Judicial Watch Because No One is Above the Law! The People s Justice Department Judicial Watch, Inc. 501 School Street, S.W., Suite 500 Washington, DC 20024 www.judicialwatch.org 202-646-5172
Judicial Watch Because No One is Above the Law! ABOUT JUDICIAL WATCH Judicial Watch (JW) was established in 1994 as a non-profit educational foundation to serve as an ethical and legal "watchdog" over our governmental and judicial systems in order to promote a return to ethics and morality in our nation's public life. Today, Judicial Watch stands as the "People s Justice Department," and "a force in Washington," as noted by the National Journal. Since its inception in 1994, JW has become increasingly important, because many no longer trust Congress, the White House, and the Justice Department to protect the foundation of ethics and morality that makes freedom possible. The principles of our Founding Fathers too often come second to the corrupt or unethical interests of politicians, bureaucrats and judges. Public officials are simply too unwilling to police themselves in their activities. JW is committed to its motto that "no one is above the law," and fights every day for openness over secrecy, and against corrupt public officials who abuse the public trust. Over the years, Judicial Watch has developed into an incomparable organization feared by corrupt government officials who trample the rule of law, as well as a necessary ally to every American who wishes a return to honest, clean government. JW accomplishes its educational mission through four main program objectives: fighting secrecy, battling corruption through the courts, countering judicial activism and abuse, and educating the public. "Judicial Watch appears to be the main public interest litigator at this time, no small feat." National Journal,June 24, 2002 Judicial Watch is a 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions to Judicial Watch are tax-deductible as allowable by law.
"Judicial Watch has been fearless, relentless, and produced results where other organizations didn't see any possibilities." Tom Devine, Government Accountability Project VICTORIES FOR JUSTICE Tom Fitton, Judicial Watch President addresses the media in front of the Supreme Court. The ethics process in Washington and around the country continues to corrode. Members of Congress initiated a "cease-fire" with respect to ethics investigations, passing rules changes which make it tougher to initiate ethics probes, while creating a system which frustrates the efforts of outside groups to keep them honest. White House officials continue to stonewall investigations, while simultaneously conducting their business in secret, safe from public scrutiny. Activist judges legislate from the bench, scrapping the Constitution in favor of their own political opinions, while protecting the politicians to whom they owe their judicial appointments. All of this leaves Judicial Watch as the public s most trusted ally in the fight against corruption. When is victory achieved? JW earns a victory each time it publicizes illegal or unethical activities in the judiciary or government, each time the government is forced to release documents into the public domain, each time a politician is deposed under oath, each time a court rules against a government official, each time a corrupt judge is removed from the bench, and each time the government is forced to change the way it conducts business. JW s Internet site, www.judicialwatch.org, has a detailed catalog of hundreds of victories achieved by JW during its first ten years, along with updates on important cases pending.
FIGHTING GOVERNMENT SECRECY Judicial Watch is the nation s leader in forcing the government to release documents into the public domain. In its first ten years, JW filed more than 400 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and open records requests, leading to the release of tens of millions of pages of critical documents. In addition to pursuing government documents, Judicial Watch recently launched its Open Records Project to help other conservative non-profit groups negotiate the complex government open records process and make it work in support of conservative public policy. JW helps conservative organizations, which may not have the experience or resources, to obtain critical information about government activity. Thanks to JW s Judicial Financial Disclosure Project, for the first time ever, the financial disclosure forms of most federal judges will be available to the American public on the Internet. Previously, such records were available only on paper and after lengthy delay. The records can be accessed on JW s Internet site, www.judicialwatch.org. "[JW] has gotten thousands of documents made available. Just the fact that someone is out there who might bring litigation if you don t release information is useful. When someone is willing to go to the mat with an actual lawsuit, that s helpful." Charles Lewis, Center for Public Integrity. Documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.
