SCOTUS Town Hall & Much More Happening Tomorrow

Dear Friends, Partners, & Allies, 

Apologies for any duplication, but there are several events taking place tomorrow, Thursday, July 12 that we wanted you to be aware of. 

First. we wanted to let you know that the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, along with former Delegate Clif Moore, will convene a town hall meeting on the Supreme Court vacancy and nomination from 10AM to noon at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 520 Kanawha Blvd. West, Charleston to engage Senators Manchin & Capito make sure they hear from their constituents. It’s imperative we make our voices heard loud and clear. Join the discussion to learn more about the significance of his pick, what’s at stake with the nomination, and the need to come together to defend and expand rights for all.

Second, our “Democracy Platform Committee” will be meeting tomorrow at 3:30PM at the WV Citizen Action Group Office (1500 Dixie Street, Charleston). This committee is working to vet and refine the components we brainstormed at our strategy session last month and develop a platform that allies, candidates and the public can unify around that brings together democracy issues. The Committee’s proposal will be presented to partners and allies at our next coalition meeting. We’ve got a great Committee but other partners and allies are welcome to join us. 

We wanted also to remind you that the committee considering impeachment charges against members of the WV Supreme Court of Appeals will begin it’s work tomorrow.  Please reach out if you have thoughts or ideas on how we can use the recent charges against Justice Loughry and the impeachment proceedings to help elevate our issues and the need for systemic reforms to restore confidence in the judiciary and the electoral process. Need a refresher on how we got here or want to learn more about the process?  Click here for an explainer from WV Public Radio’s Dave Mistich. 

Finally, several partners and allies including the ACLU of WV are holding a rallies at the U.S. attorneys’ offices in Charleston and Clarksburg at 6PM to protest the Trump administration’s “zero-tolerence” policy, which has separated thousands of children from their families. Come raise your voice and send a message to our U.S. attorneys and the Trump administration that all Families Belong Together and the mass jailing of families is unacceptable.

Best,

Julie

Julie Archer, Coordinator
WV Citizens for Clean Elections

PS: Reminder: If you haven’t already, please save the date for our next coalition meeting on August 9 at 10AM (location TBD). 

PSS:  ICYMI — Courts Op-eds & News of Interest

• Trial by jury key to America’s formation (Daily Mail Opinion) – op-ed by Beth White, Executive Director of the WV Association for Justice based on her research and presentation at our recent fair courts workshop. 
• The rise of dark money is a threat to judicial independence – ABA Journal article by Alicia Bannon of the Brennan Center for Justice
• LGBTQ community raises concern over Greear appointment to Kanawha County Circuit Court 
• Political spending in judicial races need transparency (Gazette) – op-ed by our coordinator on the need to improve confidence in both the judicial system and the electoral process  

From WV Citizens for Clean Elections
 info@wvoter-owned.org