Carrie Campbell Severino Explained

Carrie Severino
Birth Name:Carrie Campbell
Spouse:Roger Severino
Education:Duke University (BA)
Michigan State University (MA)
Harvard University (JD)

Carrie Campbell Severino (born 1976/1977)[1] is an American lawyer and conservative political activist. She is the president of the Concord Fund, where she supported the Supreme Court nominations of Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh. She is the coauthor (with Mollie Hemingway) of Justice on Trial: The Kavanaugh Confirmation and the Future of the Supreme Court.

Background and early career

Severino, born Carrie Campbell, grew up in Michigan. Her father is an oncologist, and her mother is a nurse.[2]

Severino attended Duke University, graduating in 1999 with a B.A. in biology. In 2001 she received a master's degree in Linguistics from Michigan State University.[3]

While attending Harvard Law School, she met her future husband Roger Severino, two years ahead of her there. Both were active with the law school's Society for Law, Life and Religion, a conservative anti-abortion group.[4]

In 2004, after receiving her JD from Harvard Law School, Severino worked as a law clerk for Judge David B. Sentelle of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.[2]

She was a law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for a year (2007–2008).[5] She later spent time at Georgetown University Law Center with an Olin/Searle Fellowship,[6] an award funded by the Federalist Society that "offers top young lawyers with a scholarly bent the opportunity to spend 1-2 years to write and develop their scholarship with the goal of entering the legal academy."[7]

Judicial Crisis Network

See main article: Concord Fund.

On March 22, 2010, the Judicial Crisis Network (now called the Concord Fund) hired Severino as their policy director and chief spokesperson.[8]

The Concord Fund is an American conservative advocacy organization, described in 2020 by OpenSecrets as having "unmatched influence in recent years in shaping the federal judiciary."[9] JCN has worked closely on judicial appointments with conservative Catholic activist Leonard Leo and with the Federalist Society, which is in the same hallway of a DC office building.[10] [11] [12] In 2022, JCN's "About" page describes her role as "chief counsel and policy director."[13]

Severino and the Concord Fund have played a prominent role in several political battles related to the United States Supreme Court. In 2016, Mother Jones described Severino as "a leader of the current conservative campaign to block any Obama Supreme Court nominee."[14] Under her leadership, the Judicial Crisis Network spent more than $5 million on the campaign to oppose Obama's 2016 nomination of Merrick Garland for the Supreme Court.[15]

During the 2016 Presidential election Severino and the Judicial Crisis Network made filling the seat to which Garland had been nominated a central issue. Asserting that Trump's victory reflected voters' wish for conservatives on the Supreme Court, Severino announced JCN's plan to spend $10 million campaigning for Neil Gorsuch's appointment.[16] Severino attended the White House swearing-in ceremony for Gorsuch.[17]

Severino also played a prominent role in the Judicial Crisis Network campaign to support the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court, on which JCN spent $4.5 million in ad buys. In an appearance on CNN, Severino defended Kavanaugh from allegations of sexual assault by Christine Blasey Ford, saying that the allegation "covered a whole range of conduct, from boorishness to rough horseplay to actual attempted rape."[18] Jia Tolentino, writing in The New Yorker, criticized the "horseplay" comment as minimizing what Tolentino described as "sexual assault."[19]

In September 2020, after the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Severino and Judicial Crisis Network enlisted support from what Severino called a "war room" of pro-Catholic and pro-business advocacy groups including the Susan B. Anthony List, Catholic Vote, America First Policies, the Club for Growth and Heritage Action.[20] The Judicial Crisis Network launched a $2.2 million campaign to support President Trump's right to appoint a judge prior to the November 2020 presidential election.[21]

In a widely reported presentation to the Judiciary Committee during confirmation hearings for Amy Coney Barrett, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse singled out Severino by name as a major player in what he called "a $250 million dark money operation" to influence the selection of judges.[22] [23] Severino defended the practice of groups such as the JCN receiving funding from anonymous donors, saying that the goal of anonymity was not secrecy, but rather to protect her donors from "harassment" if their names were made public.[24]

Justice on Trial

Severino is the coauthor (with Mollie Hemingway) of Justice on Trial: The Kavanaugh Confirmation and the Future of the Supreme Court (2019). According to The Washingtonian, the book "hit bestseller lists" in the summer of 2019.[25] The book attracted both positive and negative comments.

