"It is ironic that the Senate voted to confirm a judge with such clear contempt for Federal laws which protect our civil rights, workers' rights, and the environment," said Carl Pope (RPCV India), Executive Director of the Sierra Club. "The DC Circuit Court of Appeals has a unique role in protecting our water, air, and natural heritage. Justice Brown poses a serious threat to those protections."



"It is ironic that the Senate voted to confirm a judge with such clear contempt for Federal laws which protect our civil rights, workers' rights, and the environment," said Carl Pope (RPCV India), Executive Director of the Sierra Club. "The DC Circuit Court of Appeals has a unique role in protecting our water, air, and natural heritage. Justice Brown poses a serious threat to those protections."

Sierra Club Denounces Senate Confirmation of Justice Brown
Urges Defeat of Pryor

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 8, 2005
David Willet
202-675-6698

The Senate's confirmation of Janice Rogers Brown for the DC Circuit Court of Appeals could have serious and long-term impacts on the nation's environmental protections. Justice Brown's avowed hostility to laws that protect our air, water, and lands and hertendency to rule based on personal philosophy make her unfit to serve on the D.C. Circuit, which handles a vast number of cases involving federal environmental safeguards.

"It is ironic that the Senate voted to confirm a judge with such clear contempt for Federal laws which protect our civil rights, workers' rights, and the environment," said Carl Pope, Executive Director of the Sierra Club. "The DC Circuit Court of Appeals has a unique role in protecting our water, air, and natural heritage. Justice Brown poses a serious threat to those protections."

Justice Brown is opposed to federal government regulation, including environmental protections. She interprets the Constitution in such a way that virtually all environmental regulation could be ruled unconstitutional. According to Brown, government destroys families, takes property, is the cause of a "debased, debauched culture," and threatens civilization. In addition, the California Judicial Nominations Evaluation Commission twice gave Brown a "not qualified" rating, reflecting a lack of needed judicial temperament and intolerance for opposing philosophical positions.

In the wake of Justice Brown's confirmation, the Sierra Club urges Senators to oppose the confirmation of William Pryor to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Pryor has a clear record of trying to undermine the federal government's right to protect the environment.

Mr. Pryor has taken stands against the Endangered Species Act, wetlands
protection, and environmental justice. He does not believe Congress has
authority to regulate the environment or natural resources. His previous nomination was rushed through the Judiciary Committee before a full investigation into his fund-raising for the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA), actions which may have violated Alabama campaign finance laws.

"The Sierra Club opposes Mr. Pryor's confirmation because of his strong opposition to the laws that protect America's clean air, water and wildlife," said Pope. "But certainly the Senate should at least know the full facts behind the fund-raising practices Mr. Pryor engaged in before voting."

When this story was posted in June 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:



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June 6: PC suspends Uzbekistan program Peace Corps has announced that it is suspending the Uzbekistan program after the visas of 52 Peace Corps volunteers who arrived in January were not renewed. The suspension comes after a State Department warning that terrorist groups may be planning attacks in Uzbekistan and after the killings in Andizhan earlier in May. Background: PCOL published a report on April 23 that Peace Corps volunteers who arrived in January were having visa difficulties and reported on safety and visa issues in Uzbekistan as they developed.

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June 5, 2005: Special Events Vote in the NPCA Election for new board before June 15 "American Taboo" author Phil Weiss in Maryland on June 18 "Rainforests and Refugees" showing in Portland, Maine until June 25 "Iowa in Ghana" on exhibit in Waterloo through June 30 RPCV's "Taking the Early Bus" at Cal State until Aug 15 RPCVs: Post your stories or press releases here for inclusion next week.

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May 28, 2005: This Week's Top Stories The Coyne Column: Love and War in Afghanistan 28 May Sam Farr supports Coffee Growers in Colombia 28 May Elaine Chao wins Woman of Valor award 27 May Nebraska has strong ties with Afghanistan 27 May Arthur Orr to seek Alabama State Senate seat 26 May Murder of John Auffrey remembered in Liberia 26 May Bill Moyers says journalists should be filters for readers 26 May Linda Seyler spent two years in Thailand digging latrines 25 May Chris Shays blasts Bush on stem cell research 25 May George Wolfe to head Loudoun Academy of Science 25 May David Rudenstine heads Cardozo School of Law 24 May Mark Schneider says declaration is "pretty thin gruel" 24 May Robert Blackwill supports seat for India on Security Council 24 May Chris Matthews weighs Thomas Jefferson nomination 24 May Jim Knopf is expert on xeriscape gardening 23 May Mae Jemison receives honorary degree at Wilson 23 May Kenneth Proudfoot says dreams come true 22 May

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Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000 strong 170,000 is a very special number for the RPCV community - it's the number of Volunteers who have served in the Peace Corps since 1961. It's also a number that is very special to us because March is the first month since our founding in January, 2001 that our readership has exceeded 170,000. And while we know that not everyone who comes to this site is an RPCV, they are all "Friends of the Peace Corps." Thanks everybody for making PCOL your source of news for the Returned Volunteer community.

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