Anonymous millionaires funneling 'dark money' into push to re-write Iowa's non-partisan selection process for state Supreme Court nominees

A right-wing conservative Republican group funded by anonymous millionaires is funneling some of its "dark money" into the push to re-write Iowa's non-partisan selection method for the supreme court.

Judicial Crisis Network (JCN) in Washington, D.C. set up a web site at "fairjusticeforiowa.com" disparaging Iowa's current nomination process, long-heralded as the most non-partisan system for selection of new justices in the country.

Ironically, JCN's mission states the organization is ". . .dedicated to the rule of law; with a fair and impartial judiciary."

Read what Drake Law School professors/administrators think about the proposed overhaul of Iowa's judicial selection system.

Who actually underwrites the lobbying and propaganda funded by JCN is a long-held secret thanks to loopholes in federal campaign law that allows contributors to hide their identities while contributing millions of dollars to the non-profit organizations.

JCN received $23.5 million in 2016 and $14.8 million in 2017 from the Wellspring Committee, Inc., an even more shadowy non-profit run by Neil and Ann Corkery.

So where does Wellspring Committee get its money?

In its most recent public filing in 2017, the committee lists four donors: "Donor A" who contributed $2 million, "Donor B" who gave $5.5 million, "Donor C" who donated $250,000 and "Donor D" who donated $8.9 million.

The organization's "headquarters" is listed as 6685 Sudley Road, Manassas, Virginia, a UPS Store presumably containing a mailbox for the firm that received grants and contributions of $32.2 million in 2016 and $16.5 million in 2017.

Since 1962, the State Judicial Nominating Commission and regional commissions in each judicial district review applicants for judgeships openings and forward two or three finalists to the governor, who makes a selection from those names.

Half the members of the commissions are citizens appointed by the governor and half are lawyers elected by fellow lawyers.

Proposed legislation introduced this session would give the governor authority to appoint not only the citizen members to the commissions, but also the attorneys who would serve on the commissions.



Above, a list of grants made by the Wellspring Committee, Inc. in 2017.

CLICK HERE for more about the Wellspring Committee by TruthOut.

CLICK HERE to read OpenSecrets.org's account of JCN's involvement in attacking Supreme Court nominee Merrick Galand and funding FACT (Foundation for Accountability and Trust) which was headed by Matthew Whitaker, a former U.S. attorney in Iowa.

CLICK HERE to read Politico's article about CRC Public Relations (a large recipient of JCN money) involvement in the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation process.

CLICK HERE to download the Judicial Crisis Network's most recent 990 federal tax filing.

CLICK HERE to download the Wellspring Committee's most recent 990 federal tax filing.

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