LCCR Expresses Serious Concern Over Cook Nomination

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Wade Henderson, Executive Director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the nation’s oldest, largest, and most diverse civil and human rights coalition, expressed serious concern today regarding the nomination of Ohio Supreme Court Justice Deborah Cook to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

“Justice Cook’s numerous dissents as a state Supreme Court justice reflect a reluctance to support enforcement of a number of legal and constitutional rights, particularly those affecting workers and consumers,” said Henderson. “Among her more than 300 dissents as a state Supreme Court justice, Justice Cook has shown a disturbing pattern of siding with business or corporate interests over those of individual workers and/or consumers. Further, we are troubled by Justice Cook’s insensitivity in other civil rights areas, specifically regarding religious liberty.”

Henderson continued, “We believe that Justice Cook’s record raises serious concerns about whether she should be given the enormous honor and responsibility of a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.”

In a letter sent to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, LCCR stated, “We strongly urge the members of the Judiciary Committee to conduct a thorough investigation of Justice Cook’s record and to refrain from passing judgment on Justice Cook’s nomination until that inquiry, and the record, is complete. Only then can a full and informed decision be made on this important nomination.”


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