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Dear Friends,
Please tell your senators to oppose the nominations of Dawn Johnsen and Louis Butler.
On Thursday, February 4, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on two very controversial nominees: Dawn Johnsen to head up the Office of Legal Counsel and Louis Butler to be a United States District Judge.
If confirmed, Johnsen would hold one of the most important positions at the Department of Justice. The Office of Legal Counsel sets the policy for the entire federal government.
Johnsen’s views go far outside the mainstream of American thought. She has stated that “there is no ‘father’ and no ‘child’ – just a fetus.” She also equated pregnancy with slavery and said that pregnant women are “losers” who are forced to be “fetal containers.” She has objected to regulations on abortion, saying that the concept of making abortion rare is “nonsensical.” Johnsen defended these views for NARAL, an abortion advocacy group, where she served as Legal Director from 1988 to 1993.
Johnsen would also protect terrorists and weaken our national security. She has objected to warrantless surveillance of suspected al-Qaeda communications into and out of the United States. In addition, Johnsen attacked the Bush administration’s decision to hold enemy combatants.
Johnsen’s nomination was sent back to President Obama in December 2009 when Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nevada) determined her nomination would not pass. She was renominated by Obama in early January. With Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pennsylvania) switching parties, as well as changing his position on Dawn Johnsen, she may be confirmed.
Like Johnsen, Butler’s name was sent back to the White House in December and he was renominated by Obama earlier this year.
Butler is a judicial activist who was rejected twice by Wisconsin voters because of questionable judicial philosophy and decisions that will put our liberties at risk.
Butler accepted campaign contributions from people associated with parties to cases that were pending before his court.
Butler ignores legal precedent. He has stated that judges have a desire to interpret and apply the law, but personal decisions and policies will be determinative. Butler is unfit for a lifetime appointment to the bench because he will impose his personal beliefs and political ideology instead of following established law.
Please call your Senators today at 202-224-3121 and ask them to oppose Johnsen’s and Butler’s nominations. If you live in Pennsylvania, please tell Senator Specter not to flip his vote on the Johnsen nomination.
| Sincerely, | |
 Penny Nance Chief Executive Officer |
 Wendy Wright President |
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