Across America, your right to fair and impartial justice is at stake. Special interests are spending millions to influence decisions and elect judges to serve their narrow interest, not the public interest. Lawmakers and interest groups are trying to intimidate judges in retaliation for rulings they don’t like, often with threats of impeachment. And courts are being stripped of their powers to protect our rights and interpret our laws.

HELPING AMERICANS KEEP COURTS FAIR AND IMPARTIAL

Our democracy depends on independent courts that can protect our rights, guarantee equal justice, and make decisions based solely on the facts and the law—without fear of political intimidation. Justice at Stake Campaign partners and allies have come together to help Americans keep special interests and political pressure out of the courtroom. It’s time to stand up and:

• Counter attempts to intimidate and punish judges who controversial decisions.

• Protect the power of our courts to protect our rights and defend the Constitution.

• Reduce the power of money and special interests in judicial elections, and give Americans the information they need to protect the courts.

WHO WE ARE

Justice at Stake is a nonpartisan campaign working to keep our courts fair and impartial. Justice at Stake Campaign partners educate the public and work for reforms to keep politics and special interests out of the courtroom—so judges can do their job protecting our Constitution, our rights and the rule of law. JAS is currently funded by grants from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Joyce Foundation, the Moriah Fund and the Open Society Institute.

STANDING UP FOR FAIR AND IMPARTIAL COURTS

In states across America, here are some examples of projects Justice at Stake partners are supporting to keep politics and special interests out of the courtroom, and to protect what Chief Justice Rehnquist calls one of the "crown jewels" of our democracy.

INFORMING AMERICANS ABOUT THEIR COURTS AND JUDGES

• Public Education
• Voter Guides
• Judicial Evaluation Commissions

REDUCING SPECIAL INTEREST PRESSURE AND IMPROVING JUDICIAL CAMPAIGNS

• Monitoring Special Interest Pressure on the Courts
• Public Financing of Judicial Elections 
• Merit-Based Selection of Judges 
• Better Disclosure of Campaign and Interest Group Contributions

PROTECTING COURTS AND JUDGES FROM PARTISAN ATTACKS

• Rapid Response to Intimidation and Impeachment Threats
• Educating Political Leaders on the Unique Role of Our Courts
• Protecting Court Budgets From Political Attacks

DEFENDING THE COURTS THAT DEFEND OUR RIGHTS

• Calling Attention to Attacks on the Power of Our Courts to Uphold the Constitution
• Building a Network of Judges to Speak Out 
• Developing New Messages and Coalitions to Defend Our Courts
  

The Justice at Stake Campaign is a non-partisan national partnership working to keep our courts fair and impartial. Across America, Campaign partners help protect our courts through public education, grass-roots organizing, coalition-building and reform. The Campaign provides strategic coordination and brings unique organizational, communications and research resources to the work of its partners and allies at the national, state and local levels.