BATTLING CORRUPTION IN COURT What separates Judicial Watch from other organizations is not only its unmatched ability to force the release of documents held tightly by government officials, but also its willingness to take action through the civil court system in order to hold corrupt politicians accountable. JW has achieved numerous victories throughout its 10-year history. For example Senator Hillary Clinton. AP photo. Vice President Dick Cheney. Hillary Clinton s Campaign Finance Scandal: Thanks in large measure to JW s work with the Justice Department, David Rosen, Hillary Clinton s National Finance Director, was indicted on charges he caused false campaign finance reports from Mrs. Clinton s Senate 2000 campaign to be filed with the Federal Election Commission. The Energy Task Force: The courts have ruled against the Energy Task Force, a series of closeddoor meetings between Bush administration officials and energy interests, on three occasions. JW made its arguments before the Supreme Court on April 27, 2004, which rejected this administration s efforts to dismiss the case. Clinton Pardon Scandal: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia recently ruled the Bush administration cannot extend "presidential communications privilege" to documents sought by Judicial Watch pertaining to Bill Clinton s last-minute controversial pardons. Former President Bill Clinton. AP photo. Of course, these are but three recent examples of many. A more complete accounting can be found on JW s Internet site: www.judicialwatch.org. JW was recently honored as one of the top ten most effective government watchdog organizations by The Hill newspaper.
COUNTERING JUDICIAL ACTIVISM & ABUSE The laws of the nation are only as just and as effective as the judges entrusted with their interpretation. Unfortunately, far too often corrupt and incompetent judges make a mockery of justice in their very own courtrooms. Through Judicial Watch s Judicial Monitoring Project, JW assembled a core of volunteers to monitor court proceedings, document the flagrant abuse of power in the state and federal court systems and file complaints when necessary. Judicial Watch sued the United States Senate in 2003 in order to have the court declare unconstitutional a scheme by Liberal Democrats to filibuster President Bush's judicial nominees, thereby worsening the judicial vacancy crisis. The case is currently on appeal. Judicial Watch recently launched an investigation designed to protect citizens from probate fraud. Judicial Watch learned that the Texas Probate System was allegedly milking millions of dollars from estates by allowing unnecessary and expensive litigation to drag on for years, often against the will of the grantors and beneficiaries. Judicial Watch initiated an effort in California to revise the policy regarding the appointment of family law judges. Judicial Watch is fighting to have disqualified any judge who has a conflict of interest brought about by his or her own divorce and contested child custody issues, including allegations of violence and sexual molestation. "The name of Judicial Watch means something in the courtroom." Pasadena Star News U.S. Supreme Court Justices. Left to right in front row are: Associates Justice Antonin Scalia, John Paul Stevens, Chief Justice of the United States William H. Rehnquist, Associate Justices Sandra Day O'Connor, and Anthony M. Kennedy. Back row, from left are: Associate Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, David Souter, Clarence Thomas, and Stephen Breyer. AP photo.
EDUCATING THE PUBLIC Judicial Watch s public education campaign is as important as its investigations and courtroom activities. The following are brief descriptions of the main methods by which J W delivers its message to the public. Electronic Media: JW spokespersons have made hundreds of appearances on virtually every major news network, including CNN, ABC, NBC, MSNBC, FOX News and CSPAN, and have participated in hundreds of interviews on radio stations nationwide. Print Media: JW s investigations and legal actions have been covered in every major print publication, including, Time, Newsweek,The New York Times,The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post,to name a few. Newsletter: JW s informative monthly news publication, The Verdict, provides an in-depth analysis of Judicial Watch s cases and investigations. Insider s Update: Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton writes an insider s email "Update," providing subscribers with the latest, up-to-date information on its important cases. Internet Site: Judicial Watch s Internet site is a storehouse of information and news with respect to government corruption, JW cases and commentary. Educational seminars: Judicial Watch sponsors educational seminars and panels to inform the public about issues pertaining to corruption and judicial activism and abuse. Judicial Watch s monthly newsletter, The Verdict, is distributed to more than 150,000 JW members each month.