No more extremist judges on the federal bench!

Recent reports indicate that Senator Dianne Feinstein “continues to wrestle with her vote” on extremist judicial nominee Leslie Southwick and “needs time ‘to think more about it.’” She must hear from us now! Contact Senator Feinstein to urge her to block the confirmation of this extremist judge because:

* Leslie Southwick has an abysmal record on racial discrimination issues
* He has expressed a willingness to discriminate against gays and lesbians
* Southwick has the worst record of his Mississippi Court of Appeals peers when it comes to workers rights

Call Senator Feinstein’s Offices:
Washington, D.C.: (202) 224-3841 / San Francisco: (415) 393-0707
Los Angeles: (310) 914-7300 / San Diego: (619) 231-1108

If you’re not in California, click here to use PFAW’s action tool.

Urge Feinstein to vote against Southwick because of his clearly demonstrated judicial extremism. Southwick and several Republican Senators are holding private meetings to assure Senator Feinstein and other Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee that Southwick will be a moderate contrary to his existing record.

As a state appellate judge, Leslie Southwick had an abysmal record on racial discrimination issues. For example, he ruled to reinstate a white employee who had been fired for calling an African-American coworker “a good ole [‘n’ word].” Southwick also routinely rejected defense claims that prosecutors struck African-American jurors based on race; while at the same time, he has usually upheld allegations of race discrimination when prosecutors claim that the defense has struck white jurors.

Southwick has also expressed a willingness to discriminate against gays and lesbians. In ruling to remove a child from the custody of her bisexual mother, he joined an anti-gay opinion that argued the “choice” to engage in homosexuality comes with consequences, up to and including the consideration of “the homosexual lifestyle” as a determining factor in child custody cases. Finally, Southwick has the worst record of all judges on the Mississippi Court of Appeals when it comes to the rights of workers and victims of personal injury. In 160 of 180 published decisions, Southwick’s rulings have favored business and insurance interests over injured parties

Let Senator Feinstein know that during this past Supreme Court term we witnessed enough fallout of President Bush’s nomination of extremist judges. Justice Alito and Chief Justice Roberts both promised in Senate Confirmation hearings that their history of extremist decisions would be tempered by moderation and judicial restraint. However, just as we feared, these justices remained true to their pre-nomination ideology and in case after case pushed a conservative, reactionary agenda that caused serious cutbacks in employment discrimination law, reproductive freedom, and most recently, voluntary racial integration plans.

Now, the Administration continues to try and push ideological extremists into life appointments on the Federal Court of Appeals. President Bush has already tried to place two other unacceptable nominees on the 5th Circuit, and now pushes for Southwick’s confirmation despite a clear record of Southwick’s failing to protect victims of racial discrimination, prejudice towards gays and lesbians, and hostility towards working people.

Call Senator Feinstein TODAY and urge her to vote against the confirmation of Leslie Southwick!

It only takes minutes. All you need to do is call and tell her office that you urge the Senator to vote against the confirmation of Leslie Southwick. They ask for your zip code and you are done.

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein:
Washington, D.C.: (202) 224-3841 / San Francisco: (415) 393-0707
Los Angeles: (310) 914-7300 / San Diego: (619) 231-1108