Judiciary Committee Sends Adegbile Nomination to Senate Floor

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 10-8 today to advance the nomination of Debo Adegbile to be Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice.

The Civil Rights Division is critical to the lives of millions of Americans, as it enforces housing, education, and employment discrimination laws, hate crime laws, the Violence Against Women Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other essential civil rights statutes.

“Throughout his career, Mr. Adegbile has distinguished himself as a highly effective and respected advocate who achieved successes both inside and outside the courtroom. The son of immigrants who worked his way from poverty to the top of the legal profession, Mr. Adegbile is a steadfast voice for equality and opportunity for all Americans,” said Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference and Nancy Zirkin, executive vice president of The Leadership Conference, in a letter to the Senate ahead of today’s vote. “Mr. Adegbile will lead the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division with integrity, professionalism, and a deep commitment to its important and historic mission of ensuring that our nation lives up to its promise of equality and justice for all.”

Adegbile’s nomination, which now moves to the full Senate for consideration, has faced serious opposition despite support from the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the American Bar Association, members of the U.S. Supreme Court Bar, and the broad civil and human rights community.