April 2, 2019
Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP, made the following statement in response to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s reckless move to shorten the Senate’s consideration for district court nominees and certain executive nominees.
“The NAACP strongly condemns Senate Majority Leader McConnell’s approach for breaking the rules once again to harm our justice system.
This power grab should fail. Contrary to what Sen. McConnell says, these are not “lower tier nominees.” District court judges serve for a lifetime. These are trial judges who make consequential decisions about claims, parties, juries, evidence, and in criminal cases, sentencing. They will be ruling on our rights for a generation or more.
Trump’s judicial nominees warrant more Senate scrutiny, not less. They are overwhelmingly white and male, with extreme ideologies. Their records of hostility to civil rights are disqualifying, but confirmations at breakneck speed will conceal critical facts. Thomas Farr’s nomination to a North Carolina court was defeated because of information revealed in the eleventh hour that he personally engaged in voter suppression.
If Sen. McConnell prevails, dozens of Trump’s nominees could be confirmed almost overnight. By jamming through this rule change, the GOP could increase the number of Trump judges by over 40% in a couple of weeks. This is unacceptable.
The NAACP is fighting to keep our courts fair, independent, and diverse. We urge everyone to join this battle to #SaveOurCourts.”
