Demand Justice Names Veteran Democratic Strategist Josh Orton As President
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2025
CONTACT: [email protected]
Orton to lead aggressive approach to pushing back decisively on Trump’s judges, spotlighting their radical agenda and ties to corporate elites and billionaire backers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Demand Justice, the leading progressive organization working to protect and reform America’s courts, today announced the appointment of Josh Orton as its new President. A lawyer and veteran of progressive politics, policy, and organizing, Orton served as a top advisor to Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Bernie Sanders, and former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. During the first Trump administration, Orton served as top nomination strategist at Reproductive Freedom For All (previously called NARAL Pro-Choice America), where he helped lead the opposition to Donald Trump’s judicial picks.
Under Orton’s leadership, Demand Justice will mobilize steadfast opposition to Donald Trump’s judicial nominees and broader attacks on the rule of law – including by holding Democrats accountable when they fail to meet the moment, and spotlighting how Trump’s judges are siding with corporate elites and billionaires at the expense of working Americans.
“Josh brings to bear the rare combination of inside-the-beltway and outside grassroots organizing expertise that is purpose built for this moment at Demand Justice,” said Ilyse Hogue, one of the Board Chairs of Demand Justice and former president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. “As we witness daily more assaults on our democracy that will wind their way through the courts, Demand Justice remains one of the only organizations in the field laser focused on a Judiciary that is accountable to the people it serves. Josh is one of the most committed and strategic leaders I have ever worked with. I have no doubt Demand Justice will thrive in this new chapter with him at the helm.”
“I’m ready to lead Demand Justice at this pivotal moment,” said Josh Orton, President of Demand Justice. “Before I ever stepped foot in law school, I learned from Senator Harry Reid that all major American institutions, including the courts, are moved by people, power and politics – but without integrity, they will fail us. Republicans bent the federal courts to their will and Trump now exploits this to his advantage. Democrats and democratic institutions need to realize: the time for courage is now. This is the challenge Demand Justice was designed to take on – and I’m ready to lead it.”
Moving forward, Demand Justice will operate with intensified focus, using endorsements and paid media through Demand Justice’s PAC to hold Senate Democrats accountable if they fail to aggressively oppose Trump’s judicial nominees and rewarding those who take a stand; ramping up Demand Justice’s grassroots organizing and infrastructure to channel progressive energy into action; and making the economic case about how our courts are enabling Oligarchy.
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