Invitation to Contribute or Sponsor an Event

Lawyers have contributed their considerable intellectual gifts to the enhancement of our country's political life for centuries. Whether through service as an elected or appointed government official, private attorney, political party leader, counsel to Republican candidates, law school professor, civic activist, judge, prosecutor or military officer, RNLA members have advanced political freedom, ensured fair, open and honest elections, and advanced professionalism in a manner consistent with Republican principles.

Since 1985 the RNLA has nurtured and advanced lawyer involvement in public affairs generally and trained lawyers for involvement in advancing Republican Party ideals. It is accurately described as a combination of a professional bar association, politically involved law firm and educational institute. Its missions are to advance professionalism, fair, open and honest elections, career opportunity and republican principles.

The organization was founded by politically involved lawyers who initially sought to bridge the time gap between political campaigns, so that there would be an ongoing program to attract and train lawyers to serve the Republican Party ideals. Over time, RNLA members began to serve regular Republican Party entities at the local, state and federal levels as volunteers or retained legal counsel. The services provided in the advancement of republican principles have included issue advocacy, working to ensure fair, open and honest elections, and continuing legal education efforts, as well as efforts to network members for career advancement opportunities. With members now in government, party general counsel positions, law firm management and on law school faculties, the RNLA has for many years been the principal national organization through which lawyers serve the Republican Party and its candidates.

In November of 2000 the years of RNLA's recruiting, training and otherwise encouraging lawyers to become involved in Republican Party activities at all levels, and election law in particular, became widely known during the historically-close presidential election recount. After election day, RNLA members were dispatched by party organizations and campaigns to multiple locations within several states. When it became clear that the final result in Florida would determine the outcome of the Presidential Election, members were concentrated there. While the ultimate outcome of the Florida recount simply reflects the fact that George W. Bush received more votes than his opponent, had it not been for the preeminent litigators retained by the campaign entities and the volunteer attorneys who spent weeks defending the intent of voters before canvassing boards, the will of the nation's voters would surely have been thwarted.

Shortly after the Bush victory, much of the dominant liberal media attempted to portray the outcome as a mistake at best, or the theft of an election at worst. Years later the truth is clear, and it has been internalized by the American public and confirmed by even the most liberal national newspapers: George W. Bush won, and competent, strategic and vigorous lawyering successfully defended that win.

In 2002 the RNLA’s efforts recruiting, training and otherwise encouraging lawyers to become involved with the Republican Party at all levels were overwhelmingly successful. While the Democrats stated that they were going to send 1,000 lawyers to Florida, Texas, and Missouri the RNLA already had local chapters in all three locations. Republicans won victories in all three locations.

While the record setting success of Republicans in the 2002 elections was due to superior candidates, President Bush, and several other factors, the RNLA’s principal election activity for 2002 – training lawyers to ensure to uphold fair, open and honest elections -- was also a factor. We protected the rights of all voters, regardless of party affiliation or identification with any racial, religious or other distinguishing group.

As Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert said in thanking the RNLA in December 2002:

“Please convey my appreciation to the leaders and members of the Republican National Lawyers Association for the volunteer services your members contributed to Republican campaigns across the nation.  The efforts of RNLA to attract, train and field a large number of volunteer attorneys to assist in encouraging honest elections were successful and made an important difference in many races.  In particular, RNLA's national election law school, election integrity training sessions and election day legal leadership were important components of the Republican Party's successful effort to expand our majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.  The Republicans in the House of Representatives join me in thanking your members, and wishing them well as we look forward to the next election cycle.”

The 2004 Elections brought forth new challenges. However, RNLA trained lawyers and law students were available to help in each of the targeted states. RNLA lawyers helped at every level of the election process from monitoring the polls to arguing legal cases in the courts. While Democrat and liberal groups launched a massive campaign and claimed to have over 10,000 lawyers working on Election Day, Republicans won every major legal battle. After the 2005 Inauguration of President Bush the Wall Street Journal's Political Diary reported, "The Republican National Lawyers Association may well have contributed as much as anyone to making sure it was George Bush, not John Kerry, who took the oath of office yesterday." Former U.S. Solicitor General General Theodore B. Olson also stated at the RNLA's Lawyers Inaugural Luncheonon January 19, 2005, "The strategy of delegitimizing election results didn't work in 2000 and it didn't work in 2004. Anyone who says lawyers don't make a difference in politics doesn't know what the people in this room did."

In 2005, Vice President Dick cheney thanked RNLA for all its work, not just for open, fair and honest elections. He stated, "Life as a[n] attorney doesn't leave many spare hours, yet you've come forward to help the President, to help the party, and our cause in so many ways -- from working on campaigns, to backing judicial nominees, to providing inputs on major matters of public policy. I know many of you volunteered huge amounts of time in the 2000 and 2004 campaigns. You made a difference, and I promise that your work was never taken for granted. The President and I knew you were out there. We remain grateful for all that you did, and I appreciate the chance to be here today to say so."

In 2006, Karl Rove recognized RNLA's efforts as well, including its help in confirming former RNLA Member John Roberts as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Karl Rove stated "I want to thank you for your work on clean elections…I appreciate all that you have done in our campaigns in the past…We really appreciate what you all have done on our judges. To think that this President has appointed 27% of the members of the Federal Judiciary and most of all he has been able to appoint such terrific individuals to the U.S. Supreme Court, John Roberts and Sam Alito will serve for decades with distinction and integrity."

I invite you to become a partner with the members of the RNLA to advance not only fiar, open and honest elections, but also professionalism, career opportunity and republican principles by becoming a contributor or sponsor of an RNLA national event. The RNLA can accept both individual and corporate contributions. Your contribution or national event sponsorship will be recognized on this website and during the sponsored RNLA event unless you request otherwise. Your contributions can be through check, on-line credit card transaction or stock gift. RNLA Advisory Council Members ($1000 plus donors) receive special reports and briefings from the RNLA on such topics as election law and the current judicial confirmation crisis.

An investment in the RNLA will upgrade the quality of lawyer efforts to advance the principles of the Republican Party. It will advance and protect the political freedoms you and I hold central in our lives.

Sincerely,


Michael Thielen
Executive Director