James R. Copeland in the Washington Post called the book "a must-read for those who follow the politics of the federal judiciary", saying that "Hemingway and Severino frame the Kavanaugh story in the broader judicial confirmation context" beginning with 1987's fight over Robert Bork and covering what he calls "the campaign against Severino’s mentor [Justice Clarence] Thomas four years later."[26]

John Kass in the Chicago Tribune called it a "highly readable bestseller" that "starts out like a thriller — with the fate of the republic in the balance."[27]

Lara Bazelon in Politico criticized the book as "so one-sided that it read more like a legal brief written by two very competent and fiercely committed advocates" but added that "Hemingway and Severino do make important points" concerning the presumption of innocence.[28]

Personal life

Severino is married to Roger Severino, the former head of the Department of Health and Human Services’s Office for Civil Rights.[29] They have six children. Both Severinos are conservative Catholics.

Notes and References

  1. News: Williamson . Elizabeth . 2020-10-15 . With Barrett Nomination, a D.C. Conservative Power Couple Nears Its Dream . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-08-16 . 0362-4331.
  2. Web site: Carrie Severino President of the Judicial Crisis Network . . Severino, 43, grew up in Michigan, the daughter of an oncologist father and a mother who was a nurse. Carrie went to Duke University and, intending to pursue the family career path, started out in pre-med. . January 2, 2022 . February 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220208014722/https://www.iwf.org/people/carrie-severino/ . live .
  3. Web site: About. October 24, 2020. Judicial Network. October 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201022160922/https://judicialnetwork.com/about-duplicate/. live.
  4. All the Right's Moves . Blank . Jonas . April 24, 2003. . January 2, 2022. 'I think it’s a de facto silencing, where you want to choose your battles or get tired of sounding like the "crazy conservative freak,"'said Carrie Campbell ’04, vice president of HLS's 10-year-old Society for Law, Life and Religion, a group that opposes abortion rights. . January 10, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220110133026/https://today.law.harvard.edu/feature/rights-moves/ . live.
  5. Web site: Carrie Severino Chief Counsel and Policy Director, Judicial Crisis Network . National Journal . March 10, 2022 . Severino is not new to supporting judges with conservative judicial philosophies, having joined JCN five years after its 2005 founding. Severino, who clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas in 2007, and the group were animated in part by senators’ and progressive activists’ opposition to Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork in 1987. . March 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220308114324/https://nj50.nationaljournal.com/carrie-severino/ . live .
  6. Web site: "The John M. Olin Fellowships and the Advancement of Conservatism in Legal Academia" (Harvard Journals of Law and Public Policy 39:3, 2010, p. 935) . March 20, 2022 . March 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220310034813/https://www.harvard-jlpp.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2010/01/39_3_Cady_F.pdf . live .
  7. Web site: Olin-Searle Faculty Fellowship . March 9, 2021 . Federalist Society . The Olin-Searle Fellowship program offers top young lawyers with a scholarly bent the opportunity to spend 1-2 years to write and develop their scholarship with the goal of entering the legal academy. . February 7, 2022 . February 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220208031120/https://fedsoc.org/commentary/fedsoc-blog/olin-searle-faculty-fellowship . live .
  8. Web site: Judicial Crisis Network Adds Carrie Severino as Chief Counsel and Policy Director . Judicial Crisis Network . Today the Judicial Crisis Network (Formerly: The Judicial Confirmation Network/www.judicialnetwork.com) added Carrie Severino as the new Chief Counsel and Policy Director. Mrs. Severino will serve as JCN’s chief spokesperson as well as provide legal analysis and strategic guidance.. https://web.archive.org/web/20100812034123/https://judicialnetwork.com/news/judicial-crisis-network-adds-carrie-severino-chief-counsel-and-policy-director. August 12, 2010. March 22, 2010 . February 7, 2022.
  9. News: Massoglia . Anna . Levine . Sam . Conservative 'dark money' network rebranded to push voting restrictions before 2020 election . . May 27, 2020 . March 11, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220311120953/https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2020/05/conservative-dark-money-network-voting-restrict/ . live .
