Contact your senators: Call their district offices, write them an email, go to a town hall, or set up a meeting with them while they’re in town.
Here’s a suggested outline of what your meeting (virtually or in person) with your senator and/or their staff should look like:
Open the meeting.
Thank your senator and/or staff for meeting with you, and collect business cards from the staff (if in person).
Introduce your group and provide a brief introduction of who you are.
Tell your senator and/or staff why you’re there.
Present your issue.
Explain why the courts matter to you, or how this nomination would impact you or your community.
Present the “ask” – this is where you ask your senator to prioritize our courts, support demographically and professionally diverse nominees committed to equal justice, and use every tool to confirm judicial nominations as quickly as possible.
Listen to the senator’s and/or staff’s response.
Offer to be a resource for the senator, or to send additional information.
Wrap up the meeting.
Review the comments, commitments, and follow-up items for each issue.
Thank the senator and/or staff for their time.
Leave your business card and any informational materials with your senator and/or staff (if in person).
Follow up with a thank you email to the senator and/or staff. If you met virtually or weren’t able to leave any informational materials, send them with this email.
Be prepared and be on time. Do your research about nominees and your senators’ positions. Bring materials and information on the courts and President Biden’s judicial nominees to leave with your senators and their staff.
Have a plan. Know who will discuss what topics, and who will lead the meeting. Practice what you want to say in advance.
Be prepared to meet with staff. A senator’s staff plays an incredibly important role in every Senate office. It’s just as important to develop a relationship with staff as with the senator.
Expect unpredictability. Senators’ schedules change. Remember to be flexible.
Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know.” Don’t make up a response to a question if you don’t know the answer. Instead, offer to follow up later.
Know your ask. Be prepared to ask your senator for a specific action.
Share personal stories with your senator. Make sure you let the senator know how Trump’s judicial nominees impact your life.
Listen to your senator. Don’t argue with your senator or their staff.