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The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Derrick Robinson, Lawyers’ Committee, Press@LawyersCommittee.org, 202-662-8317

National Civil Rights Group Responds to New Evidence of Thomas Farr's Central Role in Voter Suppression Schemes in North Carolina

Newly revealed information from 1991 Justice Department disqualifies President Trump's judicial nominee

WASHINGTON

The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law issued the following statement on the nomination of District Court nominee Thomas Farr. The statement followed new revelations yielded from a 1991 memorandum from the U.S. Justice Department regarding Farr's role in schemes targeting African American voters dating back as far as 1984.

"New and damning information yielded from a 1991 Justice Department memorandum reveals that Thomas Farr was both architect and executioner of voter suppression tactics, including schemes dating back as far as 1984 targeting Black voters in North Carolina," said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. "The Justice Department described Farr as the 'primary coordinator' of these schemes. This new information provides further evidence of the bias that Farr would bring to the federal bench. Moving forward with this nomination in light of this new evidence would make a mockery of the Senate's advice and consent obligation. The Justice Department memo reveals a nominee who has been bent on suppressing the African-American vote for the past 34 years and raises questions about Farr's truthfulness during the confirmation process."

Clarke continued: "Americans deserve judges who will be fair, independent and impartial. Farr doesn't fit the bill."

The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law stands opposed to the nomination of Thomas Farr. The 1991 Justice Department memo revealing new information regarding Thomas Farr can be found here.

The Lawyers' Committee is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to enlist the private bar's leadership and resources in combating racial discrimination and the resulting inequality of opportunity - work that continues to be vital today.

(202) 662-8600