CONTACT: AFP Media at media@afphq.org
Arlington, VA – Today Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is announcing support of Michael Brennan, nominee for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, marking the first federal judicial nominee the group has backed this year. The grassroots organization will make a significant investment in Wisconsin where it will run digital ads that urge citizens to contact their senators and tell them to confirm Brennan without delay. The group will also specifically target Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) – who failed to return her blue slip for Brennan.
Earlier this year, AFP announced that the group would scale up their efforts on the courts in 2018 and hired a new vice president of judicial strategy. AFP intends to lay the groundwork for the next U.S. Supreme Court vacancy and will also support fair and qualified nominees for the lower courts, such as Brennan, mobilizing their activists throughout the confirmation processes.
AFP Vice President of Judicial Strategy Sarah Field issued the following statement:
“Brennan’s exceptional record as a lawyer and jurist makes him an outstanding nominee for the Seventh Circuit, and he should be confirmed by the Senate immediately. We urge the citizens of Wisconsin to get involved and contact their senators in Brennan’s support. Each day that passes without this vacancy filled means another day where American citizens are denied the justice guaranteed to them by the Constitution. “We applaud Senator Grassley for ushering Brennan through committee and ignoring the political games of Senator Baldwin, who continues to value partisanship over the best interests of her constituents. We will continue mobilizing our activists as needed to ensure fair and qualified nominees are confirmed to the federal bench, and we will hold accountable those who play games with the American judiciary.”
Last week, Michael Brennan was voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee and now awaits a confirmation vote on the Senate floor. Brennan has clerked for the District Court of Eastern Wisconsin as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Brennan also served as Assistant District Attorney for Milwaukee County and was appointed to serve as a judge on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court. Additionally, Brennan received the highest rating available – “well qualified” – from the American Bar Association.
In addition to attempting to block Brennan’s confirmation, Senator Tammy Baldwin also failed to join the bipartisan group of her colleagues that voted in favor of confirming Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch last year.
President Trump has nominated more fair and qualified lower courts nominees than any other president in American history. There are currently over 170 vacancies on lower courts across the country.
