Alliance for Justice Action Campaign (AFJAC) is a left-of-center judicial policy advocacy group. It is the political advocacy arm of Alliance for Justice (AFJ), a research and advocacy group devoted to confirming judges appointed by Democratic presidents and governors and preventing the confirmation of Republican-appointed judges. AFJAC sponsored campaigns opposing the nominations of all three of the Trump administration’s Supreme Court nominees. ¹

AFJAC’s associated organization Alliance for Justice receives funding from left-leaning funders such as the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation associated with billionaire Warren Buffett and his family, the Open Society Foundations associated with billionaire George Soros, the Ford Foundation, and the California Endowment, among others. ^{2 3 4}

Introduction

Alliance for Justice Action Campaign was created in 2004 with the alleged intent of “advancing core constitutional values[.]” ⁵ However, the organization devotes the lion share of its efforts and resources to combatting the appointment Republican-appointed judges. ⁶

Finances

In 2018, Alliance for Justice Action Campaign received $509,916 in contributions, ⁷ incurred $247,711 in expenses, ⁸ and had $381,139 in net assets. ⁹

While $200,000 of the total contributions received by AFJAC came from AFJ, the remaining $309,916 dollars received by AFJAC are not publicly disclosed on tax records in accordance with IRS disclosure rules. ¹⁰

State Courts Matter Campaign

In 2020-2021, AFJAC launched a new campaign targeting state courts. ¹¹ The campaign calls upon AFJAC’s members to participate in the 33 state supreme court elections that will take place in 2022. ¹² In addition, AFJAC links its readership to a website where they can sign up by phone and email to receive reminders regarding state supreme court elections. ¹³

In 2020, AFJAC, in a self-proclaimed “five-figure” paid for political advertisement, urged voters in Michigan to vote for Bridget McCormack and Elizabeth Welch—both Democratic Party-affiliated candidates (Michigan technically holds non-partisan elections) for the Michigan Supreme Court. ¹⁴

In response to the election of Jill Karfosky, a Democratic Party affiliated candidate for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, AFJAC noted that it funded paid political advertising campaigns in support of Karfosky, ¹⁵ and accused Republican administrators of wrongdoing for implementing voter integrity measures such as limiting the use of mail-in-ballots. ¹⁶

Opposition to Trump Supreme Court Nominees

Justice Amy Coney Barrett

AFJAC opposed President Donald Trump’s nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. ¹⁷ AFJAC questioned Barret’s ability to exert independent judicial judgement, claiming that “Trump and Senate Republicans have been consistently clear they expect the Supreme Court—and nominee Amy Coney Barrett herself—to do their dirty work for them.” ¹⁸ AFJAC went on to assert that by nominating Amy Coney Barrett during a presidential election year, Trump was “stealing” the Supreme Court. ¹⁹

In a script authored by AFJAC, designed to be used by members to contact their Senators regarding Barrett’s nomination, AFJAC instructed its membership to claim that “[s]he will harm racial justice efforts, reproductive rights, protections for workers, LGBTQ people, and more. She should not be given a lifetime seat on the bench.” ²⁰

Some of the uncorroborated claims made by AFJAC regarding Barrett’s views regarding the LGBT community, read in conjunction with unflattering quotes from an article in Politico magazine, which expressed concerns regarding her “strong deference to religious values,” ²¹ relied on anti-Catholic stereotypes.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh

In 2018, AFJAC opposed President Donald Trump’s nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. ²²  AFJAC claimed that Kavanaugh would only uphold the rights of “the wealthy and powerful.” ²³ In support of the conspiracy theory that there was collusion between the 2016 Donald Trump Presidential Campaign and Russia, AFJAC claimed that Kavanaugh would oppose any Department of Justice investigations into the matter. ²⁴ In addition, AFJAC called upon readers to oppose Kavanaugh’s nomination simply on the grounds that the right-of-center Heritage Foundation and Federalist Society, referred to by AFJAC as “two ultraconservative” groups, approved of his nomination. ²⁵

Justice Neil Gorsuch

AFJAC opposed President Donald Trump’s nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. ²⁶ AFJAC framed Neil Gorsuch as functionary who could not be trusted to oppose unconstitutional government action. ²⁷ AFJAC claimed that “[e]very day, the Trump administration takes another step that puts real people’s lives at risk, tears at the fabric of our society and makes us all more vulnerable,” and that “Neil Gorsuch won’t check this president, and he won’t stand up for our rights.” ²⁸

Other Activities

Ad Campaign calling for Resignation of Justice Clarence Thomas

In May 2023, AFJAC and Alliance for Justice (AFJ) launched a $400,000 media campaign with ads calling for the resignation of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. The ad cites ProPublica and Slate reports that allege Thomas had previously accepted “gifts” from billionaire Harlan Crow that include, “luxury vacations, real estate deals and free tuition for a relative.” ²⁹ The media campaign includes digital ads released to news outlets including CNN, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. A press release by AFJ and AFJAC president Rakim H.D Brooks stated, “No one should turn a blind eye to that level of corruption, particularly those sworn to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” ³⁰

Leadership

Nan Aron, a former American Civil Liberties Union (ALCU) attorney, is the founder AFJAC and worked as its president until 2021. ³¹

Rakim Brooks, also a former ACLU attorney, ³² is president of AFJAC. ³³ In 2020, Brooks served on the Biden-Harris transition team tasked with staffing the Department of Treasury. ³⁴

