A Message From President Tom Fitton
Judicial Watch, Inc.is a conservative, non-partisan educational foundation, which promotes transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law. Through its educational endeavors, Judicial Watch advocates high standards of ethics and morality in our nation’s public life and seeks to ensure that political and judicial officials do not abuse the powers entrusted to them by the American people. Judicial Watch fulfills its educational mission through litigation, investigations, and public outreach.
The motto of Judicial Watch is “Because no one is above the law”. To this end, Judicial Watch uses the open records or freedom of information laws and other tools to investigate and uncover misconduct by government officials and litigation to hold to account politicians and public officials who engage in corrupt activities.
Litigation and the civil discovery process not only uncover information for the education of the American people on anti-corruption issues, but can also provide a basis for civil authorities to criminally prosecute corrupt officials. Judicial Watch seeks to ensure high ethical standards in the judiciary through monitoring activities and the use of the judicial ethics process to hold judges to account.
Judicial Watch’s investigation, legal, and judicial activities provide the basis for strong educational outreach to the American people. Judicial Watch’s public education programs include speeches, opinion editorials (op-eds), publications, educational conferences, media outreach, radio and news television appearances, and direct radio outreach through informational commercials and public service announcements.
Through its Open Records Project, Judicial Watch also provides training and legal services to other conservatives concerning how to effectively use the Freedom of Information Act and other open records laws to achieve conservative goals of accountability and openness in government.
Through its publication The Verdict and occasional special reports, Judicial Watch educates the public about abuses and misconduct by political and judicial officials, and advocates for the need for an ethical, law abiding and moral civic culture.
Judicial Watch also pursues this educational effort through this Internet site where many of the open records documents, legal filings, and other educational materials are made available to the public and media. This educational effort, which includes direct mailings to millions of Americans, educates the public about operations of government and the judiciary and increases public awareness if corruption and misconduct exists.
Warm regards,
Tom Fitton
President, Judicial Watch
Judicial Watch Investigations Team
Chris Farrell
Director of Investigations & Research, Board Member
Christopher J. Farrell joined Judicial Watch in 1999 as the organization’s Director of Investigations & Research, and has been a member of the Board of Directors since September 2003. Chris is a native of Long Island, New York. He was a Distinguished Military Graduate from Fordham University with a B.A. in History, whereupon he accepted a Regular Army Commission and served as a Military Intelligence Officer – specializing in Counterintelligence and Human Intelligence.
Chris is a graduate of the Military Intelligence Officers Basic and Advanced Courses, the U.S. Army Advanced Counterintelligence Training Course, the Combined Arms Services Staff School of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the Defense Intelligence Agency’s Military Operations Training Course, and the Haus Rissen Institut für Politik und Wirtschaft in Hamburg, Germany. He is a specialist in national security matters, specializing in unconventional warfare and terrorism.
Following command and staff assignments that included three tours of duty in the Federal Republic of Germany, and one tour at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Chris returned to civilian life as a contractor to the defense and intelligence communities. He also provided management and training consulting services to non-profit organizations, and was active in the establishment of a small, private, co-ed Christian high school where he both taught and served as director.
Chris has appeared on numerous national TV and radio shows, and has authored dozens of articles. He contributed a chapter on terrorism to Dr. Irwin Redlener’s book “Americans at Risk” (Alfred A. Knopf: New York, 2006). Chris maintains a busy lecture schedule on both government corruption issues and intelligence matters. He served as a Senior Staff Associate of Columbia University’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness at the Mailman School of Public Health (2005 – 2008).
Chris is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute. He was an adjunct professor at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia (2013 – 2018). Chris is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers; the Society of Professional Journalists; Investigative Reporters and Editors; the National Military Intelligence Association; and is a constituent member of the State Department’s Overseas Security Advisory Council. Chris serves as the Judicial Watch main representative to United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Sean Dunagan
Bill Marshall
William F. Marshall is a Senior Investigator for Judicial Watch. Bill was raised in Queens, New York, and graduated with honors from St. John’s University in Jamaica, New York with a B.A. in Government and Politics, and an M.A. in International Affairs from American University in Washington, DC. He served as an Intelligence Analyst with the Drug Enforcement Administration. He was then a Senior Investigator with the Investigative Group International, President of the Investigations Division of Armor Holdings North America, and co-founder of the international investigations firm GlobalSource LLC. He then founded the investigations firm Veritas Intelligence LLC. He joined Judicial Watch in 2013 as a Senior Investigator.
