, and that of Richard E. N. Federico , to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Lee has been a judge on the Superior Court of California in Alameda County since 2018; prior to that, she was a clinical professor at the University of California’s Hastings College of Law. Lee also clerked at both the federal district and appellate level and will bring immense experience and expertise to the bench.

Like Lee, Federico will bring greatly needed professional diversity to the bench. Currently the Senior Litigator for the Federal Public Defender for the District of Kansas, he also serves as a Captain in the United States Navy Reserve, Judge Advocate General’s Corps.

We are also excited to note that the nomination of Judge Jeffrey Bryan , who’s been a judge on Minnesota state courts since 2013, to the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota means that court will have a Hispanic judge for the first time in its history.

Additionally, in July, the Senate Judiciary Committee considered the Supreme Court Ethics, Transparency, and Recusal Act of 2023 [[link removed]] (SCERT Act), sponsored by Senators Whitehouse, Blumenthal, Booker, Feinstein, Durbin, Hirono, Welch, Padilla, and Klobuchar. The bill would require Supreme Court justices to adopt a code of conduct, create a mechanism to investigate alleged violations of that code of conduct and other laws, improve disclosure and transparency, and require justices to explain recusal decisions to the public.

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FJ’s state courts team is gearing up to educate and equip Pennsylvanians ahead of November’s state court elections for their supreme court and their intermediate appellate courts, the Commonwealth Court and Superior Court. AFJ and our members continued our advocacy for the Oregon Supreme Court vacancy, sending a sign-on letter alongside AFJ members emphasizing the importance of having professionally and demographically diverse judges on the bench. In addition to Oregon, the state courts team is continuing to monitor current and upcoming vacancies in Arkansas, Connecticut, Hawaii,
Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

Latest Resources from Bolder Advocacy
[link removed] [[link removed]] With election season upon us, Bolder Advocacy wants to make sure your nonprofit’s voter engagement and GOTV efforts are amplified AND compliant. Our Nonprofit Voter Assistance [[link removed]] series, created in partnership with the Democracy Capacity Project, helps nonprofits navigate these complexities.

[link removed] [[link removed]] Is your nonprofit or foundation in search of ways to navigate this post-SFFA world? Our latest blog [[link removed]] explains how nonprofits can and should continue to work towards an equitable, just, and inclusive society.

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Lastly, don’t miss our recent Rules of the Game podcast episode [[link removed]] featuring People’s Parity Project [[link removed]] co-founder and executive director, Molly Coleman. Join us as we explore PPP’s grassroots origins, nationwide presence, and bold strategies for a justice-centered legal system.

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Our spotlighted member for August and September is Texas Freedom Network [[link removed]] . In case you missed it, our Member spotlight for June and July was CenterLink [[link removed]] .

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Taylor Miller
Senior Digital Communications Strategist
“ As a communications professional, ethics are applied to your work every day. You always want to make sure that you’re putting out the most accurate, honest information.”

Taylor Miller is confident that if the nonprofit sector were a sport, it would be football (she would know - as an undergraduate at Howard University, she minored in sports administration). Like football, Taylor says, nonprofits are “a game of strategy and a game of inches.” The aim is to keep moving forward no matter what: “Every inch we make towards our goal is progress.”

As a Senior Digital Communications Strategist at Alliance for Justice, Taylor helps craft the organization’s online gameplan, using social media and other online tools to build AFJ’s audience. After years of working in nonprofit communications, she joined AFJ in January 2022, drawn by the opportunity to explore a new subject: “I was really intrigued by the courts system and interested in learning about what is, in my opinion, the forgotten branch of our government,” she explains.

Read our full profile of Taylor. [[link removed]]
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