‘Monster Markup’ Magnifies Republican Partisan Court Takeover

February 7, 2019

For Immediate Release
Contact: Shin Inouye, 202.869.0398, [email protected]

WASHINGTON – Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement after the advancement of 44 judicial nominees and Attorney General nominee William Barr to the Senate floor:

“Today’s ‘Monster Markup’ in the Senate Judiciary Committee disturbingly exemplifies the joint Senate Republican-Trump administration effort to distort our federal judiciary and roll back our civil and human rights. The chairman defied the committee rules and basic fairness in jamming through more than 40 nominees for lifetime appointments, many of whom have a demonstrated hostility to our rights.

“As if court packing was not enough, this rushed markup also included Attorney General nominee William Barr. The nomination of Attorney General, our nation’s top law enforcement officer that oversees the enforcement of crucial federal civil rights, deserves careful and comprehensive consideration. This is especially true given the position’s importance, the divisive and harmful policies of the Sessions Department of Justice, and Barr’s own anti-civil rights record.

“Senators must reject the confirmation of any nominee that poses a threat to the rights of all people in America. It is long past time for the Senate to assert its constitutionally assigned and independent role. Our civil and human rights are at stake.”

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is 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 member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.