  10. News: A conservative activist's behind-the-scenes campaign to remake the nation's courts . O'Harrow, Robert Jr. . Boburg, Shawn . Washington Post . JCN’s office is on the same hallway as the Federalist Society in a downtown Washington building, though JCN’s website and tax filings list a mailing address at a different location, an address shared by multiple companies...When a Post reporter visited the JCN offices to ask questions, a security guard contacted a longtime employee of the Federalist Society to see whether anyone at JCN was available. A Federalist Society employee then escorted the reporter to JCN’s office. . May 21, 2019. February 8, 2022. February 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210215221558/https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/investigations/leonard-leo-federalists-society-courts/ . live.
  11. Web site: The Secrets of Leonard Leo, the Man Behind Trump's Supreme Court Pick . Daily Beast . March 9, 2022 . July 24, 2018 . Carter says, despite whatever legal separations exist between JCN and the Federalist Society, “JCN is absolutely Leonard’s group. Carrie was working out of the Federalist Society office. Federalist Society staff babysat her kids as the JCN project was launched… . March 9, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220309235629/https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-secrets-of-leonard-leo-the-man-behind-trumps-supreme-court-pick . live .
  12. News: In Gorsuch, Conservative Activist Sees Test Case for Reshaping the Judiciary . March 9, 2022 . New York Times . March 18, 2017 . This more public part of the push — Mr. Leo has never been particularly comfortable in the spotlight — has been handled by Ms. Severino, 40, a Harvard Law School graduate who served as a clerk to Justice Thomas and is a frequent speaker at Federalist events. . April 6, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170406092616/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/18/us/politics/neil-gorsuch-supreme-court-conservatives.html . live .
  13. https://web.archive.org/web/20220205104325/https://judicialnetwork.com/about/ JCN "About" (archived February 5, 2022)
  14. Web site: President Obama Taps Merrick Garland for Supreme Court Seat . Mencimer . Stephanie . Mother Jones . Severino, a former clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas and a leader of the current conservative campaign to block any Obama Supreme Court nominee, claims these two gun-related decisions indicate Garland 'has a very liberal view of gun rights' . March 16, 2016 . February 7, 2022 . February 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220208051707/https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/03/president-obama-taps-merrick-garland-supreme-court-seat/ . live .
  15. Web site: Everett. Burgess. Judicial Crisis Network already running ads ahead of Trump SCOTUS pick. October 25, 2020. POLITICO. November 18, 2016 . en. November 8, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201108120221/https://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/donald-trump-supreme-court-air-wars-231583. live.
  16. Web site: May 15, 2018. Judicial Crisis Network Launches $10 Million Campaign to Preserve Justice Scalia's Legacy, Support President-Elect Trump Nominee - Judicial Crisis Network. October 25, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20180515215227/https://judicialnetwork.com/judicial-crisis-network-launches-10-million-campaign-preserve-justice-scalias-legacy-support-president-elect-trump-nominee/. May 15, 2018. JCN spent more than $7 million in its Let the People Decide effort, and it expects to spend at least $10 million to confirm the next justice. ..
  17. Web site: Gorsuch's Dark-Money Benefactor Attended His White House Swearing-In Ceremony . Slate . March 9, 2022 . April 10, 2017 . the JCN isn’t entirely anonymous: It has a public face in Carrie Severino, the group’s chief counsel and policy director...Severino attended Gorsuch’s swearing-in ceremony at the White House Rose Garden on Monday morning. . March 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220310045720/https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2017/04/gorsuch-dark-money-benefactor-carrie-severino-shows-up-at-swearing-in.html . live .
  18. Web site: Relman. Eliza. Spokeswoman for group supporting Kavanaugh says sexual assault allegations could have been 'rough horseplay'. October 29, 2020. Business Insider. October 28, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201028205053/https://www.businessinsider.com/brett-kavanaugh-allegations-sexual-assault-judicial-crisis-network-2018-9. live.
