For decades, the right invested billions in capturing the judiciary—and succeeded. They packed the courts with extremists and anti-populist lawyers while progressives failed to mount sufficient resistance.
Today we're living with the consequences: Donald Trump enjoys criminal immunity, Roe v. Wade was overturned, the Voting Rights Act stands gutted, and research shows that federal courts overwhelmingly rule in favor of corporations over working people.
Now Trump is taking it further. Run-of-the-mill extremist nominees are no longer enough—judicial nominees must now show their loyalty to Trump above all else. He is determined not just to break the law, but to dismantle it—attacking institutions, individuals, and anyone standing in his way.
This moment requires aggressive, strategic, and disruptive opposition to the dismantling and corruption of the rule of law by Trump and his cronies.
Demand Justice's Core Mission:
Expose Trump's court takeover: Force a public reckoning about the right-wing's capture of our courts and Trump's authoritarian grip on judicial power; shock, educate, and activate a progressive base to invest in the fight for our courts.
Hold Democrats accountable: Ensure Democrats in power and running for office stand up and fight back—rewarding them when they do and fearlessly holding them accountable when they don't.
Build support for bold reforms ahead of 2028 and beyond: Propose and build consensus around bold reforms to the Supreme Court, lower courts, and the judicial system generally.
Fight Trump's court nominees, including any second-term nominees to the Supreme Court.
Demand Justice is a bold, disruptive organization that wages advocacy and media campaigns. We use all our organizational tools — a c3, c4 and PAC — to stiffen the spines of those in power to fight for the rule of law and move the entire public discourse of the courts toward reform.
Position Overview
Demand Justice seeks a skilled and politically savvy attorney to serve as Chief Counsel to help the fight for a more progressive judiciary and system of justice. The Chief Counsel will, in addition to providing astute analysis on the federal judiciary, Senate, and Department of Justice, help shape the organization’s campaign strategies and policy development through a legal lens.
The Chief Counsel will have a pulse on the federal judicial actions coming out of Congress and the Trump administration – including judicial nominations, emerging legal issues within the courts, and the corrupt weaponization of the DOJ – and will advise organizational leadership on their implications and opportunities for Demand Justice to act.
Sitting at the intersection of law and politics, the Chief Counsel will be responsible for translating complex legal concepts and legislation into advocacy and communications strategies. This role will cultivate relationships and exchange ideas with a range of key external stakeholders, from elected officials and legal advocates to coalition partners and policy experts.
Reporting to the President, the Chief Counsel will be a trusted member of the senior leadership team and manage the day-to-day activities of a small team responsible for courts policy, nominations tracking, and government affairs. This position will oversee Demand Justice’s legal research, analysis, and writing in addition to leading strategic policy projects.
The ideal candidate is a deeply respected legal expert with a broad political and legal network who understands the complexities of working in a politicized environment and brings demonstrated success in legal advocacy and strategic leadership.
This is an incredible opportunity to play a key role in an unapologetic, innovative organization fighting to make sure the courts work for everyone and protect our rights and democracy.
Key Responsibilities
Key Qualifications
Compensation and Location
Annual compensation for this role is between $200,000-$225,000 based on experience, as well as a generous benefits package, including medical, vision and dental insurance provided by the employer and matching 401K.
Demand Justice is a hybrid workplace, and this role is expected to be in the Washington, DC office three to four days a week.