Article III Project
The Article III Project is a 501(c)(4) non-profit advocacy organization that aims to promote the confirmation of rightwing justices to the Supreme Court. Article III Project says it "will defend new judges, protect the integrity of the confirmation process, and oppose the radical court-packing, term-limit, and judicial impeachment schemes".[1] It seeks to educate the public through its website, social media activity, public forum events, informational mailings, and advertising. It also works to mobilize grassroots advocacy and participate in lobbying.[1]
Article III Project named itself after the section of the third Article of the Constitution, which set up the judiciary. It was founded by Michael Davis, a former clerk for the Supreme Court Justice Neil M. Gorsuch. The New York Times reported that "Gorsuch privately called Mr. Davis 'the general' of his confirmation".[2] Davis was also instrumental in the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, with the Times reporting, "Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, singled him out for special praise after the successful vote to confirm Justice Kavanaugh following the tumultuous hearings. Former Senator Orrin G. Hatch of Utah praised Mr. Davis as the 'tip of the spear' in that clash."[2]
Contents
News and Controversy
A3P's Strategy during Biden Presidency
True North Research reports, "A3P's strategy includes a new ad campaign tarring their opponents with misleading claims accusing Senate Democrats of being hypocritical on diversity in court nominations."[3] The A3P website includes a list of "women and minority" conservative judicial nominees, with the page reading, "Actions speak louder than words. Democrats talk a lot about diversity, but Democrats opposed the confirmation of each of these highly qualified minority and women judicial nominees". The page includes black and white pictures of each nominee.[4] True North reports, "The reality is that Biden's court appointments have been some of the most diverse ever, including appointing the first Muslim man to be a federal judge and openly LGBTQ woman to the federal appeals court. In stark contrast to Trump's overwhelming white male nominees, which Davis helped shepherd, 75 percent of Biden's nominees have been women and 65% have been people of color."[3]
A3P's Misleading Narrative about Judge Brown Jackson
A3P opposed the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, publishing the "Jackson Docs" on their website, which made the misleading claim that Brown Jackson "has a well-documented 25-year history of extreme leniency for sex predators of kids".[5] The Washington Post reported why this attitude was taking Brown Jackson's rulings and statements out of legal context.[6]
Involvement in Coney Barrett Confirmation
A3P launched a web base for Justice Amy Coney Barrett's nomination to the Supreme Court. The site supplied information about Coney Barrett's career and a way to donate to A3P's cause. Following her confirmation, A3P released a statement saying, "we will have a true conservative majority on the Supreme Court. This means that the Supreme Court will protect everyday Americans for government over reach and mob rule, whether it's liberal politicians attempting to chase away Christians and other believers from the public square or otherwise punish them for their religious beliefs, silence conservatives on college campuses or cancelling Americans who express differing views in other public places, ban law-abiding Americans from owning guns to protect themselves and their families, or destroy American entrepreneurs and jobs through the unelected and largely unaccountable administrative state."[7]
Involvement in Kavanaugh Confirmation
Founder Mike Davis served as staff leader in the confirmation of Justice Kavanaugh, the New York Times reported. During the process, he was called out for a tweet assuring that Kavanaugh would be confirmed despite the sexual misconduct allegations against him. He later deleted the tweet.[2] However, Kavanaugh was confirmed, and he was quoted by the Times as calling Davis "a warrior" for his confirmation.[2]
Funding
Most of Article III Project's funders are currently unknown. Open Secrets reports, "A3P was launched as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit... indicating it will not disclose its donors...funding from individuals or opaque entities like limited-liability companies may remain hidden from the pubilc".[8]
- Judicial Crisis Network: $249,999 (2018-2019)
Core Financials
2021[9]
- Total Revenue: $4,366
- Total Expenses: $5,612
- Net Assets: $9,747
2020[10]
- Total Revenue: $21,205
- Total Expenses: $22,789
- Net Assets: $10,993
2019[11]
- Total Revenue: $259,106
- Total Expenses: $246,529
- Net Assets: $12,577
Personnel
Staff Members as of May 2023:[12]
- Mike Davis, Director and President
- Will Chamberlain, Senior Counsel
- Ian Prior, Senior Counsel
- William Lane, Senior Counsel
Board of Directors as of 2022:[9]
- Mike Davis, President
- Mark Lucas, Treasurer,
- Ian Prior, Secretary
Former Board Members
- Cleta Mitchell, Treasurer
- Karen Blackistone Oaks, Secretary
Contact Information
Employer Identification Number (EIN): 81-5252744
Article III Project
PO Box 90992
Austin, TX 78709
- Website: https://article3project.org/
- Phone number: (202) 596-1579
- Email: info@article3project.org
- Twitter: @Article3Project
- Facebook: @article3project
- YouTube: The Article III Project
Articles and Resources
IRS 990 Filings
2021
2020
2019
Tax-Exempt Application
1024 Tax-Exempt Application
Articles
- Carl Hulse, Conservative Group Wants to Bring 'Brass Knuckles' Approach to Judicial Fray, "The New York Times", May 18, 2019.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Article III Project, IRS 501c4 Application, "Article III Project", July 25, 2019.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Carl Hulse, Conservative Group Wants to Bring 'Brass Knuckles' Approach to Judicial Fray, "The New York Times", May 18, 2019.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Evan Vorpahl, Leonard Leo’s Court Capture Web Raised Nearly $600 Million Before Biden Won; Now It’s Spending Untold Millions from Secret Sources to Attack Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, "True North Research", March 22, 2022.
- ↑ Article III Project, women & minorities, "The Article III Project", accessed June 22, 2022.
- ↑ Article III Project, a3p issues call to action before friday's final vote, "The Article III Project", April 2022.
- ↑ Glenn Kessler, Josh Hawley's misleading attack on Judge Jackson's sentencing of child-porn offenders, "The Washington Post", March 19, 2022.
- ↑ Article III Project, a3p statement on confirmation of supreme court justice amy coney barrett, "The Article III Project", 2020.
- ↑ Anna Massoglia, An Influential 'dark money' group turns off the lights for the last time, "Open Secrets", May 23, 2019.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Article III Project, 2021 IRS 990, "Article III Project", 2022.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named2020 IRS 990 - ↑ Article III Project, 2019 IRS 990, "Article III Project", November 16, 2020.
- ↑ Article III Project, Our History, "Article III Project", accessed May 2, 2023.