Geoff Lyon
Geoff Lyon is an Investigative Counsel who screens and performs Triage upon all incoming Email/Voicemail/ as well as Snail-Mail Requests for Legal Assistance. If deemed appropriate upon his review, Substantive Requests are forwarded to Judicial Watch Directors and Other Branch Heads. As an Investigative Counsel, Mr. Lyon also researches and formulates litigation strategy/tactics with respect to Veterans and other meritorious Petitioners.
Kate Bailey
Create and file open records requests with federal and state agencies, review and analyze records received for public distribution, and coordinate with Judicial Watch attorneys to identify requests for FOIA litigation. Administer the day-to-day FOIA operations, primarily through tracking ongoing requests.
Kirsti Jespersen
Kirsti Jespersen is an Investigator who initiates, tracks, and analyzes the results of FOIA requests, performing deep research tasks for ongoing legal cases. Ms. Jespersen is a primary in-house observer and report-writer for GTMO detainee procedures in association with the Judicial Watch International Program (https://www.judicialwatch.org/public-education-the-international-program/) – established pursuant to the United Nations Department of Public Information mission.
Mark Spencer
Since February 2012, Mark Spencer has been the Southwest Projects Coordinator for Judicial Watch, Inc. He has lived in Phoenix Arizona since 1975, graduated with honors with a finance degree from Northern Arizona University in 1985, met his wife Shannon in 1986 on a Summer Project with Campus Crusade for Christ in Bangkok, Thailand, and was the top overall police recruit from the Phoenix Regional Police Academy in 1987. In 1993 Mark completed his graduate degree in exegetical theology from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary. During his police career he received the Phoenix Police Department’s Medal of Merit, the Police Chief’s Unit Award and the Protect & Serve community leadership award from RequireThePrior.org. For fourteen years Mark was an executive board member of the largest police association in Arizona, the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association (PLEA). He was the president of PLEA from 2007 until 2011 and, along with the PLEA board of trustees, served over 2,300 rank-and-file Phoenix Police Officers and Detectives. In July 2009, the Arizona Republic reported that Mark, in “his first two years as union president…earned…a reputation as a harsh critic of police management and a relentless advocate for Phoenix patrol officers.” Mark has been interviewed by local, international (CNN), and national (Fox National News) cable news outlets, has been quoted in numerous print publications (The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Nation, The Arizona Republic, Phoenix Magazine) and has participated on radio talk shows across the country: topics discussed included illegal immigration, police suicide, border violence, and police management pension violations. He has served in both an adjunct and guest faculty position at Arizona Christian University, Phoenix Seminary, Paradise Valley Community College and Glendale Community College. While still a sworn first-responder, he partnered with F.A.I.R. (Federation for American Immigration Reform) and Judicial Watch in reference to front-line law enforcement perspectives on illegal immigration and government corruption. His role as the voice of the largest police association in Arizona garnered him the title as being one of “three of the most polarizing figures in Arizona politics” by the Phoenix New Times in 2011. His retirement from the Phoenix Police Department in January 2012 ended a twenty-five-year career in which Mark and the PLEA team cultivated powerful community partnerships and facilitated unprecedented bipartisan support for rights of rank-and-file Arizona law enforcement. Mark is the author of A Moment In Timeand is the founder and co-director of Bema Investments (www.bemainvestments.org), a non-profit corporation which teaches Judeo-Christian leadership principles and facilitates charitable outreach efforts. He currently serves as the chaplain of the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC) which represents over 17,000 Border Patrol agents.
Patrick Francescon
Judicial Watch Legal Team
Paul J. Orfanedes
Director of Litigation, Board Member, Officer
Paul Orfanedes heads Judicial Watch’s Litigation Department and has been with Judicial Watch since its inception. Paul is a distinguished civil litigator who has argued in front of the Supreme Court and in the federal appeal courts on behalf of Judicial Watch and its clients.As Director of Litigation, he has been a spokesperson for Judicial Watch with his legal commentary appearing in major radio and print media outlets. In addition to managing the day-to-day operations of the Legal Department, Paul is Corporate Secretary and Treasurer of Judicial Watch. He is also member of the Board of Directors.Paul is a native of Illinois. He graduated from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1986. He received his Juris Doctorate from American University in 1990.
