Justice, Civil and Human Rights Groups Host Event Sounding Alarm on Trump Administration, Congress’ Attacks on Access to Courts
MEDIA ADVISORY
Nov. 1, 2017
Justice, Civil and Human Rights Groups Host Event Sounding Alarm on Trump Administration, Congress’ Attacks on Access to Courts
Franken to Keynote “Our Country, Our Courts” Event; Earthjustice, ACLU, The Leadership Conference and Public Citizen Join Panel Discussion
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, four of the country’s leading environmental, civil and human rights, health and safety, and civil liberties organizations are hosting an event to shine a spotlight on attempts to limit Americans’ access to courts.
U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) will headline an event at the Newseum on Thursday, Nov. 2, where Franken and leaders from Earthjustice, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and Public Citizen will discuss the threats to our access to justice.
WHO:U.S. Senator Al Franken (D-Minn.) (keynote speaker)
Jennifer Bendery, senior political reporter, The Huffington Post (moderator)
Remington A. Gregg, counsel for civil justice and consumer rights, Public Citizen (panelist)
Kristine Lucius, executive vice president for policy, The Leadership Conference on Human and Civil Rights (panelist)
Patrice Simms, vice president of litigation, Earthjustice (panelist)
Shayna Strom, national advocacy director and deputy political director, ACLU (panelist)
WHEN: 7 p.m. EDT, Thurs., Nov. 2
WHERE: Newseum Knight Conference Center
555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC
The Trump administration and some members of the U.S. Congress are quietly mounting a broad offensive aimed at undermining access to the courts for people, communities and groups working in the public interest. In addition to directives issued by the Trump administration, members of Congress have introduced more than 50 pieces of legislation in 2017 that would restrict a person’s access to justice and the courts, 10 of which have already passed the House of Representatives, and one of which has been signed into law.
Just last week, the U.S. Senate voted to overturn a rule allowing consumers to bring class-action lawsuits against predatory banks, credit card companies and other financial institutions – an effort backed by the financial industry and signed into law by the Trump administration. The U.S. House of Representatives last week voted to restrict settlements, a move that ultimately delays the enactment of public protections, bolstering a similar directive by U.S. Environment Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt that effectively delays enactment of rules that would regulate industry pollution.
To cover the event, please RSVP to OurCountryOurCourts@earthjustice.org or follow live online at Earthjustice’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/Earthjustice.
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Public Citizen is a national nonprofit organization with more than 400,000 members and supporters. We represent consumer interests through lobbying, litigation, administrative advocacy, research, and public education on a broad range of issues including consumer rights in the marketplace, product safety, financial regulation, worker safety, safe and affordable health care, campaign finance reform and government ethics, fair trade, climate change and corporate and government accountability. Learn more at www.citizen.org.
Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization, wielding the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health, preserve magnificent places and wildlife, advance clean energy and combat climate change. Earthjustice is here because the earth needs a good lawyer. Learn more at www.earthjustice.org.
For nearly 100 years, the ACLU has worked in courts, legislatures and communities to protect the constitutional rights of all people. With a nationwide network of offices and millions of members and supporters, we take up the toughest civil liberties fights. Beyond one person, party or side — we the people dare to create a more perfect union. Learn more at www.aclu.org.
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.