As the 2024 presidential election approaches, Vice President Kamala Harris, the likely Democratic nominee, has surrounded herself with key staff members who hold progressive views on law enforcement and the judiciary. One such aide, Brian Fallon, has been a vocal supporter of the “defund police” movement and efforts to expand the Supreme Court.
Fallon, who previously served as national press secretary for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, joined Harris’s team as communications director in January. Prior to that, he spent nearly six years as executive director of Demand Justice, a left-leaning organization that seeks to transform the federal judiciary. Demand Justice has been a driving force behind advertising campaigns targeting Supreme Court justices, including Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh, during their confirmation processes.
Fallon’s ties to Demand Justice and his past support for defunding police have sparked concerns among Republicans, who are eager to portray Harris as soft on law and order. In June 2020, Harris expressed support for the defund the police movement, which has become a contentious issue for Democrats as crime rates have risen in many cities.
As a founder of Demand Justice, Fallon has been instrumental in shaping the organization’s agenda, which includes adding more seats to the Supreme Court. This proposal has been met with fierce opposition from Republicans, who argue that it would politicize the judiciary and create an imbalance of power.
Fallon has also been vocal about his disdain for the Supreme Court’s perceived lack of accountability. In a 2022 tweet, he praised the leaks of draft opinions, including the one that overturned Roe v. Wade, saying that they “rip the veil off” an institution that has been shielded from scrutiny.
Conservative lawyers, such as Mike Davis, are now questioning whether Harris shares Fallon’s radical views on the judiciary. Demand Justice has published a “Supreme Court shortlist” featuring progressive officials who the group believes would make suitable justices, including Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.
As the presidential campaign heats up, Harris’s association with Fallon and Demand Justice is likely to become a talking point for Republicans. According to a RealClearPolitics polling average, Trump currently leads Harris 47.9% to 46% nationally.