Robert Sticht
Senior Counsel
Robert Sticht joined Judicial Watch as a senior attorney in February 2018. Robert has 30 years’ experience as a trial and appellate lawyer representing parties in complex civil and criminal cases and administrative proceedings involving public corruption, constitutional litigation and civil rights, white collar crime, organized crime and racketeering, major narcotics trafficking, tax controversies and litigation, civil enforcement actions by government agencies, and public records litigation. Robert’s background includes seven years on the Criminal Justice Act panel of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California representing indigent persons accused of serious federal felonies. Before entering private practice, Robert served as a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice and worked in the Tax Division and Criminal Division in Washington, D.C. He received his Master of Laws from New York University School of Law, his J.D. with honors from Southwestern Law School, and his B.S. from the University of Arizona. Robert is an active member of the California, New York, and District of Columbia state bars, and is admitted to practice before many federal district and appellate courts and the United States Supreme Court.
Jason Aldrich
Senior Attorney
Jason Aldrich is Judicial Watch’s longest standing employee having joined the organization in November of 1997. Since 2001 he has served as a staff attorney. Jason has extensive experience litigating Freedom of Information Act cases in federal court as well as Freedom of Information Law cases in New York State. Jason has been involved in several significant Judicial Watch cases, including the FOIA lawsuit that uncovered a scheme in President Clinton’s Commerce Department to offer seats on government trade missions in exchange for campaign contributions. Jason received his law degree from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William & Mary in 1997, where he was an article editor for the William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal. He received his undergraduate degree in Philosophy from Bates College in 1993. He is a member of the bars of New York, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Michael Bekesha
Senior Attorney
Michael Bekesha is a senior attorney. Since 2009, Michael has litigated over 100 public records cases in both state and federal courts on behalf of Judicial Watch, individuals, media organizations, and other not-for-profit organizations. In addition to government transparency litigation, he has extensive experience litigating accountability and integrity lawsuits in both federal and state court. Michael also has drafted legislation, testified before state legislatures, and filed amicus curiae briefs on behalf of state legislators. He received his law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia, School of Law in 2009 and received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Northwestern University in 2004. Michael has been published three times and is a member of the bars of the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, and numerous federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
Lauren Burke
Senior Attorney
Lauren M. Burke joined the Judicial Watch legal team in September 2014. She has extensive trial experience and a background in government and public policy. Lauren worked for a large New England law firm and a boutique, full service law firm in Boston, MA where she was part of a strong litigation team that developed a cooperative legal group working in Massachusetts and Washington D.C. Lauren has litigated civil, commercial and criminal cases in federal, state, and administrative courts. Notably, Lauren argued against qualified immunity in a federal civil rights case and successfully defeated summary judgment in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts; arbitrated an award for compensation, punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees in a Wage and Payment Act case on fraud and successor liability; negotiated a multi-million dollar settlement as lead counsel in an international trademark and patent rights case; was lead counsel in a consumer protection case obtaining favorable judgment and collaborating with the Massachusetts Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs for further prosecution; successfully resolved a commercial contract dispute in the international arbitration forum. Prior to embarking on a legal career, Lauren worked in government relations in both the public and private sectors in Washington, D.C. While pursuing a B.A. in politics from the Catholic University of America, Lauren worked at Judicial Watch in the development department. She received her J.D. from Suffolk University Law School in Boston, MA where she worked as a certified prosecutor in Boston district court under Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3.03. She also worked for the Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Services as an appellate attorney for indigent clients achieving remand or overturned verdict in 10 out of 12 appeals filed and argued. Originally from Philadelphia, PA, Lauren now resides and primarily practices in Washington D.C. She is licensed in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
Ramona R. Cotca
Senior Attorney
Ramona R. Cotca joined Judicial Watch’s legal team as a senior attorney in May 2013. For the last eight years prior to joining Judicial Watch, she worked as a litigator for a local boutique firm and then joined the national in-house litigation group for a Fortune 500 company. In her previous practice she represented corporate clients in a variety of complex civil litigation matters, including contracts, insurance, product liability, professional malpractice, real estate and wrongful death. Ms. Cotca has tried cases in local state and federal courts in the District of Columbia and Maryland, and has argued cases at the appellate levels, including the U.S. Court for Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Ms. Cotca is a member of the bars of the District of Columbia and Maryland, as well as several federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States. Ms. Cotca earned her Juris Doctorate and Masters of Arts in International Affairs from Washington College of Law and American University in 2004. She graduated from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor with high honors in 2001 and attended Oxford University in 2000. Ms. Cotca is also an active member in a number of professional legal organizations, including The Barristers, and sits on several boards. Ms. Cotca is fluent in Romanian.
