Sixteen current and former women leaders of the RNLA sent a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee leaders today in support of confirming Judge Brett Kavanaugh:

We are current and former women leaders of the Republican National Lawyers Association (RNLA). On behalf of the RNLA, we urge you to promptly confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh as the next Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

President's Message for the Summer 2018 Newsletter
-Mr. Elliot Berke

This is a very exciting time for the country and the RNLA. As I write this, we are eagerly awaiting from the Vice President's office details on a new date for his speech to the RNLA on Judge Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination and the midterm elections. It will be a great event you will not want to miss. 

We are also fast approaching our National Election Law Seminar in St. Louis on August 3 and 4. If you have not done so, sign up today. I am very impressed by the quality of speakers and attendees so far. It is a who's who of the Republican election bar.

Speaking of the quality of speakers at RNLA events, a speech from 15 years ago on C-SPAN is now getting some attention. This was a speech by then-Associate White House Counsel Brett Kavanaugh. Ironically enough, Judge Kavanaugh's speech was discussing the Democrats' efforts to filibuster and block President Bush's judicial nominees such as Miguel Estrada and then-DC Circuit nominee John Roberts. 

I first met Judge Kavanaugh when I joined Independent Counsel Starr's staff. While we didn't overlap, I came to know Brett as a brilliant legal mind and, put frankly, just an overall good guy. Please join me insigning the RNLA's letter in support of Judge Kavanaugh . As lawyers, it is important that we support and talk about Judge Kavanaugh and the importance of judges who respect the rule of law. To find out more about Judge Kavanaugh, check out the RNLA resources here or go to confirmkavanaugh.com.

Lastly, as a lawyer to various House leaders, I want to briefly remind you of the importance of voting, volunteering, and helping out this fall. I have heard some people express pessimism at Republican chances to keep the House. In August 2016, Republicans were down 5 points in the generic Real Clear Politics Congressional poll and now going into August of 2018, Republicans are down 7 points. Behind great House leaders such as Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Steve Stivers, and House Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, I like our odds to again make up that difference and keep the House in Republican control.

The momentum is on our side. Republican lawyers need to keep focus as we confirm Judge Kavanaugh and have a successful 2018 midterm election. 

Washington, D.C. — The Republican National Lawyers Association (RNLA) is pleased to announce that its second Robert J. Horn Chairman’s Award will be bestowed on Ron Hicks during the 17th National Election Law Seminar in St. Louis, Missouri, on August 3-4, 2018.

"Ron Hicks is an excellent lawyer and good friend. He has worked hard to insure that elections are conducted fairly and freely and that every vote counts. We at RNLA especially appreciate his guidance as our General Counsel and Member of our Board. I am delighted to be able to present him with the Chairman’s Award," said John Ryder, Chair of RNLA.

RNLA Executive Director Michael Thielen agreed: “When we created a ‘task force’ on Election Day Operations (EDO), Ron was the obvious choice to lead the effort. He has spoken across the country on EDO-related issues and is a recognized leader. He has worked diligently for years in Pennsylvania ensuring elections are open, fair, and honest.”

Ron is a civil trial and appellate attorney who represents local, statewide and federal Republican candidates in Pennsylvania. In addition to serving as general counsel for candidates and political committees, Ron handles a variety of election law disputes, including election contests, ballot recounts, nomination objections, and absentee and provisional ballot challenges. Since 2004, Ron participates in and plans EDO, and he regularly trains volunteers on Pennsylvania election processes and procedures.

Ron is Co-General Counsel and a member of the Board of Governors for the Republican National Lawyers Association, and he is a founding board member and former chair of the RNLA’s Pittsburgh Chapter. He is Chair of the RNLA’s task force on EDO. He serves as the Deputy Solicitor for Western Pennsylvania for the Pennsylvania Republican State Committee, an elected member of the Republican Committees of Allegheny County and Pittsburgh, the County Committee’s Solicitor, and chair of the City Committee’s 3rd Council District.

The Robert J. Horn Chairman’s Award is an award presented to individuals for nationally distinguished service to the citizens of the United States of America for protecting the honesty and accuracy of elections. It is presented in honor of the Founding Chairman, who succeeded in significantly advancing the integrity of elections throughout his or her professional lifetime by founding and promoting the Republican National Lawyers Association.

The RNLA is the national organization of Republican attorneys. The mission of RNLA is to advance professionalism; open, fair, and honest elections; career opportunity; and Republican ideals. For more information, please visit http://www.rnla.org.

Today, the RNLA released a statement praising the nomination of D.C. Circuit Court Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court:

This evening, President Donald J. Trump announced his nominee for the vacancy on the United States Supreme Court is Judge Brett Kavanaugh of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The Republican National Lawyers Association (RNLA) strongly supports Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination and applauds President Trump for his excellent choice.