1. Alliance for Justice Action Campaign, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2018.
2. Data compiled by FoundationSearch.com subscription service, a project of Metasoft Systems, Inc., from forms filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Queries conducted December 20, 2017.
3. Data compiled by FoundationSearch.com subscription service, a project of Metasoft Systems, Inc., from forms filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Queries conducted December 20, 2017.
4. Alliance for Justice Action Campaign, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2018.
5. “About.” Alliance for Justice Action Campaign. https://afjactioncampaign.org/about/.
6. “Campaigns.” Alliance for Justice Action Campaign. https://afjactioncampaign.org/campaigns/.
7. Alliance for Justice Action Campaign, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2018.
8. Alliance for Justice Action Campaign, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2018.
9. Alliance for Justice Action Campaign, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2018.
10. Alliance for Justice Action Campaign, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2018.
11. “State Courts Matter.” Alliance for Justice Action Campaign. https://afjactioncampaign.org/campaigns/state-courts-matter/.
12. “State Courts Matter.” Alliance for Justice Action Campaign. https://afjactioncampaign.org/campaigns/state-courts-matter/.
13. “Will you pledge to vote the courts?” Alliance for Justice Action Campaign. https://secure.everyaction.com/rxk5S7vf8kOjaM7rrQkk-g2.
14. “New Supreme Court Ad Campaign Urges Michiganders To Vote For Justice.” Alliance for Justice Action Campaign. October 27, 2020. Accessed November 10, 2021. https://afjactioncampaign.org/2020/10/27/new-supreme-court-ad-campaign-urges-michiganders-to-vote-for-justice/.
15. “Karofsky Overcomes Republicans’ Voter Suppression Attempts in Wisconsin Election.” Alliance for Justice Action Campaign. April 14, 2020. Accessed November 10, 2021. https://afjactioncampaign.org/2020/04/14/karofsky-overcomes-republicans-voter-suppression-attempts-in-wisconsin-election/.
16.  “Karofsky Overcomes Republicans’ Voter Suppression Attempts in Wisconsin Election.” Alliance for Justice Action Campaign. April 14, 2020. Accessed November 10, 2021. https://afjactioncampaign.org/2020/04/14/karofsky-overcomes-republicans-voter-suppression-attempts-in-wisconsin-election/.
17. “Block Barrett.” Alliance for Justice Action Campaign. https://afjactioncampaign.org/campaigns/block-barrett/.
18. “Block Barrett.” Alliance for Justice Action Campaign. https://afjactioncampaign.org/campaigns/block-barrett/.
19. “Block Barrett.” Alliance for Justice Action Campaign. https://afjactioncampaign.org/campaigns/block-barrett/.
20. “Block Barrett-Call Script.” Alliance for Justice Action Campaign. https://afjactioncampaign.org/campaigns/block-barrett/.
21. “Block Barrett-Resources” Alliance for Justice Action Campaign. https://afjactioncampaign.org/campaigns/block-barrett/.
22. “Past Campaign: Stop Kavanaugh” Alliance for Justice Action Campaign. https://afjactioncampaign.org/campaigns/stop_kavanaugh/.
23. “Past Campaign: Stop Kavanaugh” Alliance for Justice Action Campaign. https://afjactioncampaign.org/campaigns/stop_kavanaugh/.
24. “Past Campaign: Stop Kavanaugh” Alliance for Justice Action Campaign. https://afjactioncampaign.org/campaigns/stop_kavanaugh/.
25. “Past Campaign: Stop Kavanaugh” Alliance for Justice Action Campaign. https://afjactioncampaign.org/campaigns/stop_kavanaugh/.
26. “Neil Gorsuch won’t check this president, and he won’t stand up for our rights.” Alliance for Justice Action Campaign. https://afjactioncampaign.org/campaigns/stop-gorsuch/.
27. “Neil Gorsuch won’t check this president, and he won’t stand up for our rights.” Alliance for Justice Action Campaign. https://afjactioncampaign.org/campaigns/stop-gorsuch/.
28. “Neil Gorsuch won’t check this president, and he won’t stand up for our rights.” Alliance for Justice Action Campaign. https://afjactioncampaign.org/campaigns/stop-gorsuch/.
29. Skinner, Paige. “New Ad Calls On Justice Clarence Thomas To Resign For Accepting Billionaire’s Gifts.” Huffington Post, May 30, 2023. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/clarence-thomas-resign-alliance-for-justice-action-campaign_n_64762c89e4b0b4444c7b6198
30. Skinner, Paige. “New Ad Calls On Justice Clarence Thomas To Resign For Accepting Billionaire’s Gifts.” Huffington Post, May 30, 2023. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/clarence-thomas-resign-alliance-for-justice-action-campaign_n_64762c89e4b0b4444c7b6198
31. Schreckinger, Ben. “‘She’s been groomed for this moment’: Amy Barrett’s Supreme Court preparation began early.” Politico. September 21, 2020. Accessed November 10, 2021. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/20/amy-coney-barrett-supreme-court-419219.
32. “Rakim Brooks.” Alliance for Justice. https://www.afj.org/team_member/rakim-brooks/.
33. “About.” Alliance for Justice Action Campaign. https://afjactioncampaign.org/about/.
34. Reamer, Andrew. “Biden-Harris transition team members (updated 12/14) — CEA, Treasury, Federal Reserve, FTC, OMB, USTR, CFPB, Commerce.” American Economic Association. https://www.aeaweb.org/forum/1751/transition-members-updated-treasury-federal-reserve-commerce.