Eric Lee
Attorney
Eric Lee joined Judicial Watch’s legal team after graduating law school in 2015. He previously interned at Judicial Watch in the Fall of 2011 and Summer of 2013, where he helped successfully defend the constitutionality of petition signatures in Doe v. Md. State Bd. of Elections, 428 Md. 596 (Md. 2012), and aided in filing various civil complaints under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Since joining full-time, Eric assisted in ending racially-based voting practices and procedures under the Fifteenth Amendment and § 2 of the Voting Rights Act in Akina v. Hawaii, 136 S. Ct. 581 (2015). Prior to Judicial Watch, Eric was invited by faculty to co-lead the University of Maryland’s Clinical Law Program, where he served as advisor and practiced in various civil-litigation matters pro bono publico under Md. Rule 16. Among other things, Eric helped defend low-income Baltimore City residents from city tax-lien foreclosure and worked with Maryland pro bono organizations to help defend consumers from predatory lending practices. Eric graduated magna cum laude from St. Mary’s College of Maryland with a degree in Economics and received his J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law. Eric is licensed to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
James F. Peterson
Senior Attorney
James F. Peterson, an attorney with broad experience in complex litigation, is a senior member of Judicial Watch’s legal team. His breadth of knowledge and experience have contributed greatly to Judicial Watch’s success as he has played a key role in some of Judicial Watch’s most significant cases. These include Judicial Watch’s case before the Supreme Court concerning Vice President Cheney Energy Task Force documents (Judicial Watch v. Nat’l Energy Policy Dev. Group) and many of Judicial Watch’s groundbreaking lawsuits seeking to compel the enforcement of the nation’s immigration law. Most recently, Mr. Peterson has worked closely with the Arizona State Legislature in its legal defense of Arizona’s “S.B. 1070” immigration enforcement law.Prior to joining Judicial Watch in 2002, Mr. Peterson was a member of the litigation practice of a large national law firm in Washington, D.C., representing business clients in federal and state courts and administrative proceedings. He also was in the litigation department of a major national trade association, representing the industry in complex tax and administrative litigation.Mr. Peterson is a graduate of the George Mason University School of Law, where he was the Articles Editor of the school’s Civil Rights Law Journal. He received his undergraduate degree from Kent State University in Ohio. Mr. Peterson is an active member of the Federalist Society and other conservative organizations. He is a member of the bars of the District of Columbia, Virginia, and numerous federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.
Robert Popper
Director, Election Law Program
Robert Popper joined Judicial Watch in September 2013 as a senior attorney and directs Judicial Watch’s voting integrity efforts. Prior to joining Judicial Watch, Mr. Popper worked for eight years, five as deputy chief of the Voting Section, in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, in which capacity he garnered numerous professional awards. Before that, Mr. Popper worked as a private attorney in New York City for 17 years, where his practice extended to a wide range of legal matters, including voting rights. Mr. Popper served as counsel in a successful constitutional challenge alleging racial segregation in the design of New York’s congressional districts, and successfully defended the appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Popper is a published author on the topic of voting rights law. He developed a legal standard relating to gerrymandering that is widely cited by experts and was adopted by the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission. He has testified before the Missouri Senate Redistricting Committee and the Pennsylvania House State Government Committee; and he has spoken about voting rights to a conference of U.S. Attorneys at the National Advocacy Center, to state officials, and to countless local community representatives. Mr. Popper is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Northwestern University Law School. He is admitted to practice in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
T. Russell Nobile
Senior Attorney
Russ Nobile joined Judicial Watch’s legal team as a senior attorney in May 2019. Mr. Nobile has appeared before federal courts across the country and has a wealth of experience developing, analyzing, and presenting investigative findings involving difficult and sensitive questions of state and federal law. Mr. Nobile is part of Judicial Watch’s voting integrity efforts and focuses on campaign and voting issues, civil rights issues, constitutional law, official misconduct by public institutions and officials, and other issues. Prior to joining Judicial Watch, Mr. Nobile was in private practice where he utilized his extensive, high-profile government enforcement experience to handle government litigation, regulatory matters, and commercial litigation. He represented state and local agencies and financial institutions in a wide range of matters, including complex civil litigation, internal investigations, government enforcement actions, and appellate matters. Mr. Nobile previously served for seven years as a trial attorney for the United States Department of Justice, where he brought complex enforcement actions involving disparate-treatment or disparate-impact claims of discrimination, as well as actions enforcing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Civil Rights Act of 1964, Help America Vote Act, National Voter Registration Act, The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, and other federal laws. Prior to joining the Department, Mr. Nobile handled Financial Services Committee issues for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Mr. Nobile is an active member of The Federalist Society for Law & Public Policy Studies and was appointed to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s Board of Advisors. Mr. Nobile is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and Mississippi College School of Law. He is admitted to practice before all Louisiana and Mississippi courts, as well the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Christina Rotaru
Paralegal
Cristina joined Judicial Watch as a legal assistant in 2002. She holds a BA and a Master’s degree in English from the University of Bucharest, Romania. She also has completed coursework toward a PhD in English at the University of Maryland, where she taught writing and composition for ten years.
