A liberal organization focused on the judiciary is rolling out a five-figure ad campaign targeting President Trump’s possible candidates to fill a future Supreme Court vacancy.
The group, Demand Justice, released two digital ads Tuesday focusing on two judges named to Trump’s list of 25 potential candidates for the Supreme Court. Additional ads, however, are expected to be unveiled in the coming weeks, BuzzFeed reported.
Though there is no vacancy on the high court, speculation about a possible retirement at the end of this term has ramped up, with all eyes on Justice Anthony Kennedy. Kennedy turns 82 next month and celebrated his 30th year on the Supreme Court in February.
“Trump wants to ensure the Supreme Court serves as a rubber stamp for him and his agenda,” Demand Justice tweeted. “Meet the extremist judges he is considering in case he gets the chance to fill another Supreme Court seat.”
Trump wants to ensure the Supreme Court serves as a rubber stamp for him and his agenda. Meet the extremist judges he is considering in case he gets the chance to fill another Supreme Court seat >> https://t.co/ZkFMJ2FJyS pic.twitter.com/qMbtGaE1n2
— Demand Justice (@WeDemandJustice) June 12, 2018
The president released his initial list of prospective Supreme Court nominees during the presidential election and has since grown the list to 25.
24 of the names are federal and state court judges, and the 25th is Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, a lawyer and former assistant U.S. attorney.
The first two ads made public by Demand Justice focus on Amy Coney Barrett of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and Brett Kavanaugh of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Barrett’s ad highlights her opposition to the Affordable Care Act and urges viewers not to let “Trump and Amy Barrett take away our health care.”
Kavanaugh’s ad, meanwhile, focuses on his previous comments regarding the president’s power when it comes to independent counsel investigations, which the ad ties to special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian meddling and possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.
Additional ads, including one for David Stras of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, are forthcoming, according to BuzzFeed.
Alongside the ads, Demand Justice also rolled out a campaign called Ditch the List, which is designed to educate the public about Trump’s list of prospective nominees to the high court.
Launched last month, Demand Justice seeks to mobilize liberals around issues relating to the federal courts.
