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Supreme Court Nominee: Environment Stands to Lose

Target: U.S. Senate
Sponsored by: Earthjustice
Tell your senators to keep the Supreme Court fair!

The Supreme Court has the final say on whether to uphold and enforce -- or limit and strike down -- the laws that safeguard our nation's air, water, wildlife, and wilderness. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's retirement means our most basic environmental laws may be in jeopardy.

As a mainstream conservative justice, Justice O'Connor often cast the decisive vote in favor of protecting environmental safeguards enjoyed by all Americans. For this reason, the question of who will fill the vacancy created by her departure holds serious consequences for the future of our environment. Given the President's track record of sending the Senate controversial judicial nominees who are outside the mainstream -- like Janice Rogers Brown and William Myers III -- there is good reason to be concerned.

Earthjustice has led the conservation community's efforts to ensure that those confirmed to lifetime judgeships will fairly uphold and enforce legal safeguards and will not be biased in favor of powerful special interests. We know just how hard we must work to preserve the Supreme Court's vital role in protecting the environment -- and we need your help to make it happen.

Please take action TODAY! Tell your senators to make sure the new Supreme Court justice is not biased against laws that protect our environment!

Update: July 19, 2005
President Bush has officially nominated Judge John G. Roberts, Jr. to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court. Given his record on the environment, we have reason for concern. In the coming weeks we will need your continued support as we call on Congress to conduct a thorough investigation of Judge Roberts. Read More.
deadline: 7-1-2006
goal: 10,000
 

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Support a pro-conservation Supreme Court nominee


Dear Senator [Name],

The Supreme Court plays a vital role in ensuring the protection of public health and our environment, as well as many of the other rights we have come to enjoy as citizens of this great country. In light of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's retirement, it is crucial that you help ensure the Court continues to serve the best interests of all Americans.

As your constituent, I urge you to insist that President Bush meaningfully consult with Democratic and Republican senators before selecting a Supreme Court nominee. I also trust that you will do everything in your power to ensure that any nominee is fair and unbiased, and has a record that demonstrates he or she will fairly uphold and enforce laws that protect our environment.

Justice O'Connor was recommended by a Democratic senator, nominated by President Ronald Reagan, and confirmed unanimously by the Senate. It is important that President Bush select a consensus nominee who will garner the same bipartisan support.

As a U.S. Senator, you are responsible for ensuring that the next nominee to the highest court in the nation will uphold the laws that protect citizens from pollution, safeguard our natural resources from irresponsible exploitation, and conserve our natural heritage for future generations to enjoy.

I hope that the individual appointed to the Supreme Court will [Your personal comments here]

Thank you for considering my input.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
We signed the “Supreme Court Nominee: Environment Stands to Lose” petition!
# 7,376:
4:30 pm PDT, Jul 21, Jacqueline Semit, New York
# 7,375:
4:22 pm PDT, Jul 21, Name not displayed, Kentucky
# 7,374:
4:20 pm PDT, Jul 21, Julianne Schwartz, California
# 7,373:
4:19 pm PDT, Jul 21, Ana Antunes, Florida
# 7,372:
4:13 pm PDT, Jul 21, Steph Cochrane, Montana
Protect the Environment and the Public. Roberts will do neither. Oppose his nomination.
# 7,371:
4:09 pm PDT, Jul 21, Kristin Burch, Vermont
# 7,370:
4:09 pm PDT, Jul 21, April Jones, Texas
# 7,369:
4:06 pm PDT, Jul 21, Jennifer Rowland, Ohio
# 7,368:
4:04 pm PDT, Jul 21, Karen Reed, Ohio
# 7,367:
4:04 pm PDT, Jul 21, Name not displayed, Ohio
# 7,366:
4:01 pm PDT, Jul 21, Name not displayed, Kansas
# 7,365:
3:57 pm PDT, Jul 21, Denise Desmarais Bence, Massachusetts
# 7,364:
3:52 pm PDT, Jul 21, Brian Debasitis, Vermont
Realize that protecting endangerd species and the environment in general are about protecting us. The planet keeps getting smaller, and we keep fouling our bed. The supreme court should protect the health of all Americans and should protect the enviroment for us and future generations.
# 7,363:
3:50 pm PDT, Jul 21, Nicole Stefan, Maryland
# 7,362:
3:49 pm PDT, Jul 21, Robert C. Lappo, California
# 7,361:
3:43 pm PDT, Jul 21, Felicia Ives, Florida
# 7,360:
3:42 pm PDT, Jul 21, Kristin Coger, Alabama
# 7,359:
3:42 pm PDT, Jul 21, Name not displayed, Nevada
Realize that our environment is eroding away, and with that very valuable plants, trees, and wildlife that sustain our very existence on this earth. We the people need to take action to prevent this from happening. What future are we leaving to our kids and grandkids? Don't we owe it to our future generations to ensure that they will have clean air to breath, fresh water to drink and forest land that will continue to supply man with ingredients for medicine that can only be found in our Rainforests. Our oceans need not be a dumping ground for raw sewage. Large companies and small alike need to be held accountable for their methods of disposing of waste, just as our government needs to strengthen the guidlines to ensure that this happens.
# 7,358:
3:41 pm PDT, Jul 21, Bethany Rader, Michigan
look out for the rights of ALL of God's creatures, not only humans, because animals have hearts and souls too. Bethany Rader
# 7,357:
3:40 pm PDT, Jul 21, Karen Radzik, Florida
# 7,356:
3:39 pm PDT, Jul 21, Christopher Dunham, Connecticut
# 7,355:
3:35 pm PDT, Jul 21, Mark Rush, Colorado
# 7,354:
3:30 pm PDT, Jul 21, Heather Knippenberg, Illinois
# 7,353:
3:29 pm PDT, Jul 21, Lisa Wirth, Pennsylvania
# 7,352:
3:27 pm PDT, Jul 21, Kristi Knotts, California
Be a moderate and not handpicked by Pat Robertson.
# 7,351:
3:26 pm PDT, Jul 21, Teri Graves, Washington
The Supreme Court has the responsibility to look at the Big Picture, and the long-term plan & effects on our environment. As an American Indian, we consider ourselves stewards of our planet, but we shouldn't be the only ones that are responsible. Don't take Mother Earth for granted, we need to protect her and save her and heal her. We, as the 4 Nations of the Medicine Wheel: White, Yellow, Red & Black.