Kathryn Blankenberg
Attorney
Katie grew up in the Bay Area of California. At 16, she started her own online boutique, Cute As A Cupcake. In 2016, she received her B.A. from Stanford University. While at Stanford, she spent a quarter studying criminology at the University of Oxford. She also was a research assistant in the Department of Genetics at Stanford University’s School of Medicine. After graduating from Stanford, she worked as a research analyst at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. In 2020, she graduated from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law. She previously interned for Judicial Watch in the Summer of 2019.
Meredith DiLiberto
Senior Attorney
Kathyrn Huth
Paralegal
Kathryn joined the Judicial Watch as a paralegal in July of 2024. She holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Public Policy, History, and Physics from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. As an undergraduate, Kathryn had the opportunity to work at Alliance Defending Freedom, a legal nonprofit that advocates for religious freedom, where she served as a communications intern. After graduating, Kathryn worked as an intern and fellow at the Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women, an organization dedicated to supporting young conservative women.
Kara Davis
Attorney
Kara Davis joined Judicial Watch as an attorney in August 2024, having previously served Judicial Watch as a legal intern in 2023 and a paralegal in 2020. Before attending law school, Kara worked in communications positions in Wisconsin and Virginia, including serving as a spokeswoman for a political nonprofit. Kara earned her degree in Political Science and Communication Arts—Rhetoric from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 2018, and her Juris Doctorate from Liberty University School of Law in 2024. She is committed to preserving the brilliant craftsmanship of the Framers and ensuring government accountability. Kara is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Philumina Johanni
Attorney
Judicial Watch Board
Thomas Fitton
President, Board Member, Officer
Tom Fitton is the President of Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption. Founded in 1994, Judicial Watch seeks to ensure government and judicial officials act ethically and do not abuse the powers entrusted to them by the American public.With 20 years of experience in conservative public policy, Tom Fitton has helped lead Judicial Watch since 1998 and overseen its tremendous growth and success in recent years. Under Fitton’s leadership, Judicial Watch was named one of Washington’s top ten most effective government watchdog organizations by The Hill newspaper.
Mr. Fitton provides Judicial Watch with strategic guidance and leadership on Judicial Watch’s comprehensive efforts to fight government corruption. He is a nationally recognized expert on government corruption, immigration enforcement, congressional and judicial ethics, and open government.
A former talk radio and television host and analyst, Tom is well known across the country as a national spokesperson for the conservative cause. He has been quoted in TIME, Vanity Fair, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Associated Press, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Post, and most every other major newspaper in the country. He has also appeared on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX News Channel, C-SPAN and MSNBC.
Mr. Fitton has authored numerous articles such as “Judicial Activism Hurts our Courts,” “What Bill Clinton Knew About bin Laden,” “Following Terrorism’s Money Trail,” “Senate Abandons Judicial Nominees,” “Every Town is a Border Town,” “Obama’s Records Problem” and “Jesse Jackson Exposed.” Judicial Watch also publishes the monthly 375,000+ circulation Verdict newsletter and runs the cutting-edge Internet site JudicialWatch.org, which includes the oft-cited Corruption Chronicles blog. Mr. Fitton gained national attention as a political analyst, previously working for America’s Voice and National Empowerment Television. He is a former employee of the International Policy Forum, the Leadership Institute, and Accuracy in Media.Mr. Fitton holds a B.A. in English from George Washington University.
