Unraveling The Far-Left Group Seeking To Derail Future Republican SCOTUS Nominees
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Posted For:Rotorblade
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court’s review of “birthright citizenship” drew widespread attention to an important legal debate. Yet another story involving the high court has received far less coverage, despite its potential political significance.
The New York Times published a low-profile report Friday titled, “Liberal Group Warns That Trump Could Have Two More Supreme Court Picks.” Reporter Reid Epstein revealed that the far-left group Demand Justice is planning to oppose any Supreme Court nominations that might arise during President Trump’s current term. According to the Times, Demand Justice President Josh Orton said his organization is “preparing a multimillion-dollar effort to oppose potential Trump Supreme Court appointees before they happen — with a warning that Mr. Trump could be replacing two justices this year.”
Orton described a strategy to link all Republicans running for office in 2026 to a potential Trump Supreme Court pick and to frame the battle as a question of a nominee’s loyalty to Trump rather than to the country. He also pointed to speculation over whether Justices Clarence Thomas, 77, and Samuel Alito, 76, might retire at the end of the court’s 2025–2026 term. Orton criticized the left’s previous miscalculation when Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg declined to step down during Barack Obama’s presidency, a decision that ultimately allowed Trump to appoint Amy Coney Barrett and shift the court toward originalist interpretations.
Demand Justice estimates its campaign will cost $3 million, with an additional $15 million if a vacancy occurs before the 2026 midterms. The group is coordinating with Indivisible, another left-leaning organization known for activism against Trump policies. The Times did not disclose the sources of Demand Justice’s funding.
Origins and Leadership
Demand Justice was created in early 2018 under the Sixteen Thirty Fund to advocate for left-wing judicial nominees and oppose conservatives. The Sixteen Thirty Fund is part of the Arabella Advisors network and has contributed millions in political spending, including funds from Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss.
In its early years, Demand Justice launched campaigns against Trump’s potential nominees for Justice Anthony Kennedy’s seat, including Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. The group orchestrated protests and online campaigns against Kavanaugh’s nomination and later produced ads supporting Ketanji Brown Jackson while opposing Barrett.
Demand Justice became an independent nonprofit in 2021 but continued receiving significant funding from Sixteen Thirty Fund and the Open Society Policy Center, founded by George Soros. Its leadership has strong Democratic Party ties: co-founders include Obama White House official Christopher Kang and Brian Fallon, Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign press secretary. Fallon later joined Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 campaign before stepping down from Demand Justice. Orton, now president, previously served as a senior adviser to Harris, Bernie Sanders’ 2020 campaign, and pro-abortion advocacy groups.
Court-Packing and Political Activism
Beyond opposing Trump’s judicial nominees, Demand Justice has supported court-packing initiatives. The group backed legislation to expand the Supreme Court after Democrats’ 2020 election wins, spending $1.5 million to promote the proposal. Since Trump’s return to office, the group has refocused on challenging his judicial picks.
In 2024, Demand Justice joined other leftist groups in asking Justice Alito to recuse himself from cases related to the 2020 election and January 6 events, citing what the group framed as a controversy over nonpolitical flags displayed at his home. Later that year, the organization launched a $10 million campaign targeting the Supreme Court and Republican nominees. It has also created a tracker to monitor perceived threats to judicial independence, using polling data to pressure lawmakers across party lines.
Looking Ahead
Demand Justice’s efforts demonstrate the lengths the left will go to influence judicial appointments. While conservatives have successfully defended past nominees like Thomas and Kavanaugh, future battles are uncertain. The Trump administration and its allies may need to proactively prepare for aggressive campaigns against any new nominees.
Even if Thomas and Alito do not retire soon, developing a strategy to counter potential attacks could be critical in ensuring the court remains balanced according to constitutional principles.
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