WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing to begin understanding how to strengthen public faith and confidence in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is the only federal court in the country that lacks a formal set of ethical standards. Former Fourth Circuit Judge J. Michael Luttig, a conservative, submitted testimony to the Judiciary Committee this morning stating that the Supreme Court should “subject itself to the highest possible professional and ethical standards that would render the Court beyond reproach.”
HELENA, MT -- Yesterday, the Montana House of Representatives voted to ban Representative Zooey Zephyr, the state’s only transgender lawmaker, from the House floor, anteroom, or gallery for the rest of the session after she spoke out against proposed legislation to ban gender-affirming care for trans youth. House Republicans began purposefully silencing Rep. Zephyr last Thursday and voted on Monday to continue disallowing her to speak. Rep. Zephyr’s constituents and supporters were arrested on Monday during a peaceful protest of the vote. Montana Republicans used unprecedented means to push bills targeting the state's environmental protections, public participation, and democracy this session. To date, 11 other states have passed similarly extreme anti-trans legislation.
NASHVILLE -- Yesterday, Tennessee House Republicans voted to expel Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, two young Black men representing parts of Nashville and Memphis respectively, for joining their constituents to protest the state’s woefully inadequate gun safety legislation. An expulsion vote for Representative Gloria Johnson, a white woman representing part of Knoxville, did not pass.
SELMA, AL -- Fifty-eight years ago today, future Congressman John Lewis, Reverend Hosea Williams, and civil rights leaders led a peaceful march for voting rights across the Edmund Pettus Bridge when state and local police brutally attacked them. Dozens of peaceful protesters were hospitalized. The events of what became known as Bloody Sunday are credited as a turning point in the fight to pass the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Over the weekend, President Biden, Civil Rights leaders, the Sierra Club, and more marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge to commemorate the anniversary.
WASHINGTON, DC -- Last Friday, Common Cause President Karen Hobert Flynn passed away. The Sierra Club has worked closely with Karen and Common Cause to protect and strengthen our democracy.
(Washington, DC) — Today, groups led by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, DEMOS, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) issued a report to commemorate the two-year anniversary of President Biden’s Voting Access Executive Order, which shows the progress agencies have made implementing their plans to expand access to voting.
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, Senator Whitehouse re-introduced the Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act.
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance a number of exceptional federal judicial nominees to the full Senate for consideration and final confirmation votes. The Sierra Club has endorsed and sent letters of support for several of the nominees including Nancy Abudu for the 11th Circuit, Rachel S. Bloomekatz for the 6th Circuit, and Dale Ho for the Southern District of New York. Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced additional judicial nominees, including Bradley N. Garcia for the DC Circuit.
Hoy se conmemora el segundo aniversario del violento ataque al Capitolio Nacional.
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today marks two years since the violent attack on our nation’s Capitol. On that day, an armed and violent mob launched an insurrection in an attempt to overturn the results of the free and fair 2020 presidential election.
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congress passed reforms to the Electoral Count Act of 1887. These reforms will clarify the presidential election certification process and will clearly define the Vice President’s role in counting electoral votes as solely ceremonial, among many other advancements.
La Comisión Selecta Bipartidista sobre el 6 de Enero de la Cámara Baja anunció que va a remitir al expresidente Trump, a su abogado John Eastman y otros conspiradores al Departamento de Justicia debido a sus protagonismos en la insurrección del 6 de enero de 2021.