Paul J. Orfanedes
Director of Litigation, Board Member, Officer
Paul Orfanedes heads Judicial Watch’s Litigation Department and has been with Judicial Watch since its inception. Paul is a distinguished civil litigator who has argued in front of the Supreme Court and in the federal appeal courts on behalf of Judicial Watch and its clients.As Director of Litigation, he has been a spokesperson for Judicial Watch with his legal commentary appearing in major radio and print media outlets. In addition to managing the day-to-day operations of the Legal Department, Paul is Corporate Secretary and Treasurer of Judicial Watch. He is also member of the Board of Directors.Paul is a native of Illinois. He graduated from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1986. He received his Juris Doctorate from American University in 1990.
Chris Farrell
Director of Investigations & Research, Board Member
Christopher J. Farrell joined Judicial Watch in 1999 as the organization’s Director of Investigations & Research, and has been a member of the Board of Directors since September 2003. Chris is a native of Long Island, New York. He was a Distinguished Military Graduate from Fordham University with a B.A. in History, whereupon he accepted a Regular Army Commission and served as a Military Intelligence Officer – specializing in Counterintelligence and Human Intelligence.
Chris is a graduate of the Military Intelligence Officers Basic and Advanced Courses, the U.S. Army Advanced Counterintelligence Training Course, the Combined Arms Services Staff School of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the Defense Intelligence Agency’s Military Operations Training Course, and the Haus Rissen Institut für Politik und Wirtschaft in Hamburg, Germany. He is a specialist in national security matters, specializing in unconventional warfare and terrorism.
Following command and staff assignments that included three tours of duty in the Federal Republic of Germany, and one tour at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Chris returned to civilian life as a contractor to the defense and intelligence communities. He also provided management and training consulting services to non-profit organizations, and was active in the establishment of a small, private, co-ed Christian high school where he both taught and served as director.
Chris has appeared on numerous national TV and radio shows, and has authored dozens of articles. He contributed a chapter on terrorism to Dr. Irwin Redlener’s book “Americans at Risk” (Alfred A. Knopf: New York, 2006). Chris maintains a busy lecture schedule on both government corruption issues and intelligence matters. He served as a Senior Staff Associate of Columbia University’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness at the Mailman School of Public Health (2005 – 2008).
Chris is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute. He was an adjunct professor at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia (2013 – 2018). Chris is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers; the Society of Professional Journalists; Investigative Reporters and Editors; the National Military Intelligence Association; and is a constituent member of the State Department’s Overseas Security Advisory Council. Chris serves as the Judicial Watch main representative to United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Judicial Watch Staff Team
Judicial Watch Directors/Officers
- Thomas Fitton – President, Board Member, Officer
- Paul Orfanedes – Director of Litigation, Board Member, Officer
- Chris Farrell – Director of Investigations & Research, Board Member
Legal
- Paul Orfanedes – Director of Litigation
- Robert Sticht – Senior Counsel
- Jason Aldrich – Senior Attorney
- Michael Bekesha – Senior Attorney
- Lauren Burke – Senior Attorney
- Ramona Cotca – Senior Attorney
- Eric Lee – Attorney
- James Peterson – Senior Attorney
- Bob Popper – Director, Election Law Program
- T. Russell Nobile – Senior Attorney
- Christina Rotaru – Paralegal
- Meredith DiLiberto – Senior Attorney
- Kathryn Blankenberg – Attorney
- Kathyrn Huth – Paralegal
- Kara Davis – Attorney
- Philumina Johanni – Attorney
Investigations
- Chris Farrell – Director of Investigations
- Sean Dunagan – Senior Investigator
- Bill Marshall – Senior Investigator
- Chris Nelson – Senior Investigator
- Geoff Lyon – Investigative Counsel
- Kate Bailey – FOIA Program Manager
- Kirsti Jespersen – Investigator
- Mark Spencer – Southwest Project Coordinator
- Patrick Francescon – Investigator
- Irene Garcia – Investigative Reporter
- Micah Morrison – Chief Investigative Reporter
To learn more about the documents we have uncovered and our current investigations, visit the Investigative Bulletin.
