|
| Free Books & Music |
Click to join Brainstormers101
The EzineXchange - Your Source
For Free Newsletters
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 30,2003 For More Information Contact: email Jennifer Burnett, or phone 717-335-3340, Janine Kemp, 503-504-9787 |
ADA
WATCH
National Coalition for Disability Rights
Jim Ward
President
1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20004
Phone: 202-661-4722
FAX: 202-318-4040
Email: adawatch
WEB: www.adawatch.org
|
People's Hearing will
Set the Sutton Record Straight
People with
disabilities to testify about the impact of judiciary activism
The
Judiciary Committee hearing on Sutton, Cook, and Roberts was delayed yesterday
when numerous people with disabilities, many of them wheelchair users,
demanded an opportunity to attend the public hearing.
Their presence was noted throughout the hearing, as Senator after
Senator asked Sutton to comment on his record regarding the Americans with
Disabilities Act, including the landmark Olmstead decision, which he opposed
in a brief filed with the Supreme Court, and the Garrett decision, which
forever weakened the intent of Congress in passing the ADA.
Using similar legal machinations to his Supreme Court appearances,
Sutton deftly avoided most Senators' questions.
"In
his hearing, Sutton dodged direct questions about his extensive writings and
speeches which advance an agenda to undo the work of a democratically elected
Congress in the area of individual rights.
Sutton refuses to acknowledge that his aggressive activism leaves him
too biased for a lifetime seat on the Federal court," stated Jim Ward,
President of the National Coalition for Disability Rights (NCDR)
NCDR
is an alliance of more than 500 national, state, and local disability
organizations joined to protect and strengthen the civil rights of people with
disabilities. NCDR's ADA Watch has united hundreds of organizations and
thousands of individuals in opposition to the confirmation of Jeffrey Sutton
to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and has organized opposition events in
Washington, DC and in Columbus, Ohio.
More Information
Senate Judiciary Committee: http://judiciary.senate.gov
Justice Department biographies of Sutton, Roberts and Cook:
http://www.usdoj.gov/olp/sutton.htm
http://www.usdoj.gov/olp/roberts.htm
http://www.usdoj.gov/olp/cook.htm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 29,2003
Disability Groups Protest Nominee to Federal Appeals Court
Point to Sutton’s Activism in Rolling Back Federal Disability and Civil Rights Protections
Washington – January 29, 2003
: The National Coalition for Disability Rights (NCDR) is an alliance of more than 500 national, state, and local disability organizations joined to protect and strengthen the civil rights of people with disabilities. NCDR’s ADA Watch has united hundreds of organizations and thousands of individuals in opposition to the confirmation of Jeffrey Sutton to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and has organized opposition events in Washington, DC and in Columbus, Ohio.NCDR’s president, Jim Ward explains: "Sutton's career has been highlighted by aggressive -- and often successful -- efforts to dismantle federal disability rights and civil rights protections. He has actively worked to weaken Federal protections for people with disabilities, minorities, seniors, women victims of violence, Medicaid recipients and others. Sutton -- like too many of the Bush judicial nominees -- has targeted the New Deal, the Great Society, Medicaid, the ADA, Olmstead, and the authority of a democratically elected Congress to legislate remedies when petitioned by American citizens."
Regarding the attempts of Sutton’s supporters to demonstrate his "good will" towards people with disabilities, Ward continued, "What is in Sutton's heart is really of no concern to us and we have to do the job of directing public attention – and that of the Senate – towards his record and the records of other nominees who place ideology before justice. Attempts to focus on Mr. Sutton's "character" will only distract from the need for a national dialogue on Federal-State powers and Congress' authority to invoke the ADA as a "clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against people with disabilities."
Events Schedule:
Wednesday, January 29:
Disability rights supporters rally in Columbus, Ohio and hold vigil as colleagues travel to Washington to oppose Sutton. Individuals with disabilities and supporters gather in Washington to speak out against Sutton and to attend his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 226.Thursday, January 30: Disability Rights supporters will attend the official Executive Session of the Senate Judiciary Committee at 9:30 AM in Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 226. This will be followed by ADA Watch’s "People’s Hearing," in Dirksen 138 at 1:30 PM, to examine the impact of Mr. Sutton’s activism on people with disabilities. Individuals from Sutton’s home-state of Ohio will share their stories and illustrate the
threats of Federalism to real people.###
We have the victory!
We will overcome.
Revised: March 15, 2005 09:33 PM
Persons interested in making in- kind donations to the PABIA can click here.
Beyond Survivor
Barrier Free
