Civil and Human Rights Coalition Condemns Alleged Racist Comments by Judge Edith Jones, Calls for Full Investigation

Media 06.6,13

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WASHINGTON — Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement today regarding the alleged racist remarks recently made by Judge Edith Jones of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, claiming that African Americans and Hispanics are criminal by nature of their race:

“The highly disturbing comments attributed to Judge Jones raise serious questions about her integrity, judgment, impartiality, and fitness to serve on the bench.  A full and transparent investigation should be conducted immediately.

Myths that African Americans and Latinos are more ‘prone’ to committing crimes than White people have been used to justify brutal violence, segregation, and White supremacy for generations.  Given this context, Judge Jones’ comments are extremely troubling for a government official – with lifetime tenure – whose sole job is to dispense justice.

The legitimacy of our federal courts depends upon the public’s confidence in those who serve on the bench to be fair and impartial. Judge Jones has severely undermined that confidence with her comments, which call into question her ability to interpret and apply the law in a fair and impartial manner.”

Wade Henderson is the president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.