Communications
- Jill Farrell – Director of Public Affairs
- Amelia Koehn – Public Affairs Coordinator
- Tatiana Venn – Social Media Manager
- Matt Miano – Broadcast Coordinator
- Troy Donovan – Broadcast Associate
- Shawn Ouellette – Broadcast Associate
To find out more about our communications activities, visit the Press Room and our Facebook Page. Also make sure to subscribe to our Youtube page, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
Membership & Development
- Steve Andersen – Director of Development
- Meagan Pfalzer – Director of Development Operations
- John Albertella – Director of Direct Marketing
- Candice Velazquez – Manager of Planned and Major Gift Operations
- Angel Azar – Regional Development Manager
- Jim Petruzzello – Regional Development Manager
- Steve Sheldon – Regional Development Manager
- Scott Walsh – Regional Development Manager
- Ariana Azizkeya – Direct Response Marketing Manager
- Arleen Godfrey – Direct Marketing Production & Traffic Manager
- Tim Wathen – Direct Marketing Production & Traffic Manager
- James Campbell – Digital Fundraising Manager
- David Collins – Grants Manager
- Elise Schubert – Development Coordinator
- Gillian Pietrowski – Manager of Development Operations
Click here to learn more about becoming a member of Judicial Watch. Interested in planned giving? Contact our Development Department at 1-888-JW-Ethic (1-888-593-8442) or by e-mail – [email protected]
Administration & Finance
- Tim Gray – Controller
- Stephen Wilson – Financial Operations Manager
- Janice Rurup – Special Assistant to the President
- Darlene Robinson – Accounts Payable Clerk
- Tiara Darby – HR/Operations Manager
- Danielle Mundy – HR/Operations Assistant
Careers
Thank you for your interest in working for Judicial Watch. We currently have openings in the following position(s):
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Development Operations and Grants Coordinator
TITLE: Development Operations and Grants Coordinator
DEPARTMENT: Development
REPORTS TO: Director of Development Operations
STATUS: Exempt
Job Summary:
The Development Operations and Foundation Coordinator is a hybrid position based in Washington D.C. and is a member of the Development Department. Responsible for a variety of assigned tasks to support a comprehensive Development program and could include occasionally representing the organization at events and shows. The Coordinator’s primary objective is to assist the department in achieving its fundraising goals, with a specific focus on increasing support from charitable foundations.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Assist in the preparation and submission of grant proposals.
- Assist with compiling with all grant reporting and required documentation.
- Assist with maintaining all calendars, and timelines related to submission and reporting deadlines.
- Conduct research to identify potential funding opportunities and partnerships.
- Assist with adding information about donors and foundations into CRMs and accounts as directed.
- Respond to donor comment mail, emails and donor requests in a timely fashion and add CRMs to donor records as directed.
- Maintain matching gift program to include responding to and completing matching gift donation forms (paper and online) and keeping up to date with all reporting and information that needs to be updated in order to receive such money.
- Review various data files for accuracy and updating donor records in donor database to assist with maintaining donor file hygiene excellence.
- Fulfill requests from staff and donors for materials and information in a timely fashion.
- Assist with mass emails and mailings as directed.
- Assist in updating Judicial Watch recent successes for reporting to Foundations and donors.
- Assist in opening mail that comes to the Judicial Watch headquarters and properly processing the various items.
- Assist in creating major donor profiles for use by Judicial Watch leadership and major gifts team for events and visits.
- Assist in receiving major donor reports and updating donor database records with information in a timely fashion.
- Serve as back-up with contacting monthly sustainer donors to update donor credit card information/renew support as directed.
- Conduct regular data-entry/updates duties as assigned to include coding responses in system for interest from surveys and other sources, list maintenance, etc.
- Serve as back-up for gift entry of donations as needed and directed.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
SCOPE:
Handles a variety of development functions across all fundraising programs and specifically Foundations as directed. Frequent interaction with Judicial Watch donors, prospects, and staff. Position functions in a fast-paced work environment with direct supervision provided by the Department Director of Development Operations. Occasional travel may be required so the coordinator must be able to independently travel and able to represent the organization at events professionally. The coordinator could be responsible for assisting in setting up, manning, and taking down Judicial Watch booth and materials at shows and other events. Must have a clear understanding of Judicial Watch’s mission and ability to convey strategy.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:
Excellent oral and written communication skills as well as creativity, good judgment, common sense, and follow-through required. Strong interpersonal skills necessary and must be detail oriented with excellent organizational skills essential. Ability to work in a networked PC information and retrieval system required. Proven ability to accomplish multiple tasks simultaneously. Must have a basic understanding of ways to perform research and how to use the tools to be effective at it. Working knowledge of Microsoft Word and familiarity with Windows PC environment required. Experience working with a database program desired. Self-motivated individual essential.
