ACLJ Launches Nationwide Campaign to Urge Senate to Enact Rules Change Eliminating Judicial Filibuster

May 23, 2011

2 min read

ACLJ

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April 11, 2005

(Washington, DC) -- The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which focuses on constitutional law, today launched a nationwide campaign to urge the leadership of the U.S. Senate to change its rules to bring an end to the crippling use of filibusters against judicial nominees. 

"The use of the judicial filibuster is an obstructionist tactic designed to prevent full consideration of nominees -- a move that violates the Constitution," said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ACLJ.  "The Senate clearly has the authority to amend its own rules and take the action necessary to end the unconstitutional use of the judicial filibuster, which prevents up-or-down votes on President Bush's judicial nominees.  The Senate must act to put the use of the filibuster off-limits and comply with the Constitution which requires the Senate to provide advice and consent regarding Presidential nominees. That's the fair and constitutional way to proceed.  Every judicial nominee who has been filibustered would be confirmed by a simple majority vote if the nomination went before the full Senate for a vote.  It's clear the American people understand the importance of the judiciary and understand that the filibuster is not only wrong, but represents the worst of partisan politics as well."

The ACLJ has provided legal memoranda to Senate members urging them to change the Senate rule that requires 60 votes to cut-off a filibuster.

The memos detail options available for a change in the Senate rule and urges leadership to make that change.

The ACLJ has launched the Petition to End Judicial Filibusters -- a national petition campaign that will reach hundreds of thousands of Americans.  Sekulow said the ACLJ will use a number of methods to get the word out --including direct mail, email, website, its weekly national television program, and its daily radio program, which is heard on nearly 550 radio stations nationwide.

Led by Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the American Center for Law and Justice is based in Washington, D.C.