Alliance for Justice

Alliance for Justice (AFJ) is a United States progressive judicial advocacy organization founded in 1979 by Nan Aron. Its central work is to examine and influence the federal judicial appointment process from a liberal and progressive perspective. The organization evaluates nominees, communicates its analysis to policymakers and allied organizations, and advocates for courts that it believes will protect civil rights, reproductive freedom, voting rights, labor protections, environmental interests, access to justice, and other progressive causes. AFJ became particularly associated with judicial nominations during the administration of Ronald Reagan. Its founder described the organization as a response to concerns about the ideological direction of Reagan's federal judicial nominees and the long-term effect that lifetime judicial appointments could have on constitutional and statutory rights. In 1985, AFJ launched the Judicial Selection Project, an initiative focused on monitoring the federal appointment system and developing public and advocacy information about nominees. The project helped establish AFJ as a specialist organization within the broader progressive advocacy sector. The organization has participated in nomination debates by preparing research on prospective judges and sharing information with the American Bar Association, the Senate Judiciary Committee, members of Congress, coalition partners, and the public. AFJ's positions have generally opposed nominees whom it views as hostile to abortion rights, civil-rights protections, or an expansive understanding of judicial enforcement of individual rights. It has also criticized nominees who pledge to apply a restrictive conception of the judicial role or judicial restraint when AFJ believes that approach could limit the courts' ability to remedy discrimination and protect vulnerable groups. AFJ played a prominent role in the 1987 campaign against the Supreme Court nomination of Robert Bork, whose nomination was rejected by the Senate. The organization later supported Roger Gregory, a nominee associated with the Clinton administration who became the first African-American judge to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. In 2013, AFJ supported President Barack Obama's three nominees to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, one of the country's most influential appellate courts. Beyond nomination monitoring, AFJ operates as a coalition-based advocacy organization. It has reported membership of more than 130 organizations, including civil-rights, environmental, reproductive-rights, disability-rights, LGBTQ-rights, immigration, labor, consumer, public-interest, and legal-advocacy groups. The breadth of this coalition gives AFJ a role in translating judicial issues into concerns relevant to many policy constituencies. Its work is therefore not limited to legal analysis: it also includes coalition coordination, public education, communications, and advocacy around the institutional importance of the federal courts. AFJ is not a commercial consumer brand and does not sell a conventional product portfolio. Its principal offerings are research, nominee evaluations, educational materials, coalition support, and public advocacy. The organization remains active in the United States, where federal judicial appointments continue to shape the direction of constitutional and administrative law. Specific current leadership, headquarters information, financial figures, and detailed program metrics are not established in the supplied reference material.

Alliance for Justice was founded in 1979 by Nan Aron as a progressive organization concerned with the direction of the United States federal judiciary. Its institutional premise was that federal judges exercise substantial and lasting influence over civil rights, constitutional interpretation, regulatory policy, and access to justice, making judicial appointments an important area of public advocacy rather than a matter limited to the legal profession. The organization became more active as the federal judiciary changed during the Reagan era. AFJ was concerned that nominees selected by President Ronald Reagan could produce a long-term conservative shift in the courts. In response, it developed research and advocacy capabilities directed at the nomination process. In 1985, AFJ launched the Judicial Selection Project, which monitored appointments and assembled information about potential nominees. The project gave the organization a durable institutional focus and helped it become a recognized participant in debates over federal judicial selection. AFJ's work has included researching nominees, assessing their records and legal views, communicating findings to the American Bar Association and the Senate Judiciary Committee, and supporting public campaigns surrounding nominations. Its advocacy has generally reflected a modern liberal interpretation of legal rights and has emphasized the consequences of judicial decisions for reproductive rights, civil rights, equality, and other progressive priorities. The organization has opposed nominees it regards as hostile to abortion rights or committed to a restrictive approach to the judicial role. One of AFJ's best-known episodes was its participation in the opposition to Robert Bork's 1987 nomination to the Supreme Court. The Senate rejected Bork's nomination after an exceptionally contentious confirmation debate. The episode reinforced AFJ's identity as an organization willing to conduct sustained public and institutional advocacy around Supreme Court and appellate nominees. AFJ subsequently supported nominees it considered aligned with its understanding of a rights-protective judiciary. In 2001, it supported Roger Gregory, who became the first African-American judge to serve on the Fourth Circuit. In 2013, it supported President Barack Obama's three nominees to the District of Columbia Circuit, a court with particular importance because of its extensive jurisdiction over federal administrative and regulatory disputes. The organization also developed a coalition model. AFJ has reported more than 130 member organizations, with participating groups drawn from civil rights, environmental protection, reproductive freedom, disability rights, LGBTQ rights, immigration, labor, consumer protection, public health, and legal advocacy. This network allows AFJ to connect judicial nominations with the practical concerns of organizations representing affected communities. Its activities consequently combine legal research, coalition management, communications, public education, and policy advocacy. AFJ is an advocacy organization rather than a conventional commercial brand. Its principal outputs are analysis, educational resources, coalition services, and campaigns concerning the federal courts. The supplied reference material does not identify a current executive roster, a precise headquarters location, financial results, or a parent organization. As of the supplied 2025 membership reference, AFJ remained an active United States organization with a broad progressive coalition.