  19. https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/after-the-kavanaugh-allegations-republicans-offer-a-shocking-defense-sexual-assault-isnt-a-big-deal "After the Kavanaugh allegations Republicans offer a shocking defense: Sexual assault isn't a big deal"
  20. Web site: Samuels. Brett. September 26, 2020. Conservative groups unleash ad blitz in support of Barrett's nomination. October 29, 2020. TheHill. en. October 26, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201026165837/https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/518448-conservative-groups-unleash-ad-blitz-in-support-of-barretts. live.
  21. Web site: September 21, 2020. Judicial Crisis Network launches $2.2M ad buy backing Trump Supreme Court pick. October 25, 2020. Washington Examiner. en. October 28, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201028213815/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/judicial-crisis-network-launches-2-2m-ad-buy-backing-trump-supreme-court-pick. live.
  22. Web site: 'Look for Power in the Shadows': Watch Sheldon Whitehouse Shine Light on 'Dark Money Operation' Behind GOP Supreme Court Takeover . Johnson . Jake . Common Dreams . we have again anonymous funders running through something called the Judicial Crisis Network, which is run by Carrie Severino, and it is doing PR and campaign ads for Republican judicial nominees...The woman who helped choose this nominee has written briefs for Republican senators attacking the ACA. . October 14, 2020 . February 7, 2022 . February 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220208031118/https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/10/14/look-power-shadows-watch-sheldon-whitehouse-shine-light-dark-money-operation-behind . live .
  23. Web site: Sheldon Whitehouse Made the Case That Amy Coney Barrett's Nomination Is a Bag Job . Pierce . Charles P. . October 13, 2020. Esquire . February 9, 2022. He showed the connections between the Federalist Society and the Judicial Crisis Network, and he showed the outsized influence of Leonard Leo and Carrie Severino . February 10, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220210031028/https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a34362944/sheldon-whitehouse-federalist-society-amy-coney-barrett/ . live.
  24. Web site: Barrett ads tied to interest groups funded by unnamed donors. October 29, 2020. Star Tribune. October 30, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201030093856/https://www.startribune.com/barrett-ads-tied-to-interest-groups-funded-by-unnamed-donors/572873311/. live.
  25. Web site: 30 Essential Books About Washington . The Washingtonian . November 24, 2019 . February 9, 2022 . February 9, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220209054604/https://www.washingtonian.com/2019/11/24/30-essential-books-about-washington/#How-Washington-Works . live .
  26. News: Copland . James R. . Inside the battle over Kavanaugh, from 'handmaid' protesters to Bible verses . Washington Post . November 8, 2019 . February 9, 2022 . January 14, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210114183759/https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/inside-the-battle-over-kavanaugh-from-handmaid-protesters-to-bible-verses/2019/11/07/dcdfdbac-f683-11e9-8cf0-4cc99f74d127_story.html . live .
  27. News: Kass . John . In her book on Justice Brett Kavanaugh, 'Justice on Trial,' Mollie Hemingway warns of things to come . February 9, 2022 . Chicago Tribune . August 8, 2019 . February 9, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220209054607/https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/john-kass/ct-brett-kavanaugh-mollie-hemingway-kass-20190808-mqizvyubufadrfwhr53p64qkx4-story.html . live .
  28. Web site: Bazelon, Lara . What 2 Deep-Dive Books on Kavanaugh Taught Me About Truth in the Trump Era . their book was so one-sided that it read more like a legal brief written by two very competent and fiercely committed advocates. . Politico . February 9, 2022 . en . September 29, 2019 . January 27, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220127073526/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/09/29/brett-kavanaugh-books-sexual-assault-228700/ . live .
  29. News: Williamson. Elizabeth. October 15, 2020. With Barrett Nomination, a D.C. Conservative Power Couple Nears Its Dream. en-US. The New York Times. October 24, 2020. 0362-4331. October 23, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201023174801/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/15/us/politics/severinos-amy-coney-barrett.html. live.

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