December 12, 2019
Millions Spent to Stack Our Supreme Court Against West Virginians
Brennan Center Study Confirms That "Justice Is for Sale" in Mountain State
The West Virginia Association for Justice said that the new "Politics in Judicial Elections" study, issued by the Brennan Center for Justice, is independent proof that justice is for sale to the highest bidder in West Virginia.
"Since 2004, billion-dollar corporate special interests and Washington insiders have spent millions to rig West Virginia's judicial system. They want justices who will help them get richer at the expense of West Virginians, our bank accounts and our rights," said Kristina Thomas Whiteaker, president of the West Virginia Association for Justice.
"In 2018, despite the shortened election period, more than $3.7 million was spent on West Virginia Supreme Court races. More than $1.9 million of that came from the so-called Judicial Fairness Initiative, a dark money organization that refuses to disclose to voters who is funding the campaign. Investigative stories have found that the money funding the Judicial Fairness Initiative is funneled through multiple front groups. Voters have the right to know who is spending millions on these campaigns."
"Our courtrooms are the one place where every West Virginia citizen is equal to the most powerful people, the wealthiest corporations and even the government itself. It is one of the most important rights we have as Americans--but these powerful insiders and billion-dollar corporations want to destroy that right. They're spending millions to buy seats for their handpicked West Virginia Supreme Court justices, stacking the deck in their favor and rigging the system against us."
"We need to elect fair and impartial justices who will uphold the constitution, not make special interests richer at the expense of West Virginians and their rights."
WVAJ AFFINITY PARTNERS
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