TAKE BACK THE COURT BULKS UP TEAM AS MOMENTUM FOR SUPREME COURT EXPANSION GROWS

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (February 10, 2022) — Take Back the Court today announced a wave of new hires to its team, bolstering its strength as momentum behind Supreme Court expansion continues to grow. The new team members, who include Director of Operations Ghazal Rahmanpanah, Policy Advocate Chelsey Davidson, and Press Secretary Alexa Barrett, all bring experience in the progressive policy and advocacy space working to strengthen the nation’s democracy and safeguard human rights.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to announce the additions of Ghazal, Chelsey, and Alexa to our team — and with the nation’s eyes squarely on the Court in anticipation of an historic new justice soon to be named, there’s no better time to strengthen our team,” said Take Back the Court Executive Director Sarah Lipton-Lubet. “Everything from climate health to abortion rights to the safety of our democracy is on the line, and we need bold thinkers and talented advocates driving this movement to ensure our continued success. With these talented minds on board, we’re better positioned than ever in our crucial fight to safeguard our rights and expand the Court.”

Rahmanpanah’s career in project management and coalition-building has spanned both global and domestic advocacy spaces, remaining firmly rooted in social and racial justice across several roles. She most recently served as director of special projects for The League, a social impact firm focused on elevating culture and narrative change strategies, and worked previously at the We Won’t Wait Campaign — a coalition of national organizations spotlighting women’s reproductive freedom, economic security, and racial justices in the lead up to the 2016 presidential election.

Davidson is the former Senior Research Director and Editor of the Stanford-MIT Healthy Elections Project, where she worked to help bolster election integrity and ensure equal access to the ballot during the 2020 Election cycle. This summer she will graduate from Stanford Law School, where she has worked on projects for the Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy, the Stanford Environmental Law Clinic, the International Refugee Assistance Project, and the Administrative Conference of the United States.

Barrett joins Take Back the Court most recently from her role as press secretary for the government watchdog Accountable.US, where she focused on holding corporate interests and lawmakers accountable to their stated democratic values. She previously bolstered efforts to fight back against the Trump health department’s attacks on abortion rights at the reproductive rights group Equity Forward.

The new hires join Take Back the Court Executive Director Sarah Lipton-Lubet and Digital Manager Obet Montalvo, who both joined the team last year. Learn more about the full team on Take Back the Court’s website.

Take Back the Court raises awareness about the urgent need to expand the number of seats on the Supreme Court to address the theft of the court by Senator Mitch McConnell during the Obama Administration. Without adding seats, Congress will not be able to restore the right to vote, ensure reproductive freedom, protect workers, halt our climate emergency, or pass new legislation. Court expansion, which can be accomplished without a constitutional amendment, is the only reform that enables the un-rigging of the system and the restoration of democracy. Learn more: https://www.takebackthecourt.today/