This full-time, exempt position includes: employer-funded health insurance (medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug), life insurance, long and short-term disability insurance, and the opportunity to participate in Judicial Watch’s 403(b) retirement program. To apply, send cover letter and resume to Meagan Pfalzer, Director of Development Operations at [email protected].
Broadcast Associate
TITLE: Broadcast Associate
DEPARTMENT: Communications
REPORTS TO: Broadcast Coordinator
STATUS: Exempt – Full Time
SUMMARY: The Broadcast Associate will be part of a team responsible for assisting the Broadcast Coordinator in producing Judicial Watch video and audio content. This will include, but is not limited to camera operation, editing, livestreaming, and publishing content on Judicial Watch’s social media platforms. He or she will also be responsible for writing/modifying publicity material as needed in-conjunction with the Broadcast Coordinator and CEO. The ideal candidate for this role should be a fast learner, a good communicator, able to “think outside the box,” and willing to take direction. Prior studio experience is preferred.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBLITIES: Section A
- Producing video and audio content as directed
- Editing video and audio productions as directed
- Deploying/publishing video and audio productions as directed
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES – Section B
- Coordinating with other employees from other departments on projects as needed
- Posting content to Judicial Watch’s social media platforms as needed
- Other duties as assigned
Judicial Watch provides employer-funded health insurance (medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug), life insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance, and eligibility to participate in our 403(b) retirement program.
To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and a link to a video editing sample to [email protected].
Development Coordinator
TITLE: Development Coordinator
DEPARTMENT: Development
REPORTS TO: Manager of Planned and Major Gift Operations
STATUS: Exempt
Job Summary:
The Development Coordinator is a member of the development department responsible for a variety of assigned tasks to support the comprehensive development program team.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Work with Manager of Planned and Major Gift Operations to conduct a variety of daily tasks in support of Judicial Watch’s Development Department. Tasks include:
- Provide timely follow-up to major gift donations received including acknowledgement of gifts and correspondence from appropriate staff.
- Produce daily thank you letters for JW President’s signature as directed by Manager.
- Conduct regular data-entry duties as assigned including coding responses in database for planned giving interest from surveys and other sources.
- Conduct donor research and develop donor/prospect profile reports. Organize prospect rating sessions and provide prospect reports and other information to major donor fund-raising staff as requested.
- Produce general response letters as directed; Produce birthday cards in support of planned giving programs.
- Support major gifts team by producing and mailing letters and emails to JW donors on behalf of JW Regional Development Mas directed.
- Assist Manager of Planned and Major Gift Operations by producing and mailing letters to people interested in receiving more information about JWs planned giving materials.
- Assist in running queries and reports from donor database as directed.
- Maintain and update the monthly litigation report to send out to interested major donors, foundations, other supporters, and staff.
- Serve as back up for gift entry of donations as needed and directed.
- Serve as a JW representative at various events and “shows” across the country to promote JW to eventgoers as directed.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
SCOPE:
Handles a variety of development functions across all fundraising programs as directed. Frequent interaction with JW donors, prospective donors and executive staff. Potential for travel so must be able to independently travel and able to represent the organization in a “show” setting. For these types of situations, the coordinator would be responsible for setting up, manning and taking down JW booth and materials at shows. Must have valid driver license and common sense. Position functions in a fast-paced work environment with direct supervision provided by the Department Manager.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:
Excellent oral and written communication skills as well as creativity, good judgment and follow-through required. Strong interpersonal skills necessary and must be detailed oriented with excellent organizational skills essential. Ability to work in a networked PC information and retrieval system required. Proven ability to accomplish multiple tasks simultaneously. Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel and familiarity with Windows PC environment required. Experience working with a donor database program desired. Self-motivated individual essential.
This full-time, exempt position includes employer-funded health insurance (medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug), life insurance, long and short-term disability insurance, and the opportunity to participate in Judicial Watch’s 403(b) retirement program. To apply, send cover letter, resume and writing sample to Candice Velazquez, Manager of Planned and Major Gift Operations at [email protected]