As Reagan reported this afternoon, "Far-Left Group Demands Liberal Supreme Court Justice Retire as Biden Considers SCOTUS Reform." The group in question is Demand Justice, which is targeting Justice Stephen Breyer, nominated by President Bill Clinton in 1994. It doesn't look like the White House is rushing to defend the associate justice any time soon, though, if at all.
While news of the campaign came on Friday, Brian Fallon, the executive director of Demand Justice, has a pinned tweet from March 17.
Today would be a very good day for Justice Breyer to announce his retirement. Apologies if saying so hurts your feelings!
— Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) March 17, 2021
Just had this sent to me: Spotted outside the Supreme Court.
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) April 9, 2021
Comes after our Playbook team previewed this am how activists are pushing “Breyer, Retire” and that this truck would be out and about.
Cc: @rachaelmbade @RyanLizza @tarapalmeri @EugeneDaniels2 pic.twitter.com/5Ym65Ytztn
Demand Justice announces a new campaign: "Breyer, retire."
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) April 9, 2021
It includes an online petition telling Supreme Court Justice Breyer to "put the country first" and retire so Biden can replace him + a billboard truck will be circling the Supreme Court.
Here's a photo of Demand Justice's billboard truck outside of Union Station. pic.twitter.com/2N1Md9WSiV
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) April 9, 2021
We need to start the process of confirming a Black woman justice now.
— Demand Justice (@WeDemandJustice) April 9, 2021
Sign the petition to tell Justice Breyer: Put the country first. Don’t risk your legacy to an uncertain political future. Retire now.https://t.co/b6IDk8pbgN pic.twitter.com/NjSSePvTMc
Happy anniversary of Justice Stevens announcing his retirement to all Stephen Breyers who celebrate!
— Christopher Kang (@cdkang76) April 9, 2021
We can't afford to risk Democrats losing control of the Senate before President Biden can follow through on his promise to nominate the first Black woman Supreme Court justice.
— Demand Justice (@WeDemandJustice) April 9, 2021
It's time for Justice Breyer to announce his retirement. pic.twitter.com/emqZ4Vc1FM
The White House's response, or lack thereof, came during Friday's press conference. CBS' Ed O'Keefe asked White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki about Biden's position:
O'Keefe: Jen, thank you. The President’s commission on expanding the Supreme Court is out. We know he’s going to wait for the results. What is the President’s view on the — of the calls for Justice Breyer to step down?
Psaki: He believes that’s a decision Justice Breyer will make when he decides it’s time to no longer serve on the Supreme Court.
O'Keefe: So should those groups pushing for him go back off?
Psaki: think I can just speak to what the President’s view is of the Supreme Court justice’s ability to make his own decision.
O'Keefe: And outside the inauguration, when he was sworn in, has he had any conversations with Supreme Court justices?
Psaki: Not that I’m aware of. I’m happy to check if there’s anything we can read out.
Demand Justice on Friday also heavily promoted President Joe Biden's announcement of a commission of court packing. Reagan reported on that announcement as well. Another major campaign of Demand Justice has been in favor of court packing.
President Biden will form a bipartisan commission to consider term limits and the size of the SCOTUS.
— Brad Beauregard Jr ???? (@BradBeauregardJ) April 9, 2021
I support this and I believe we should add 4 Supreme Court Justices. This great video from @WeDemandJustice does a great job of explaining why we need to balance the court. pic.twitter.com/mn5wppIBna
Our statement on the announcement of President Biden's Court reform commission.
— Demand Justice (@WeDemandJustice) April 9, 2021
It's time to organize. pic.twitter.com/by6LTY1pQI
We can't wait for a commission made up of academics and Republican officials to decide the future of our Supreme Court. It's time to get to work.
— Demand Justice (@WeDemandJustice) April 9, 2021
Join us for an organizing call with @RepMondaire and @SenMarkey to get to work --> https://t.co/Xy7B9MSKQE
As Reagan also reported on Wednesday, Justice Breyer came out against court packing, warning it could "erode trust," and cautioned against making the Court political.
That's quite the convenient timing.
Demand Justice also targeted now Justice Amy Coney Barrett, with a focus on how while leaving church, as a private citizen, she signed onto a newspaper ad calling to "put an end to the barbaric legacy of Roe v. Wade and restore laws that protect the lives of unborn children."
Far-left indeed.