• 2013

  Support for three D.C. Circuit nominees

  [1]Alliance for Justiceen.wikipedia.org

  AFJ supported President Barack Obama's three nominees to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

• 2001

  Support for Roger Gregory

  [1]Alliance for Justiceen.wikipedia.org

  AFJ supported Roger Gregory's nomination to the Fourth Circuit; he became the first African-American judge on that court.

• 1987

  Opposition to Robert Bork nomination

  [1]Alliance for Justiceen.wikipedia.org

  AFJ participated in the opposition campaign against Robert Bork's nomination to the Supreme Court, which the Senate rejected.

• 1985

  Judicial Selection Project begins

  [1]Alliance for Justiceen.wikipedia.org

  AFJ launched the Judicial Selection Project to monitor federal judicial appointments and assess the significance of nominees' legal and ideological records.

• 1979

  Alliance for Justice is founded

  [1]Alliance for Justiceen.wikipedia.org

  Nan Aron founded Alliance for Justice as a progressive organization focused on legal and judicial advocacy in the United States.

A progressive, coalition-based judicial advocacy organization focused on federal court appointments, the ideological consequences of lifetime judicial service, and the protection of civil and constitutional rights.

• Judicial advocacy program · 1985

  Judicial Selection Project

  AFJ's Judicial Selection Project monitors the federal judicial appointment process and develops information about nominees. It is designed to help advocacy organizations, policymakers, and the public understand the likely legal and institutional effects of judicial appointments. The project reflects AFJ's view that lifetime judicial positions can have consequences extending across generations.

• Research and public education

  Judicial nominee research

  AFJ researches prospective federal judicial nominees and communicates background and evaluative information to institutions involved in the confirmation process, including the American Bar Association and the Senate Judiciary Committee. The work focuses on nominees' records, legal approaches, and potential effects on rights and public policy.

• Coalition advocacy

  Progressive judicial coalition advocacy

  AFJ coordinates advocacy among more than 130 member organizations with interests in the federal judiciary. The coalition includes groups working on civil rights, reproductive freedom, environmental protection, disability rights, LGBTQ equality, immigration, labor, consumer protection, and related public-interest issues.

• 2013Support for Obama D.C. Circuit nominees

  United States

  AFJ supported President Barack Obama's three nominees to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

  Outcome. The campaign formed part of AFJ's advocacy around the composition and direction of a central federal appellate court.

  Source
• 2001Support for Roger Gregory

  United States

  AFJ supported Roger Gregory's nomination to the Fourth Circuit as part of its broader advocacy for a federal judiciary more representative of the country and protective of civil rights.

  Outcome. Gregory became the first African-American judge to serve on the Fourth Circuit.

  Source
• 1987Stop Robert Bork nomination

  United States

  AFJ participated in a broad campaign opposing Robert Bork's nomination to the United States Supreme Court, arguing that his judicial philosophy posed risks to rights and progressive legal priorities.

  Outcome. The United States Senate rejected Bork's nomination.

  Source

• 2013

  Support three nominees to the D.C. CircuitStrategy

  Background

  AFJ considered the composition of the D.C. Circuit important because of the court's role in federal administrative and regulatory cases.

  Action taken

  The organization supported President Obama's three nominees to the appellate court.

  Aftermath

  The action expanded AFJ's participation in contemporary federal appellate nomination debates.

  Source

• 2001

  Support Roger Gregory's nominationStrategy

  Background

  AFJ supported Gregory's nomination to the Fourth Circuit within its broader effort to advocate for a federal judiciary attentive to civil rights and representation.

  Action taken

  AFJ publicly supported the nomination.

  Aftermath

  Gregory became the first African-American judge on the Fourth Circuit.

  Source

• 1987

  Oppose Robert Bork's Supreme Court nominationStrategy

  Background

  AFJ viewed Bork's legal philosophy and record as inconsistent with the rights-protective approach it advocated for the federal judiciary.

  Action taken

  The organization joined advocacy efforts opposing his confirmation and provided public and institutional analysis of the nomination.

  Aftermath

  The Senate rejected Bork's nomination after a major confirmation battle.

  Source

1. 1Alliance for Justiceen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Alliance for Justice official websiteafj.org